Tucker Carlson

Tucker Carlson's pivot from traditional cable news to digital-first content represents one of the most successful media transitions in recent history. After departing Fox News, he doubled down on YouTube and Twitter/X, proving that established media personalities can thrive independently. His subscriber growth exploded from 1M to over 7M in just 18 months. Carlson's interview-focused format attracts massive viewership by featuring controversial guests and asking questions mainstream media won't. His conversation with Vladimir Putin alone generated hundreds of millions of views, demonstrating the power of exclusive access and fearless journalism. Each long-form interview becomes a media event that drives sustained viewership. The economics of his YouTube success are staggering. With 85M monthly views at premium CPM rates (political content attracts high-value advertisers), he's generating more from YouTube than many traditional media companies pay their entire talent rosters. This validates the creator economy model for serious journalism and shows that quality long-form content can outperform short-form clickbait.