This could be for various reasons. The obvious reason is that anybody can use X and view content for free. It could be because Musk is now monetizing those who are verified and encouraging citizen journalism. 

Other social media sites like TikTok, which should be banned in America due to posing a threat to U.S. national security, also monetize their content creators; however, no social media site has done what Musk has been able to do with X. Not just turning it into a side hustle for some, but effectively spiking the mainstream media, as some folks use X as their go-to for news updates and don't even bother turning on the television to watch the news. 

As RedState reported, CBS fired hundreds of people, including Catherine Herridge who reported on President Biden's classified documents case. 

George Washington University law school professor Jonathan Turley posted on X an article that stated how "current and former" employees had never seen such a step taken before by CBS, and one source said the firings sent a "chilling signal."

I have spoken confidentially with current and former CBS employees who have stated that they could not recall the company ever taking such a step before. One source said that the move had sent a “chilling signal” in the ranks of CBS. https://t.co/AfPQNbFIJl

— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) February 22, 2024

Remember when Chris Cuomo was on CNN? The network used to see nearly two million viewers per night when it came to "Cuomo PrimeTime" because he at least brought people on from both sides to make their case. Cuomo's presence positively impacted the rest of the CNN broadcast team. 

Since his departure, CNN's viewership has fallen. In 2023, they averaged 481,000 viewers, the company's poorest showing since 2014. On CNN Business' website, there is an article written by Jordan Valinsky on August 15, 2023, that states, "For the first time, cable and broadcast makes up less than half of TV viewing."

There could be several factors here: Yes, more people are getting their news updates on X, people are ditching cable for streaming services like Hulu, and due to constant pandering to the left and four years of "Russia collusion," people had enough of the mainstream media lies. 

Just this year, CNN fell behind the History Channel in viewership. When they have so-called "journalists" on the show, such as Jim Acosta, who is nothing more than a liberal hack, people tune out and don't watch the network. 

But it's not just CNN whose ratings have taken a hit. When cable news ratings guru RoadMN used to post television ratings on X, and Tucker Carlson was still working at Fox News, he used to get nearly three million views per night, and The Five wasn't too far behind.

The Five, which is Fox News' most popular show, is still dominating the ratings. However, per Deadline, in 2023, Fox News averaged 1.85 million viewers in seven-day primetime, whereas MSNBC averaged 1.22 million viewers, and CNN averaged 582,000 viewers. 

Fox News was down 20 percent in viewership from 2022, MSNBC was up two percent, and CNN was down 19 percent. 

Per Deadline, Fox News was still the most watched among the three:

Fox News swept the top five daily show rankings this year. The Five was the most watched show, averaging 2.89 million viewers, followed by Jesse Watters Primetime with 2.49 million, Hannity with 2.36 million, Special Report with Bret Baier at 2.07 million and The Ingraham Angle with 1.96 million.

Here is a small sample size: The final month that Tucker was working at Fox News, April 2023, compared to November 22, 2023 (the most recent ratings post by RoadMN)

Cable News Rankings April 2023

1⃣@TuckerCarlson
2⃣@TheFive @DanaPerino @GregGutfeld @JesseBWatters @JudgeJeanine @JessicaTarlov @GeraldoRivera @HaroldFordJr
3⃣@JessePrimetime
4⃣@SeanHannity
5⃣@BretBaier
6⃣@IngrahamAngle
7⃣@GutfeldFox!
8⃣@OutnumberedFNC
9⃣@AriMelber… pic.twitter.com/dUobbtbjoG

— RoadMN 📈 (@RoadMN) May 4, 2023

Cable News Rankings Mon Nov 20

1⃣@TheFive @DanaPerino @GregGutfeld @JesseBWatters @JudgeJeanine @HaroldFordJr
2⃣@JesseBWatters
3⃣@IngrahamAngle
4⃣@BretBaier
5⃣@Maddow
6⃣@KayleighMcEnany*
7⃣@Lawrence
8⃣@GutfeldFox!
9⃣🔟@DanaPerino @BillHemmer pic.twitter.com/3PhqPFQwdw

— RoadMN 📈 (@RoadMN) November 22, 2023

Although it's a small sample size, you can clearly see how the ratings went down for Fox News once Tucker departed, especially Sean Hannity's ratings compared to when Tucker was still at the network.

Lastly, when MSNBC's Rachel Maddow switched to being live on air once a week, MSNBC saw an overall decrease in viewership. But the viewers of MSNBC love Maddow and her hatred for former President Trump, so they will watch no matter when she's on. Thus, she still gets fewer viewers than before but still leads MSNBC in viewership.

The bottom line is this: The mainstream media viewership, as a whole, is falling. Unfortunately, that is leading to layoffs. X seems to be the new media, as the impressions on content and interviews such as those seen on "Tucker on X" are far more than any cable news viewership.