I understand that another host that’s more vanilla will most likely generate more advertising revenue, but you indicate they will get the same ratings as Beck and I don’t agree. If they were so pleased with Gibson and Ingraham, they’d still be in that slot.
First, I said they (whomever replaces Beck) will get about the same ratings. Look at Beck's most recent ratings. He barely outperforms Bret Baeir and Cavuto. His replacement may suffer some, but I rather doubt that Beck's ratings will be halved, or worse - which is what it would take for FNC to not win the time-slot.
As for Gibson, he wasn't fired. He did not want to continue his daily television show anymore and do his radio show too. So, he picked the radio show. FNC was happy with his ratings, as he always comfortably won that time slot.
I have no idea how Ingraham did in the ratings. She was only in that slot for a trial period, and she just didn't do very well in that kind of role.