Changes are on the horizon for MSNBC’s evening lineup, potentially surprising loyal viewers. The NBCUniversal-supported cable network is poised to shift Symone Sanders-Townsend, Alicia Menendez, and Michael Steele to the 7 p.m. weekday slot, with the trio leading the Monday lineup for two hours from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. This adjustment will directly impact current 7 p.m. anchor Joy Reid, who is expected to host her final show on MSNBC this week.
Additionally, Alex Wagner, who typically hosts at 9 p.m. on weeknights except for Mondays led by Rachel Maddow, is anticipated to transition to a contributor role, as per sources familiar with ongoing discussions. Wagner, who has been reporting as a correspondent nationwide during the initial 100 days of the new administration, is unlikely to return to her previous weeknight slot. Reports suggest that Jen Psaki may assume hosting duties for at least one of the hours.
In further developments, MSNBC is reportedly in talks to bring on Eugene Daniels from Politico and Melissa Murray, a law professor at New York University specializing in sex, marriage, caregiving, and reproductive rights, in unspecified roles. Details on these potential additions remain undisclosed.
Notably, these changes come shortly after Rebecca Kutler, a former CNN executive known for her talent development and innovative programming, was appointed as MSNBC’s new president. Taking charge during a pivotal time for the network, Kutler aims to navigate challenges posed by the current political landscape and the forthcoming spin-off of NBCU cable networks into a new publicly-traded entity.
Amidst industry shifts and evolving viewer preferences, MSNBC, like its competitors, faces significant business hurdles. Projections from market research firm Kagan suggest a decline in MSNBC’s subscribers by approximately 10.5% between 2023 and 2025, in line with anticipated trends at Fox News Channel and CNN. Despite these challenges, Kutler is focused on enhancing MSNBC’s news coverage, including establishing an independent Washington bureau and expanding its pool of correspondents.
As MSNBC enters this transformative phase under Kutler’s leadership, the network is gearing up to revamp its editorial team, strengthen its reporting capabilities, and adapt to the evolving media landscape.
MSNBC has devised a strategy to align closely with the network’s progressive stance, refraining from attempting to shift its positioning toward the center. In the aftermath of the 2024 presidential election, MSNBC, along with CNN, experienced a significant decline in viewership following Donald Trump’s return to the White House and the ensuing national discourse. Both networks have recently introduced programming changes to recapture their audience. Notably, Rachel Maddow has resumed hosting the 9 p.m. slot Monday through Friday, compared to her previous schedule of only Mondays with occasional special appearances. Since the inauguration, MSNBC has witnessed a surge in primetime viewership, though it still lags behind Fox News Channel in overall audience numbers.
One of the initiatives spearheaded by Kutler is the creation of “The Weekend,” a show fronted by Sanders-Townsend, Melendez, and Steele, airing in the early hours of Saturday and Sunday mornings. In its inaugural year, the program has shown a noticeable improvement in viewership during its time slot, particularly among the coveted demographic of viewers aged 25 to 54, preferred by advertisers in news programming. Psaki, who joined MSNBC’s Sunday lineup in March 2023, has garnered favor with network executives since her tenure as the former Biden White House press secretary.
Looking ahead, Kutler is exploring potential changes to MSNBC’s daytime and weekend schedules. The network has yet to name a successor to Andrea Mitchell, the longstanding NBC News veteran who recently departed after anchoring a noon program for decades. There is speculation among staff members regarding the future of daytime anchors affiliated with NBC News and their continued presence on MSNBC.
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