MSNBC Reorganizes Roster As Viewers Ditch The Cable News Channel

MSNBC is shaking up its lineup, firing Joy Reid and promoting former Biden White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

What Happened: According to the Associated Press, rotating hosts will fill in during Reid's vacated slot. And weekend host Symone Sanders Townsend, commentator Michael Steele, and anchor Alicia Menendez will take on a weekday show at 7 p.m.

Per the New York Times, Psaki will host a show at 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, replacing Alex Wagner, who has anchored that hour since 2022.

Wagner will remain at MSNBC as an on-air correspondent.

Rebecca Kutler, MSNBC's president, confirmed the changes in a memo to employees.

In addition, Ali Velshi‘s weekend show will expand to three hours. And "José Díaz-Balart Reports" and "The Katie Phang Show" will be canceled. The MSNBC Miami location, where those shows operate, is essentially shutting down, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Most of the moves will roll out by late April.

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Why It Matters: Kutler is trying to beef up the network at a time when traditional cable news networks see dwindling viewership.

Adweek reported for the week of Feb. 10 that, compared to a year ago, MSNBC was down 35% in total viewers. Fox News, its main rival, was up by 42% in total viewers.

"My goal is to build on the successes that have set MSNBC apart from its competitors," Kutler wrote in a staff memo Monday. "We need to continue delivering for our audience in this critical moment while also positioning ourselves for the future."

MSNBC's parent company, Comcast Corp. CMCSA, previously announced plans to spin off its entire NBCUniversal cable TV division—including MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Oxygen, E!, and the Golf Channel—into a separate entity.

Former MSNBC president Rashida Jones stepped down last month after four years leading the network.

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