MSNBC nervously enters the new Trump era
“We could all be fired in a year,” Good morning Joe co-host Joe Scarborough sarcastic Wednesday morning while settling some big news on the home side, i.e. Comcast plans to spin off its NBCUniversal cable networks, including MSNBC. “Or tomorrow,” cohost Mika Brzezinski interfere.
Perhaps the cohosts were joking about the implications of Comcast’s plan, although online chatter about the uncertain nature of the cable news business spoke to underlying anxiety inside 30 Rock about the future of MSNBC. The network’s ratings have plummeted from Donald Trumpwin earlier this month, and Scarborough and Brzezinski sounded the alarm earlier this week when they revealed they trekked to Mar-a-Lago to “restart communication” with the president-elect, whom they have criticized for his dictatorship, even “fascist,” eloquent. Some loyal Good morning Joe viewers was appalled at the apparent retrenchment with Trump.
It is in that somewhat ominous context that MSNBC president Rashida Jones and Chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group Mark Lazarus, who will lead the new spinoff, spoke with senior executives, producers, showrunners and showrunners, including Rachel Maddow, Katy Tur, And Chris Jansing, according to available sources. During a meeting Wednesday morning, Lazarus assured employees that the plan was to “unlock the value” of the cable assets, according to a source present.
Although the source said that the meeting was more positive than anticipated, a lot of complicated logistics are expected to happen to separate MSNBC from NBC News, given that the two entities share resources, from reporters and field producers went to nearby control rooms. . Lazarus did not provide all the specifics about the spinoff, accordingly Comcast press release, it is expected to take about a year to complete. It’s uncertain whether the cable news channel will keep the NBC name, use the iconic Peacock logo, or keep the 30 Rock name, sources said.
“There are currently no decorations on this tree. We have to wait and see what this really means,” the source said, adding that MSNBC was “no worse” than yesterday. However, the source noted that some of their “colleagues think we are on the road to the landfill,” which may stem from “the usual uncertainty that comes with any change.”
A spokesperson for MSNBC declined to comment.
There have been some signs of optimism. Maddow, according to a second source, said it was great to have Lazarus “here on day one.” Lazarus met privately with others within MSNBC, answering questions from employees and perhaps helping reassure superiors.
The meeting at Mar-a-Lago caused mixed reactions within the network, according to CNN media analyst and Vanity fair contributor Brian Stelter, writer that some staffers pointed out the value of reaching out to the president-elect, while others “said the meeting was a worrying sign of capitulation” to Trump. “Normalizing Trump is a bad idea” Katie Phang, legal correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC, wrote in a post on X that was seen as a jab at the host’s trip.
Stelter reported that Scarborough and Brzezinski were “really concerned” about facing retribution from the Trump administration. A second source told me that Brzezinski and Scarborough had “the support of network leadership.”
The president-elect frequently points it out individual journalistdisparaged their reputation on social media, banned them from briefings during his first term and even called for major broadcasting organizations to have their licenses strip. His choice to oversee the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, seems to be prepare to carry out its priorities, after having targeted television organizations for their perceived political bias. Additionally, last week, Trump ally Steve Bannon said on his podcast that MSNBC staff should prepare for legal punishmentwith former representative Matt Gaetz is under the control of the Ministry of Justice if approved, warning them to “go see a lawyer”.
Although MSNBC opinion leaders were at the center of what was often dubbed “resistance” media during Trump’s first term, it’s unclear whether viewers will continue to stay glued. into what will certainly be an important event or not. chaotic news environment. It has been a disappointing month for the entire network, this has seen ratings hemorrhage. Last week, according to Nielsen data, primetime ratings were down 48% in total viewers and 54% in the 25-54 demographic, compared to the network’s year-to-date average.
