MSNBC is going to add a new show in its 10:00PM EST time slot. The incredible combination of Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow has catapulted the MSNBC ratings and they want to continue that momentum. At the bottom of this diary you will find the email addresses for the presidents of MSNBC and its parent NBC....please take the time to email them about who you would like to see in the newly created time slot!
A trifecta of "left-leaning" broadcasting from MSNBC...it's time to bury the FOX Nutwork. What a great time in America...we've gone from no "left-leaning" programming just a few years ago, to an embarrassment of riches. Thanks to KO and Rachel, progressives and democrats have shown that they too are a viable entity.
From today's NYT:
Building on the momentum of its prime-time hours, MSNBC is developing a 10 p.m. program that would complement its left-leaning evening lineup, the cable news channel’s president said this week.
A new program could increase the competition between MSNBC, a unit of NBC Universal, and its two chief competitors, Fox News Channel and CNN, for news viewers in the time slot. Unlike most major networks, MSNBC’s original programming ends at 10 each weeknight. The 8 p.m. program “Countdown With Keith Olbermann” is rerun at 10 p.m., where it usually ranks third.
But Phil Griffin, the president of MSNBC, is making 10 p.m. a priority now. In an interview on Tuesday in a studio on the Mall, hours after the inauguration of President Obama, Mr. Griffin said that the channel needed a third original show in its lineup.
“We can’t let this momentum stop,” he said.
There is no obvious candidate to host the 10 p.m. hour; the network seems to lack a substantial bench of opinionated hosts-in-waiting. Then again, Rachel Maddow became a political analyst for MSNBC just 12 months ago, and now her 9 p.m. program, “The Rachel Maddow Show,” outrates CNN’s “Larry King Live” in the 25-to-54 age group.
Similarly, “Countdown” easily surpasses CNN in that demographic at 8 p.m. Both programs have made major inroads in prime time with a sharp, often sarcastic and pointedly liberal take on politics. While MSNBC remains in third place among total viewers, it has averaged more young viewers (412,000) than CNN (394,000) in prime time since Election Day. Fox News has averaged 501,000 in the same demographic. Besides bragging rights, higher ratings in the 25-to-54-year-old group let networks charge higher rates for ads.
But at 10 p.m., MSNBC replaced live programming with documentaries and repeats in 2006. It moved the reruns of “Countdown” there in March to capitalize on the political year. Reverting to tape at 10 p.m. puts the network at a disadvantage, especially on busy news nights. Meanwhile, CNN and Fox News are battling for first place in the hour. Last year, “Anderson Cooper 360” on CNN outperformed “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren” on Fox News among younger viewers, but the Fox program averaged a higher number of total viewers.
With a higher-rated show at 10 p.m., Mr. Griffin predicts that MSNBC can become competitive with Fox among young viewers.
There are some really great personalities out there who could make this new time slot a ratings extravaganza for MSNBC.
I'd love to see Ron Reagan return to MSNBC in a show of his own. He has the personality, the ability and a name that would truly draw the viewers. He's articulate, intelligent and respectful of other point of views.
Stephanie Miller would bring an entirely new perspective to a news hour. She's funny, biting, intelligent and informed. Miller takes no hostages.
Dan Abrams would be a great host if MSNBC would give him a worthy format. His retooled show from last year was too generic. Abrams has a great deal to offer. His knowledge of civil law and constitutional law would be a great addition to any show.
Randi Rhodes would be a controversial choice. She would have to tone herself down a peg for television which would tend to invalidate the reasons for giving her a show in the first place. Im not sure how the guests she would interview on her show might take to being yelled at, LOL!
Thom Hartmann is a treasure. He's smart, incredibly well informed, calm, passionate and deserves more national exposure.
David Schuster, a rising star, has gotten his own show on MSNBC called 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, so I'm not sure that he would be a viable candidate for that 10:00PM slot.
Eugene Robinson should be considered as well. His spot-on reporting all through the elections have given him great exposure, respect and gravitas.
There is an embarrassment of riches out there. Maybe a new format should be considered where you have a combination or "round table" panel of hosts..using a combination of the above personalities. I think that may be the best idea because using a single host format would just relegate that host to repeating news that KO and Rachel have used in the previous two hours.
What do the members of the Daily Kos community think?
Send your suggestions to:
phil.griffin@nbc.com
President of MSNBC
steve.capus@nbc.com
President NBC
I truly believe that the country owes a debt of gratitude to the MSNBC evening news shows (Hard Ball, Countdown and the Rachel Maddow Show) for holding the Bush Administration's feet to the fire, asking the tough questions and pointing out political spin and lies.
*I didn't notice that "Chain" had also provided a diary on the same subject...take a look and add to it as well. There's enough room for all of us...