MSNBC is undergoing a shakeup and rumors are flying now that Al Sharpton’s 6pm show is being dumped and that he’s being moved to the weekend:
ROLLING OUT – The recent suspension of Brian Williams and spotlight on news personalities has caused a shake-up at MSNBC. The Daily Beast is reporting that the Rev. Al Sharpton may lose his nightly time slot. His show, “Politics Nation with Al Sharpton,” has been on the air since 2011 and has had a successful run. At issue is a steady slide in viewership that will cause news correspondent Chris Hayes to be replaced by the “Rachel Maddow Show.” Maddow’s show will move from its current 9 p.m. slot to 8 p.m., while a search is underway for a new host for the 9 p.m. time slot left by Maddow.
It is rumored that Sharpton’s show will move from its nightly 6 p.m. time slot to a weekend only show. Sharpton attracts a solid 35 percent Black audience and is considered a lightning rod of controversy because of his activism on behalf of the oppressed.
What’s even bigger news is that the left-wing news channel may be deciding to vacate left-wing TV altogether, via a source at MSNBC according to Rolling Out:
“Going left was a brilliant strategy while it lasted, and made hundreds of millions of dollars for Comcast, but now it doesn’t work anymore…The goal is to move away from left-wing TV.”
I’m guessing they want to get this done before election season gets into high gear, so if this is all true, I’d expect the changes to all happen this year.