Kaplan announces changes…
Here is Rick Kaplan’s memo to MSNBC’s staff announcing the changes…
I wanted to share with you some news about realignment of our dayside coverage.
Beginning after the first of the year, we are going to increase our live news coverage on the weekends. With the addition of our new program with Connie Chung and Maury Povich, we will be in live or topical news programming from 8am until 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. This more than doubles our current live weekend programming!
In order to accomplish this, we will be shifting some resources in the coming month. After a year of great programs, “Connected: Coast to Coast” will have it’s final telecast on Friday, December 9. I’m very proud of this program and the work of Ron, Monica and Sharon Newman and their entire team. They brought smart coverage and internet reporting to cable news and set a very high standard of coverage. As for the future of that time slot we’ll have some exciting new programming at noon which we will be announcing soon.
The weekend of December 17th will mark the final airings of MSNBC at the Movies and MSNBC Entertainment Hot List. I want to thank Sharon Tay, Scott Leon and his team for all their hard work on the program over the last year. They did a terrific job and we should all be very proud of what they accomplished.
ah…topical Live or news programming…it’s called newstainment and fnc already does that all the time. Not enough news on the weekend to warrant LIVE NEWS coverage.
Comment by Harry — November 15, 2005 @ 6:00 pm
Harry, Anon, whichever name you happen to be using. The post is about MSNBC. Your total and compete obsession with Fox is tiresome, but at least stay on topic. MSNBC. The changes at MSNBC.
Comment by Ted — November 15, 2005 @ 6:12 pm
Hey ted, who died and made you blog moderator? Anyway the point IS why go LIVE just to provide NEWSTAINMENT? The entertainment programming would be much better.
Comment by Harry — November 15, 2005 @ 7:05 pm
Harry, Nobody out here wants to hear your little comments that hit MSNBC and fox. I’m sorry that CNN is falling apart and I’m sure that where all your anger comes from, but you’re not necessary.
I for one can’t wait to see Connie Chung. I grew up with her as my local news anchor before she went national and I look forward to seeing her each week.
Comment by Gregg — November 15, 2005 @ 7:42 pm
NEWSTAINMENT? Some of you people have a lot of nerve. I would guess you watch CNN? So do I, and PZ just had a “dying to be thin” *special* LKL with his softball questions is hardly news. You should get the picture with those examples. So, unless your watching C-SPAN, or local news you aren’t seeing too much NEWS.
Comment by Terance — November 15, 2005 @ 8:01 pm
Ok people, give it a break. Name calling will be deleted….
Comment by Spud — November 16, 2005 @ 12:12 am
Am I allowed to call Rick Kaplan a name…just because it’s now obvious that he doesn’t know the difference between “its” (possessive) and “it’s” (it is)?
Comment by tanne — November 16, 2005 @ 7:41 am
Wow… that is a lot of live coverage on the weekend. Wouldn’t it be a much wiser investment to improve the weekday programming when more people are watching? This 8-5 weekend coverage seems like a waste to me.
Comment by Skippy — November 16, 2005 @ 9:36 am