Rick Kaplan leaves MSNBC…
TVNewser has Rick Kaplan’s goodbye memo and Steve Capus announcement. What really strikes me as bizarre is that MSNBC has gone up under Kaplan. Even Capus’ memo goes to great lengths to emphasize the growth MSNBC has had. Everyone from Capus to Zucker to Wright has said how pleased they are with MSNBC’s improvements. And despite all that Kaplan still leaves? What’s wrong with this picture?
Just a month ago he was talking on the radio about MSNBC’s future and where it was going. Now he’s not even a part of it.
UPDATE: Broadcasting & Cable’s Allison Romano floats Phil Griffin’s name as a possible successor…
Me too; it’s strange. But hey, at least it gives CNN viewers the hope that Jon Klein will be gone soon:)
Comment by anonymous — June 7, 2006 @ 6:00 pm
Just hire Roger Ailes, Let him do his thing and rebrand it Fox Business News lol
Comment by Lurker — June 7, 2006 @ 6:14 pm
This isn’t exactly a surprise. I like how optimistic his statements were about the “success” of his tenure. Somebody has quite a job ahead of them.
Comment by Buck — June 7, 2006 @ 6:29 pm
Actually Lurker that isn’t a bad idea…not bad at all. Give greedy NBC Universal what it wants–within reason of course. Come on, MSNBC can’t be worth more then $3 million lol.
Comment by anonymous — June 7, 2006 @ 8:49 pm
exactly. msnbc is a failure and an industry laughingstock, despite sympathetic coverage from blogs that like the network’s political agenda. the ride is over.
Comment by benllv — June 7, 2006 @ 11:38 pm
One thing I do have to say: kudos to Spud for having the guts to point out the obvious. This is a charade. TVNewser hasn’t had ONE WORD of skepticism, and is likely itching to get back to bashing CNN, FNC, HLN, etc. tomorrow morning.
Comment by benllv — June 8, 2006 @ 12:00 am
Oh, please, benllv. You’re using this as just another excuse to ridicule a channel you hate.
As for me, the sad part about this is that I am not really surprised. Anyone who thinks executives, or anyone else in the world, gets fired only for incompetence is a bit naive. There’s a whole world of other reasons people are gotten rid of…and I’m sure that’s as true at MSNBC as anyplace else.
Comment by tanne — June 8, 2006 @ 6:43 am