MSNBC’s future…
Broadcasting & Cable’s J. Max Robbins speculates about MSNBC’s future. (Note to Robbins: MSNBC Investigates is not a new show. It has been around for years, though only on weekends)
There has been speculation for months about MSNBC’s future as a 24-hour cable news channel—or, maybe more to the point, its lack thereof. But one indication may have come last July, when the 10-year-old network launched a newsmagazine, MSNBC Investigates. From what I’ve heard coming out of 30 Rock lately, that may be a sign of things to come.
Word is that the perennial also-ran in cable news is considering the possibility of virtually dropping out of the live-news business and devoting itself entirely to taped, newsmagazine-style programming —much of it likely repurposed from NBC News. In other words, “The Dateline: NBC Channel.”
Squawkbox with Chris Matthews? Hmmm…
Comment by Goldfish — September 23, 2006 @ 4:20 pm
Oh, come on! If worse comes to worse, they just move MSNBC into CNBC’s HQ and rework their schedule some more into …… another different format (not sure what’s left, they’ve done talk and news)
Comment by Chris — September 23, 2006 @ 8:56 pm
Very, very insightful and probably a truly smart move. Therefore, MESS-NBC won’t do it. Their motto has constantly been… “Why mess with failure?”
Comment by Roger — September 24, 2006 @ 8:51 am
Bleak, bleak, bleak! It does not only make fiscal sense, but MSNBC has been stuck at the bottom for sometime and most likely will not be missed. Chris can go back penning a column for the San Franciso Chronicle, while Keith can try comedy since that appears to be his forte. If Keith makes that change, maybe he can start screaming at Jay Leno, David Letterman, and Jon Stewart instead of Bill O’Reilly. That would be a slambang for Older Man, er, Olbermann.
Comment by RGL — September 24, 2006 @ 6:23 pm
If MSNBC goes under, what would be of the on-air talent, outside of Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann? Would some of them end up at CNBC? NBC News? Local NBC owned and operated stations? Other networks (hello Fox News, CNN)?
Comment by Bob — September 24, 2006 @ 11:46 pm
Bob: If MSNBC goes under, Chris Matthews would probably go to NBC News but Tucker, Scarborough and Olbermann have likely worked their last network job.
RGL: because SF Chronicle has moved so far left editorially since he stopped writing, Matthews could probably now be the lone conservative “voice!” at the failing newspaper.
Comment by Ira — September 25, 2006 @ 7:37 pm