MSNBC announces major shake up in final attempt to fix failing network before Trump returns
MSNBC President Rashida Jones has left the company after a tough election season that saw the network struggle for viewers.
Jones announced her departure from the staff on Tuesday, saying she would be leaving the network after four years at the helm.
“I have shared this decision with Mark (Lazarus), who has been incredibly supportive and has asked me to stay on for the coming months to guide the network through this transition period,” she wrote.
Lazarus will become the CEO of NBCUniversal’s new “SpinCo” venture, where Comcast will separate its TV channel business from the rest of the NBC umbrella.
The move comes as MSNBC braces for Donald Trump’s second term in the White House, with his election victory marking a period in which the network lost significant traction with viewers.
That’s what insiders said Variety that Jones decided to leave after “an intense cycle,” which would see star host Rachel Maddow return to a five-night hosting program after MSNBC lost ground to rivals CNN and Fox News.
Lazarus said after Jones’ announcement that Rebecca Kutler will step in as interim president of MSNBC, effective immediately.
“Rashida has expertly navigated MSNBC through a years-long, brutal and unprecedented news cycle, while driving the network to record viewership gains and making investments in non-linear businesses,” Lazarus wrote.
MSNBC president Rashida Jones (pictured) has left the company after a tough election season that saw the network struggle to attract viewers
Jones reportedly decided to leave after “an intense cycle,” which would see star anchor Rachel Maddow return to a five-night hosting program after MSNBC lost ground to rivals CNN and Fox News due to viewership
Jones took over the channel in 2021 after longtime president Phil Griffin stepped aside to lead Maddow’s own production company.
Her tenure was marked by efforts to expand MSNBC beyond its network coverage, including the launch of a series of podcasts and live events to diversify the brand.
But while MSNBC enjoyed a period of higher ratings during this period, the network suffered a serious decline in viewership after the election, causing its ratings to drop 47 percent in November.
CNN simultaneously saw a 33 percent decline, while Fox News Channel solidified its lead with a daily viewership of 62 percent, the network said.