MSNBC Cancels Shows: Three Daytime Shows Get The Axe As Network Struggles To Compete With Fox News

MSNBC has canceled three shows in an effort to shift focus away from opinion programming and to breaking news, a move insiders believe is related to the crushing competition from Fox News.

The moves were officially announced this week, with three programs getting the ax — The Cycle, Now with Alex Wagner, and The Ed Show. There had long been rumors that MSNBC would be canceling the shows, part of its larger effort to clear opinion programs from its daytime lineup.

There are more moves planned. MSNBC will be adding a program in September hosted by Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd, and Brian Williams will be returning to the network after his suspension to serve as breaking news and special report anchor.

While the changes may alter the lineup, the content will remain tilted in the same direction, Politico noted.

“As part of the shift, Lack has informed staff that there will be greater integration between NBC News and MSNBC, befitting the original vision for the channel he founded as president of NBC News in 1996. MSNBC’s primetime programming — which includes shows hosted by Rachel Maddow, Chris Hayes and Lawrence O’Donnell — is expected to remain liberal and outspoken.”

Many believe the move is related to competition from Fox News. The right-leaning network consistently beats MSNBC in ratings and pulled in an estimated $2.18 billion in ad revenue and subscription fees, more than four times the total for MSNBC.

In a recent interview, Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes said the network no longer competes with the likes of CNN or MSNBC but rather cable entertainment and sports networks like TNT and ESPN. Ailes also had some harsh words for the news networks, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

“I flip to MSNBC occasionally to make sure their blind pig didn’t find an acorn. But they never have once. I tell you who I do like at MSNBC — I like Joe and Mika. I don’t watch much CNN, they got out of the news business in primetime. But I look to see if they have a good documentary or movie. If they do, I’ll watch that.”

While MSNBC has canceled the shows effective this week, not all the hosts are out of a job. Ed Schultz will be gone from the network as well as three of the four hosts of The Cycle — Krystal Ball, Abby Huntsman and Touré — but Ari Melber will stay on as a legal consultant and will “play a key role in our political coverage as we head into the 2016 election,” according to a company memo.

[Image via MSNBC]