NYT - MSNBC considering time slot changes including Ezra Klein at 8pm?

[flamingdem]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/12/business/media/msnbc-its-ratings-rising-gains-ground-on-fox-news.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0&smid=tw-thecaucus&partner=rss&emc=rss

* I hope Ed is okay and doesn't want to leave, worse that they want to remove him. Ezra Klein is annoying in large doses.

What Fox has — and MSNBC does not — is widespread recognition. “Our awareness level, people who can define who we are, is much lower than Fox and CNN,” Mr. Griffin said, blaming years of “branding confusion” before the channel adopted its liberal point of view. Elections should help to change that situation, along with advertising, appearances on other networks (Ms. Maddow was on “The Colbert Report” on Thursday) and additional hours of liberal programming.

In the last two years, MSNBC has added Mr. Sharpton’s show at 6 p.m. and four round-table talk shows, two on weekday afternoons and two on weekend mornings. Mr. Griffin said he wanted to add more political programming on the weekends, replacing hours of prison documentaries that earn solid ratings but muddy the channel’s identity.

Several MSNBC employees, who spoke about programming plans on the condition of anonymity, said the most likely candidate for a new show was the Washington Post columnist Ezra Klein, a frequent substitute for Ms. Maddow. Mr. Klein may start with a weekend time slot, but these people said the 8 p.m. weekday time slot held by Mr. Schultz was also a possibility.

Mr. Griffin, meanwhile, declined to comment on whether the performance of his prime-time lineup would provide a boost to the channel’s subscriber fees. Some of MSNBC’s biggest carriage deals do not come up for renewal for several years, so it will have to wait to profit fully from its recent ratings gains.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

1. Ed speaks for labor.

He's one of the few liberal voices who still openly sticks their neck out for unions including teachers unions who a lot of Democrats love to demonize. MSNBC already has enough young hip hosts we need someone who sticks up for lunch bucket democrats.

[flamingdem]

3. I agree and think we should advocate for him if

he wants to stay.

Making noise might matter since DU is always promoting their programs and hosts by discussing them

[Bozita]

18. Yup, Ed understands that the little guy's last chance is unions.

Either that, or the alternative of working for near-minimum wages for life.




Give Tweety's 5pm slot to Ezra or add him on weekends. Less "Lockup" is a good thing
.

[LukeFL]

37. Is there a way for us to Find out

If ED is going to get Canned? If he Will we need to raise HELL And send letters MSNBC. Ed, maddow and the last word are the only valuable shows on MNSNBC.

We need to be there for Ed.

[madaboutharry]

2. They should think about

putting someone in one of the time slots filled by Chris Matthews. I don't get the repeat after Al Sharpton.

Ezra Klien is smart, but he can be dull and boring. I don't see him carrying a show.

[flamingdem]

4. I guess it's the youth demographic

Chris Hayes would be much better but he's probably too left if they're looking to go centrist for ratings

[Sekhmets Daughter]

16. Chris has the weekend shows...

The article seems to imply that MSNBC is comfortable with being the liberal network.

[flamingdem]

19. I'm saying in a relative sense, they would probably consider Ezra to be

left leaning in that sense, but I think he's more neutral and more of a journalist than pundit

[Bozita]

21. Anybody who talks numbers and does real math would be considered "left-leaning"

[Sekhmets Daughter]

29. I am old enough to appreciate journalism....

and considering how inept the pundit class has shown itself to be, perhaps we don't need any more of them????? With some luck, both you and I will be satisfied with the outcome of all this. It goes without saying that the best of all possible outcomes would be a clean bill of health for Ed's wife Wendy.

[itsrobert]

5. Ed Schultz is holding his own at the 8pm slot

He's #2, behind O'Reilly. O'Reilly has been top dog in cable news for over 5 years. Being #2 is pretty good. Ed regularly beats CNN. I doubt Ezra Klein can put up better numbers than Ed. This smells to me that Joe Scarborough is working behind the scenes. I don't know why Joe Scumborogh has so much pull at MSNBC, his morning show doesn't really do to well.

[flamingdem]

8. If that's so maybe Ed wants to leave

because of his wife or his own health.. I hope not, I can't imagine that either.

Well we better gear up to call and email msnbc if needed

[LukeFL]

38. Absolutely. Agree with you. DU should

Pinned a thread of support for Ed if MSNBC wants to get rid of him just because Scsrborough wants it.

[flamingdem]

42. Looks like Ed says that is was a rumor

So for the moment we don't have to worry, but it doesn't hurt to let people know

[ProudProgressiveNow]

22. +1 nt

[NoodleyAppendage]

6. Ed's wife was diagnosed with serious cancer...

...it might be related to his wife's illness?

[flamingdem]

9. He may have to be 100% on that

Maybe we'll find out next week

[Purveyor]

7. "Ezra Klein"...seriously?

[Sekhmets Daughter]

10. I like Ezra Klein....

I admire Ed's passion, but I think his analysis is frequently too simplistic. I usually switch to Current and Elliot Spitzer when Ed comes on. Perhaps either he or Ezra could take over that 7 pm slot that airs a repeat of Matthews at 5. On election night, as the returns were showing just how wrong the right wing media had been, I was reminded of how badly Ed interpreted what as going on within the Michigan recall effort.

[flamingdem]

12. Yes he can be wrong but his personal passion draws me into the stories

whereas Klein just seems wonky and very young.

Best would be Ed at 7pm so his day is shorter and those who watch him have him at the best hour.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

13. And here I was

thinking that if Ezra could get that 7 pm spot I could still catch Spitzer at 8...

[julian09]

24. Current Tv repeats their shows as does Msnbc.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

32. My opinion: stop repeat shows at 7 and 11 pm Eastern, and put in Ezra and Joy

Ann Reid as replacements.

Ed is often worthwhile, but his simplistic, bloviating style is better suited to radio than to TV. One dose of Ed per day is quite enough, especially now that election slogan season is over. Replace his 11 pm Eastern repeat with the thoughtful Ezra Klein. Getting him to plug the most important policy stories to read in his Washington Post IMO is far more valuable to Democrats than a second daily dose of Ed Shultz.

And have Joy Ann Reid follow Al Sharpton at 7, instead of a second dose of Chris Matthews so close to his 5pm slot. The Sharpton lead-in will ensure success for Reid and help build MSNBC's minority audience.

Also, have the free cable 'on demand' channel selections include the entire MSNVC line-up every day. just the way it includes The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. That would allow DUers easy access to shows that inspire Greatest Page posts.

[LancetChick]

11. Ezra Klein is a great guest, but...

... he's awkward and seems stifled by reading from a teleprompter. Of course, Jennifer Granholm on Current used to be the same way, and has improved immensely. If Ed is leaving, I doubt anyone else will be anywhere near as dedicated to labor issues.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

15. And that would be a loss,

I agree.

[chillfactor]

14. Ezra for Ed?

what ignoramus came up with that?

Ed fights for the middle-class worker.....

When Ezra subs for Rachel...I change the channel..he is boring ... Ezra is a good guest but carrying a program by himself? NO WAY

MSNBC would be better off replacing one of Chris' reruns...

[ProudProgressiveNow]

23. +1 nt

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

17. I'd like to see Joy Ann Reid get a shot over Ezra Klein

To me she's one of the most intelligent and well-spoken people without a show.

Another idea I'd like to see is some kind of humorous political satire talk show to simply break up the series of one similarly serious show after another going over the same stories, often with the same guests. It tends to get repetitive. I guess it might be hard to do such a show without offending the censors, however.

[flamingdem]

20. She's fantastic

and tough on the righties just like Ed

[Sekhmets Daughter]

30. Excellent suggestions, both.

[kentuck]

25. Ezra is too smart for MSNBC

Is it wise to place a bet on intelligence?

[flamingdem]

26. We demand entertainment

with our info

[standingtall]

27. Ezra does not display any passion

which makes him boring. Joy Reid however would be awesome.

[flamingdem]

28. She's great

and doesn't take any crapola from Republicans

[ancianita]

31. Love Ezra, but it's waaay more important that Ed Schults represent the ongoing labor interests

of America. This government needs workers' constant monitoring. Workers can't be lurching from crisis to crisis. Media tools to get the word out about labor activity are crucial to Democratic interests.

[Hamlette]

33. there is a group of people who think Ed is a blowhard.

When I tell my liberal friends that I watch MSNBC many say they can't stand Ed. I don't watch him, not a fan. Of course I agree with him politically but I don't like his style I guess. If I had to say, I'd say Ed was hurting the MSNBC brand more than helping.

[union_maid]

39. I like Ed, but I also agree

I was very excited when he was coming to MSNBC. He seemed like just the kind of person we were missing and a larger audience for him would be great. That actually might all still be true, but I couldn't take the yelling after a while. After a long workday and all that, I just didn't want the teevee hollering at me. So, I stopped watching him so much.

[LukeFL]

40. Absolutely NOT. He defends workers

He's the good kind blowhard- look at orally how such a blowhard he's been for fox over the years and he's still there.

We Dems are a bunch if sissies we have one guy PaSsionate about the Dems main platform (workers) and we think he's a blowhard......

What the hell gives????

[Rosco T.]

34. On Ed's radio show today, second hour

He addressed this... Interesting short version..

Bullshit.

[LukeFL]

41. What did he say?

I can't listen to his show because I work.. I hope he doesn't leave tv.

[Raine]

35. I like Ezra but I don't want him taking Ed's spot. nt

[Cleita]

36. I like Ed. I hope he doesn't go or at least

lands somewhere else.