Dylan Ratigan Profile…

Mediate’s Steve Krakauer profiles MSNBC’s Dylan Ratigan…

M: Do you pay attention to what your competitors are doing? Do you play against anything that’s happening at the other cable news networks?

DR: I’m playing against myself. I feel like to look at what other people doing at the time slot has little creative value for me and the people working with. How compelling, accessible and how complete our conversation is, that will be how we measure success. The truth is, I’m not even watching those things.

M: Is it the same with the Today show?

DR: It’s a broader product that ultimately we may compete with in time slot, but I don’t know we compete with in content. I don’t see them as a competitor. You may have a better perspective than I do because you watch everything, what do you think?

M: Well, I don’t think you compete with the Today show, but obviously there’s a choice when it comes to cable news. But it seems like you’re doing something different than what was previously done at MSNBC at 9am. Instead of what CNN and Fox have, which is billed as “news,” you’re not doing the same thing.

DR: It definitely is not. I have the belief, and Phil Griffin has the belief, that there is value added in the analysis of information and to connect the dots through accessible conversation. That’s currently what you’re watching us attempt, and hopefully it will succeed.

I will say this – I couldn’t ask for a more graceful launch. I’m so appreciative of Phil and MSNBC and NBC News for helping achieve that.