Karen Finney: The Next Carlos Watson on MSNBC?

MSNBC has been giving Karen Finney, former press secretary for Hillary Clinton, a looksie this morning. Finney has been a regular on MSNBC’s pundit circuit with heavy rotation on Morning Meeting among other shows. But she hasn’t been put in the role of interviewer. Today she is. Several times this morning Alex Witt has handed off to Finney to host a segment of the news program. As this is not normal practice at MSNBC. In fact I can’t ever recall seeing anything like this before. This has to be a not so below the radar looksie at Finney by the network. Putting Finney on Saturday to test her interviewing chops instead of a weekday is less risky and carries a lower level profile than doing it during M-Fr dayside when there are more eyeballs and the fight for airtime is greater.

It’s clear Finney is being evaluated. But for what? Is MSNBC looking to do a repeat of the Carlos Watson experiment where a non-anchor/journalist takes over an hour of MSNBC M-Fr daytime? I hope not. It was a mistake then and it would still be a mistake now. Watson came and went so fast though, faster than one would think possible given he was part of MSNBC’s July reboot that included paring Shuster and Hall, dropping Norah O’Donnell as M-Fr anchor, and debuting Morning Meeting and Dr. Nancy, so his quick departure raised eyebrows. It was so sudden that I’m not 100% certain it was purely a ratings thing (Snyderman’s ratings were arguably worse) and there may have been some behind the scenes thing that came up which caused the network to drop Watson. In which case, the likelihood greatly increases that the network is looking to give Finney a bigger more substantial role at the network as a possible replacement.

What’s Hot/What’s Not: Submissions…

Post your nominations for this week’s What’s Hot/What’s Not. I’ll post the finalists on Sunday night…

In Depth: White House Rope-a-Dope?

Mediaite’s Colby Hall offers an interesting theory on why the White House picked a fight with FNC…

But missing in all of this analysis and critique is any explanation of what the White House had to gain by the brouhaha. Many presumed that the White House intended to marginalize or delegitimize Fox News. But I think there was a more solid logic behind the White House strategy: they wanted to pass health care reform legislation, and this was the best way to do it.

I have no idea if this is true or not but it’s an interesting thought. However as evidence for the theory Hall cites this stat…

“Health care” was mentioned by Fox 2361 times in August. In October, it was only mentioned 1558 times. Meanwhile, Anita Dunn — who wasn’t mentioned once in August — has been referenced 121 times this month.

Whether picking a fight with FNC to distract it from hammering the Administration is possible or not I have no idea. But there’s another, more obvious, reason why the stats Hall cited are the way they are: Town Hall meetings. There were Town Hall meetings with members of Congress all through August and those town halls were covered extensively by many outlets, but especially FNC. Even if the White House hadn’t engaged FNC in a war, that number would have still fallen off by October because there were no more Town Halls taking place.

The open question is whether they would have fallen off by that amount if there was no spat with FNC. A clue could be found by looking at the stats for September. Unfortunately Hall doesn’t give those numbers so we just don’t know how fast things were trending down. If the September numbers were nearer the October numbers than the August numbers that would suggest the Town Halls skewed the numbers and the fight didn’t have the impact Hall thinks it did. If the numbers for September were closer to August than October then Hall may be on to something. The numbers for Dunn are really a non-sequitur. Dunn didn’t do anything to make waves in August so of course things would spike in October. But that doesn’t prove one way or another that the White House’s fight with FNC was to distract it from Health Care reform.

Free for All: 10/30/09

What’s on your mind?

Stick to What You’re in Business For…

A couple of weeks ago I ripped FBN for covering the Balloon Boy story instead of business news. Today, The Business Insider’s Gus Lubin notes some non-business stuff going on at CNBC.com…

To maintain its premium positioning as the serious business news channel, CNBC doesn’t stoop to the sort of tricks and gimmicks that dominate less-serious business news networks. Being “First in Business Worldwide!,” means sticking to the serious stuff.

And that’s just what CNBC.com is doing today in its report about the lingerie and Halloween costume industries.

The full analyses are on CNBC, and we’ve included helpful links to them at the end.

Opinion Taints the News at FNC?

James Rainey writes in the LA Times that opinion is tainting the news at FNC…

So Fox news anchors and reporters hype “tea parties” that rail against the Obama administration. Reporters flog liberals who support healthcare reform while tossing softballs to conservatives who are sure government is growing out of control. The nightly “Fox All Stars,” capping a news program, employs a quirky math that finds two rock-ribbed conservatives plus one neutral party equal one balanced panel.

In one not atypical session this week, the all-stars and host Bret Baier returned to the ubiquitous question of healthcare reform. The Weekly Standard’s Steve Hayes asserted that “the Democratic Party seems like it’s in disarray on this, the signature domestic policy item of the president.” Columnist Charles Krauthammer repeated a regular Republican talking point, finding it “astonishing” that Democrats are pushing “restructuring one-sixth of the American economy and don’t even have a bill, don’t even have a scoring, don’t even know what opting in and opting out means.”

Baier, the ostensibly unbiased host, then helpfully reminded Krauthammer that he had previously contended that the so-called public option is merely a “camel’s nose under the tent” toward single-payer insurance. Of course, Krauthammer agreed, “it is the royal road to government-controlled healthcare.” This is the nightly pattern on the All-Star panel that caps off Fox’s “Special Report.” Two conservative panelists express opinions ranging from mild disdain to utter disgust with the Obama administration. Then a third panelist, typically a journalist like Juan Williams or Mara Liasson, stakes out far less ideological ground.

I asked a Fox spokeswoman how this represented balance, and she said I seemed so set in my disapproval that it wasn’t worth offering a rebuttal.

Another FBN Ratings Leak…

The Business Insider’s Joe Wiesenthal was leaked FBN’s ratings for Don Imus’ show…

Fox Biz has finally attracted some viewers by having Don Imus in the morning, rather than actual business news. But they can’t be too happy with the demographics. It seems Don Imus has virtually no appeal in the lucrative 25-54 year old demo.

A tipster passed us on the data:

I’ve said it before and I’ll keep on saying it. FBN isn’t rated by Nielsen officially. My position is it’s well past time it should be. But it isn’t, and therefore any leaked numbers should be considered as invalid. And should not be posted under any circumstances. And I will continue to call for a boycott of FBN ratings until it is rated by Nielsen.

White House Administration People Back Appearing on FNC…

Johnny Dollar emails in the following…

Don’t know if it means anything, but (Major) Garrett had an interview with one of Biden’s economic team last nite, and Greta just interviewed Hillary. They weren’t giving any admin figures to FNC. So maybe there is something to the truce?

The Hazards of Live TV: #25,028

It would have to happen on FNC wouldn’t it…oy…(via J$)

Bill George Clarifies Blog Post…

ICN received a statement from Bill George via a media relations person regarding the posting of George’s commentary yesterday concerning several TV talking heads…

Yesterday a member of my social media team published a piece on my blog regarding the lack of balanced, rationale dialogue in the media. The publication of this piece (“Olbermann Overkill Is Hurting America”) was inadvertent, because I had not yet made my final edits on it. I passionately believe that the nation must engage in a more balanced, rational discussion about our economic and political problems, however, I did not approve of the writing’s particular criticism of certain commentators. Regrettably, the piece singled out several individuals, in particular Keith Olbermann. The view expressed regarding these individuals are not mine.

Update: This is the post George says he had intended to publish…

Shepard Smith Interview…

Men’s Journal’s John DeVore has an interview with Shepard Smith…an interview of a more personal nature…(via Mediaite)

Ideology

I try to stay away from the conservative and the liberal labels; they get me in trouble. The extremes and I don’t work well together. I think people who wrap themselves up in their ideology are simply not interesting. I just want to do the news.

Guilty pleasure

Driving my 2008 Mercedes CLK550. It’s my only car, so it’s definitely my favorite. I like to put the top down and go really fast on the Long Island Expressway — and not get caught.

Home

Greenwich Village. It has every kind of person on the planet and everything’s pretty relaxed. I love the freedom that comes with New York, the fact that you never have to plan anything. It’s what everybody says: You can get anything at any time, do anything at any time, get anywhere at any time. There’s nothing you can’t do if you have the wherewithal to get it done.

Press Releases: 10/29/09

CNN (1), CNBC (1)

CNBC

CNBC PRESENTS “COCA-COLA: THE REAL STORY BEHIND THE REAL THING”

CNBC ORIGINAL TAKES A NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN LOOK INSIDE THE WORLD’S MOST RECOGNIZABLE BRAND

One-Hour Documentary Reported by CNBC’s Melissa Lee Premieres on CNBC on Wednesday, November 11th at 9PM ET/PT

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., October 29, 2009-It’s a 67 billion dollar empire that sells its products in 206 countries and in the farthest reaches of the globe. It’s the most iconic enterprise in the history of American business. But despite being the number one beverage company in the world, Coca-Cola is battling new competition and fighting to maintain its supremacy on its home ground.

Keith Olbermann is Hurting America?

Former Medtronic CEO Bill George seems to think so…(via The Business Insider)

Update: George has apparently yanked his article from his blog. But it’s still up on The Business Insider…

Update 2: ICN received a statement from George from a media relations person regarding the posting on his site…

Yesterday a member of my social media team published a piece on my blog regarding the lack of balanced, rationale dialogue in the media. The publication of this piece (“Olbermann Overkill Is Hurting America”) was inadvertent, because I had not yet made my final edits on it. I passionately believe that the nation must engage in a more balanced, rational discussion about our economic and political problems, however, I did not approve of the writing’s particular criticism of certain commentators. Regrettably, the piece singled out several individuals, in particular Keith Olbermann. The view expressed regarding these individuals are not mine.

Update 3: This is the post George says he had intended to publish…

I voted for Barack Obama. I never watch FOX News. I am not a raging conservative.

And I think Keith Olbermann is hurting America.

An uncompromising megaphone of partisan rancor, Olbermann perpetuates the single-mindedness and inflexible partisanship that now roil the country, both on and off Capitol Hill. His rants against former President Bush, former Republican politicians, and shock-media rival Rush Limbaugh contribute little to constructive debate about how we can fix today’s true problems. And his soapbox forays in such segments as the “Worst Person in the World” – a daily lambast of often unsavory, but many just politically conservative characters – have made Mr. Olbermann the news day’s political alienator and ire-monger of choice for the partisan left.

Keith Olbermann would not necessarily concern me if he were a TV aberration, an exception to the broadcast-news rule. But his ilk have become the standard, as similarly irrational and incendiary political foils like Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly merely bounce back the ill will.

Free for All: 10/29/09

What’s on your mind?

Look Out…Campbell Brown’s Opinion is Making a Comeback?

Remember back when CNN brought Campbell Brown in to CNN and how they said they were going to keep her show away from being about opinion? And then remember how her show started becoming about opinion after Brown’s “Free Sarah Palin” piece? And remember how CNN started playing up the “new” Brown’s opinion in its advertising and calling the show “No Bias, No Bull”? And then recall how CNN re-branded her show after her 2nd maternity leave and quietly dropped the whole opinion thing? And subsequent to that, recall how the numbers for her 8pm show continued to languish behind MSNBC in the ratings?

Well yesterday, Brown followed up on her interview with Valerie Jarrett by doing something that could look like a return to her giving her opinion again…

She told viewers, “What confuses me is that if the White House is really so concerned about bias in the media, then why are they only targeting Fox?”

“Jarrett seems loathe to admit that MSNBC has a bias,” she said, “And that is where I think the White House loses all credibility on this issue.” She admitted that “partisan opinion” has drawn big ratings for both of those networks.

“I’m not critical of what my friends at Fox News and MSNBC do, but it is apples and oranges when compared to what we at CNN do,” she added. “And we should all just acknowledge that.”

So the question is: was this a one time exception or will we be hearing more of Brown’s opinions in the future?

Shot Fired at Lou Dobbs’ House?

FNC’s Saturday Business Block Surges…But Where’s the Business?

Under the umbrella heading of “Neil Cavuto related ratings”, Talking Biz News has ratings for some of FNC’s “business oriented” programming including the Saturday “Business Block”…

“Business Block” on Saturdays, which Cavuto oversees, saw growth in both total viewers to 1,022,000, up 20 percent and in the 25 to 54 demographic with 311,000, up 16 percent. That’s for the year to date compared to the same time period in 2008.

But at what cost? This is admittedly a long standing pet peeve of mine because I had been watching the Saturday business block since 1999. And I’ve seen a noticeable and most unwelcome change in what goes on during that two hour period. It shifted a bit after 9/11 but really started changing within the past few years. The shows used to be much more market oriented/business related. Viewers/home investors could tune in to see what the experts were saying about what’s going on. Now the shows are heavily politics oriented under the guise of being business related. Whatever business aspects that go on are tangential at best.

Take Bulls and Bears. Used to be a stock/business program. Not anymore. It’s now for all intents and purposes a politics show where the panelists frequently foam at the mouth regarding the latest calamity in the making that will surely wreck Wall Street and the US Economy if it comes to pass. I haven’t seen Gary B. Smith’s charts in an age. Instead I’ve seen him do his best Chris Matthews’ impersonation where yelling louder and louder is conflated with making a strong point. Pat Dorsey, bless his heart, is like the sole voice of reason and moderation these days, even when he agrees with the rest of the gang.

So, the business block’s ratings are booming. Great. But what happened to the business part of the business block? Maybe it’s time to retire that moniker. People who watched me on Mediaite’s Office Hours a few weeks back know that one of these days I’m going to document each segment that airs for a given business block program just to show you how far away from meat and potatoes business these shows have strayed.

CNBC Ratings Leak Wars…

The Business Insider’s Jay Yarrow posted a long range CNBC ratings leak this afternoon.

CNBC haters rejoiced yesterday, when Zero Hedge reported that the network’s October ratings had fallen 50% year over year.

As we said yesterday, however, this doesn’t mean much. Last October was the middle of financial Armageddon. But over a longer-term timeframe, the network is still crushing it.

This was followed later in the day by a rebuttal from Zero Hedge which had a shorter term ratings leak…

Our post yesterday highlighting the 50% decline in CNBC YoY vierwership seems to have generated a bit of controversy. In order to preserve objectivity, we take this opportunity to present the overall shift in monthly CNBC viewership over the past two years, where both the spike in CNBC viewers in October 2008 is quite visible, as are the flat trendline in the business channel’s demo (A25-54) and the declining trendline in its total viewership (P2+). Whether this trend is something that should prompt Jay Yarow at Business Insider to claim that that CNBC is “crushing it” is somewhat open to interpretation. And for those asking, a two year comparison, ignoring the outlier October 2008 data set, indicates a flat demo and an 8.4% decline in CNBC’s total audience. Indeed, in an a “new normal” economy, this could indeed be the new crushing it.

So what does it all mean? It means CNBC is leaking to The Business Insider and FBN is leaking to Zero Hedge. Outside of that the numbers themselves are like statistics. Depending on how you parse the stats, the news can be good or bad. But any decent network research person will tell you that the viewer numbers alone aren’t the whole picture in how successful a network is. But that’s a much longer, more complicated story than I care to get into and you would really want to hear about…

The Weather Channel Gets “Zucker-ized”?

The Wall Street Journal’s Michelle Kung writes about the Weather Channel airing movies for the first time. Would a forensic examination of the channel reveal the fingerprints of Jeff Zucker; the man who loves to dilute channel purity with taped programming (e.g. MSNBC and CNBC’s non-topical docs)? Sounds like it to me…

For the first time in 27 years, The Weather Channel is mixing up its programming schedule of, well, the weather, to include full-length feature films. Four titles — “The Perfect Storm,” “March of the Penguins,” “Deep Blue Sea” and “Misery” — will make their debut on the station over the course of the next month. (Severe weather alert addicts needn’t worry: updated temps will continue to scroll at the bottom of the screen during the airing of each film, and full reports will post at the top and bottom of every hour.)

Over-hyped Truce?

Ok, there’s been some talk today about a meeting between White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and FNC’s Michael Clemente about a “truce” between the White House and FNC.

I think the term “truce” is vastly over-hyping things. The attacks have been pretty one sided as far as “the war” goes. It’s been all White House practically. It’s the White House that got itself in this mess. It’s the White House that backed itself into a corner. FNC, on the other hand, doesn’t have anything to really back down from. So now we’re hearing the word “truce”. A truce implies that both sides knock it off (see: Olbermann/O’Reilly). What does FNC have to knock off? Glenn Beck’s rhetoric? Not going to happen. FNC doesn’t have anything to gain by throttling Beck. The whole reason Beck was hired by Ailes in the first place, as Beck tells it, is that Ailes wanted the equivalent of the “last defender at the gate” fighting off the hordes. Or something to that effect. Which, whether you like his tactics or not or agree with him or not, is exactly what Beck has been doing. Neutering or restraining Beck does not get you there. A “truce” from FNC’s side makes no sense.

But from the White House’s side, the term “truce” is a must. It needs something to cover its ass as it retreats from a bone headed, ill-thought out line of attack which has backfired more spectacularly than O’Reilly’s Phil Donahue petition all because there are some thin skinned types who think they can play hardball with a news network and win. So maybe FNC will throw the White House a bone, something superficially significant but ultimately tangential or unsubstantial, just to get the whole thing over with because in the very long term this conflict really is bad for both sides. But let’s not misunderstand what’s going on here. This is a truce to save face for the White House, not to make life easier for FNC.

In Depth: Non-story…

The AP’s David Bauder makes a story where there isn’t one. Nobody in the industry has been talking at all about MSNBC adding a 10pm show since before Ed Schultz started. There’s been no kibitzing or discussing. The last time I even referenced MSNBC and 10 pm was back in March and it was from an article by Bauder. Yet now the topic of MSNBC’s 10pm plans mysteriously came alive again all of a sudden? Baloney.

But this does give Bauder the opportunity to interview Phil Griffin and Keith Olbermann. And Griffin is saying the exact same thing now that he was saying in March…no 10pm show because Countdown is doing so well. I feel like I’m going through a deja vu moment here…

MSNBC is much less likely to start a third prime-time news show because its executives are pleased with how well a repeat of Keith Olbermann’s “Countdown” is doing at 10 p.m. ET.

MSNBC chief executive Phil Griffin talked this year of actively searching for a new 10 p.m. host. Reruns of Olbermann’s 8 p.m. show have aired there since March 2008.

Yet in October, Olbermann has averaged 600,000 viewers in that later time slot, nearly on par with Anderson Cooper’s 689,000 on CNN, the Nielsen Co. said. In the 25-to-54 demographic, which MSNBC most actively courts, Olbermann’s rerun beat Cooper’s first-run show in that hour for the first time ever. Fox News Channel’s Greta Van Susteren leads with just under 2 million total viewers.

Olbermann’s rerun is getting nearly 60 percent of the audience that his first-run show does earlier in the evening, Nielsen said.

“We’re looking, but nothing (new) has even come close to going in there at 10,” Griffin said. “We’ve set the bar so high we don’t want to break that success.”

I’ll give Bauder credit for slipping this sentence in though…

Continuing to air a rerun at that hour would save the news network millions of dollars.

Press Releases: 10/28/09

MSNBC (2)

MSNBC PRESENTS “FUTURE EARTH: 100 HEARTBEATS,” A TWO-HOUR SPECIAL ON THE PLIGHT OF ENDANGERED SPECIES, ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22ND, AT 8 PM ET

Wildlife Expert Jeff Corwin Takes Viewers to the Ends of the Earth in this Report on the Plight of Endangered Species

OCTOBER 28nd, 2009—Every 20 minutes, a distinct species of plant or animal throughout the world becomes extinct. At the current rate of extinction, scientists estimate that only half of the world’s animal species will remain by the end of the 21st century. While their theory is frightening, there is still hope. MSNBC’s latest documentary, 100 Heartbeats, tells the inspiring story of environmental heroes around the world who are working to save these dwindling species. 100 Heartbeats, hosted by renowned wildlife expert Jeff Corwin, premieres Sunday, November 22nd, 8-10 PM ET on MSNBC.

Free for All: 10/28/09

What’s on your mind?

T.J. Holmes Interview…

EURweb.com’s Tibberly G. Richard has an interview with CNN’s T.J. Holmes. Part 1. Part 2. (via Soup Cans)

In 2006, just three years later, he reached a pivotal point in his career when he joined CNN where he now co-anchors the weekend edition of the CNN Newsroom with colleague and friend Betty Nguyen. Since joining the CNN Family, T.J. has anchored a number of major breaking news stories, including the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India; the Virginia Tech shooting; and Saddam Hussein’s execution.

To help you understand the shear magnitude of T.J.’s accomplishments to date, and the challenges that he faced – take note of these stats – according to a report by Bob Papper of Ball State University for the Radio-Television News Directors Association, titled “Women and Minorities in the Newsroom” the broadcast news workforce, in non-satellite television stations, consists of just over 10% for blacks and 2.3% for Asian Americans, compared to the more than 78% of jobs held by their white counterparts.

Holmes has managed to not only beat the odds, but he is doing it on his own terms. He has a refreshing and sometimes non-traditional approach to reporting the news, which he admits he gets called on sometimes. When asked how he developed his style, he says likes to keep things simple. He asks questions that he thinks someone sitting at home would want to know. As for his sometimes playful and bold interview style, he says that he is a product of his environment, and that the person you see on TV is who was as a kid.

“I can credit my mom and dad for developing that style, because they developed me. I grew up in a house where my dad was really outgoing and my mom had this really dry wit. So, I’m really just a product of my parents.”

CNN’s Primetime Demo Fall…

The New York Times’ Bill Carter writes ominously about CNN’s primetime demo failure…

Perhaps most alarming for CNN was the performance of Anderson Cooper, who has become the signature host for the network in prime time. Mr. Cooper, who as recently as 2008 was a ratings leader at 10 p.m., finished fourth and last at 10 p.m. in October. He trailed not only the leader, Greta Van Susteren, on Fox, but Keith Olbermann on MSNBC and Ms. Grace on HLN, despite the fact that both those shows were repeats of programs that had been broadcast at 8 p.m.

In an interview in March, Jon Klein, the president of CNN’s domestic networks, said that Mr. Cooper’s program was an hour “where we could win.”

Mr. Klein was traveling and unavailable for comment. Other CNN executives said that Mr. Cooper’s decline was largely because of a slower news period and that Mr. Klein had meant Mr. Cooper, whose show is focused on news coverage and not opinion, could win when news was driving viewers to his program.

The executives also argued that CNN still easily beat MSNBC (though it continues to trail Fox News badly) in terms of total viewers over the full day of programming.

That last paragraph deserves its own story but I doubt we’ll get it. Nobody seems to be interested much in what’s going on with MSNBC dayside and how it’s dragging down MSNBC overall.

October Numbers: MSNBC…

Catching up on my in box after running around looking for my snorkel a pumpkin, MSNBC is noting its October numbers…

MSNBC BEATS CNN IN PRIMETIME IN OCTOBER

MSNBC Out-Rates CNN at 7, 8, 9 and 10 PM Among A25-54

CNN in Fourth Place in Primetime in A25-54

NEW YORK – Oct. 27, 2009 – MSNBC out-rated CNN in primetime in October 2009, among both total viewers and the key Adults 25-54 demographic, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. MSNBC beat CNN soundly in every hour of primetime in October, including for the first time at 10 p.m. ET as a repeat of “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” drew more A25-54 than “Anderson Cooper 360″ (218,000 vs. 210,000). Following are MSNBC ratings highlights for October 2009:

Another CNBC Ratings Leak…

Zero Hedge gets yet another CNBC ratings leak…

If anyone wants to know why CNBC anchors are so pale and nervous these days, look no further. As Comcast CEO Brian Roberts considers what to keep and what to, well, cut, post his digestion of NBC Universal (assuming deal rumors are true naturally) his eyes likely cast casual nervous glances at Nielsen reports of CNBC viewership. Yet his nervousness is quite minor compared to what actual employees must be feeling after Nielsen reported a 50% plunge in CNBC vierwership in October year over year. Specifically, CNBC has experienced a massive 52% decline in overall viewers during business day hours (5 am – 7 pm), and a not much better 49% drop in its demo (25-54) in the month of October as compared to last year. Specific shows that are likely to follow the fate of Dennis Kneale’s recently cancelled 8pm gobbledygook are likely the Kudlow Report and Mad Money, which are down 59% and 56%, respectively.

Free for All: 10/27/09

What’s on your mind?

Blogus Interruptus…

Blogging resumes Tuesday night…or Wednesday morning.

October Numbers: Wrap Up…

Mediaite’s Steve Krakauer writes about the October numbers…

Meanwhile with MSNBC, the cable network is stuck in 4th place in total day in both total viewers and the demo. HLN moves up to #2 in the demo, while CNN is #2 in total viewers. While its opinion programming in prime time has succeeded, the new line-up during the day is not nearly as successful.

That’s an understatement. Another way of putting it is Dayside, which used to have a negligible impact on the network’s ratings (in either direction), is dragging down MSNBC’s overall performance now. The experiment of Dr. Nancy and Morning Meeting, pairing Hall and Shuster, rotating program formats at 2pm, none of it is working – not enough to make a difference in MSNBC’s slide anyways.