History of MSNBC in Timeline
MSNBC is an American cable news channel that launched on July 15, 1996. It is owned by the NBCUniversal News Group, a division of Comcast, and is headquartered in Manhattan. The channel primarily focuses on rolling news coverage and is known for its liberal-leaning political commentary.
1940: Reference to the Fall of France
During the 2020 Nevada Democratic caucuses, MSNBC host Chris Matthews invoked "the fall of France" to the Nazis in 1940 as a metaphor for Bernie Sanders' apparent victory in the state. This analogy was criticized.
July 15, 1996: MSNBC Launch
On July 15, 1996, MSNBC, an American cable news channel owned by NBCUniversal News Group, was launched. Headquartered in Manhattan, it broadcasts news coverage and political commentary.
2000: MSNBC's Ratings Exceeded by Fox News
In January 2021, MSNBC had its highest-rated week ever in the wake of the January 6 United States Capitol attack, exceeding the ratings of Fox News for the first time since 2000.
January 2001: Mike Barnicle's MSNBC Show Starts
In January 2001, Mike Barnicle's MSNBC show premiered.
June 2001: Mike Barnicle's Show Canceled
In June 2001, Mike Barnicle's MSNBC show was canceled due to high production costs. Also in June, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer expressed regret over starting MSNBC due to difficulties attracting viewers.
September 11, 2001: MSNBC Provides Up-to-the-Minute Coverage of September 11 Attacks
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, NBC utilized MSNBC to provide up-to-the-minute coverage from NBC News, supplementing longer stories on broadcast NBC. Also on September 11, Ashleigh Banfield was present during the collapse of Building 7 while covering the World Trade Center.
2001: MSNBC trails CNN in Ratings
In 2001, CNN had higher viewership than MSNBC in both primetime and overall ratings. By 2010, MSNBC continued to outperform CNN in key demographics.
2003: Michael Savage's show cancellation
In July 2003, Michael Savage's weekend talk show on MSNBC was canceled after he made homophobic remarks towards a prank caller, telling him he "should get AIDS and die." Savage was subsequently dismissed from the network.
2004: Audience viewership during the 2008 presidential campaign more than doubled from the 2004 presidential election
In 2008, audience viewership during the presidential campaign more than doubled from the 2004 presidential election
2005: MSNBC Attracts Liberal Viewers
In late 2005, MSNBC started attracting liberal and progressive viewers as Keith Olbermann began critiquing conservative media commentators on Countdown With Keith Olbermann.
June 7, 2006: Rick Kaplan Resigns as President of MSNBC
On June 7, 2006, Rick Kaplan resigned as president of MSNBC after two years in the role.
June 29, 2006: Abrams Announces Revamp of MSNBC Schedule
On June 29, 2006, Dan Abrams announced the revamp of MSNBC's early-primetime and primetime schedule.
September 24, 2007: Abrams Leaves General Manager Position
On September 24, 2007, Dan Abrams announced he was leaving his general manager position to focus on his show, Live With Dan Abrams. Oversight of MSNBC shifted to Phil Griffin.
2007: MSNBC Ratings Increase
From mid-2007 to mid-2008, MSNBC experienced a large increase in its Nielsen ratings. Primetime viewings increased by 61 percent.
2007: Don Imus's controversial remarks and show cancellation
In 2007, Don Imus, whose radio show Imus in the Morning was simulcast on MSNBC, made racist and sexist comments about the Rutgers University women's basketball team, referring to them as "some nappy-headed hoes." The remarks led to widespread outrage, advertiser withdrawal, and the cancellation of the MSNBC simulcast. Imus and NBC News issued apologies.
2007: MSNBC Shifts Focus to Politics
In 2007, after a seven-year survey of cable channels, MSNBC shifted its focus to politics, incorporating opinion and personality into its brand.
May 2008: MSNBC Experiences Large Increase in Ratings
In May 2008, MSNBC experienced a significant increase in its Nielsen ratings, with primetime viewings increasing by 61 percent.
June 2008: Tim Russert's Death Leads to Transition Period
In June 2008, Tim Russert's sudden death led to a period of transition for MSNBC. Russert was considered the rudder for the network.
September 2008: Rachel Maddow Hired to Host The Rachel Maddow Show
In September 2008, MSNBC hired Rachel Maddow to host The Rachel Maddow Show. The show regularly outperformed CNN's Larry King Live.
2008: MSNBC Coverage of 2008 Presidential Election
During the 2008 presidential election, MSNBC's coverage was anchored by Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews, and David Gregory. During the first three months of the campaign, MSNBC's ratings grew by 158 percent. Audience viewership more than doubled from the 2004 presidential election.
January 1, 2009: MLB Network Launches from Former MSNBC Building
On January 1, 2009, Major League Baseball launched MLB Network from the former MSNBC building.
February 2, 2010: Verizon FiOS Adds MSNBC
On February 2, 2010, FiOS added the MSNBC channel in New York City and New Jersey after entering into a new contract. This followed a formal complaint filed by Verizon with the Federal Communications Commission and arguments from Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal regarding the legality of an exclusive carriage agreement between MSNBC and Cablevision.
April 12, 2010: MSNBC launches on XM and Sirius Satellite Radio
On April 12, 2010, MSNBC launched on XM Satellite Radio channel 120 and Sirius Satellite Radio channel 90, marking its second availability on satellite radio.
June 2010: MSNBC airs "Rise of the New Right" documentary
In June 2010, MSNBC aired the documentary "Rise of the New Right," featuring interviews with right-wing figures such as Dick Armey, Orly Taitz, and Alex Jones, as well as footage from the Michigan Militia's survival training camp and Rand Paul's senatorial campaign trail.
October 11, 2010: MSNBC Unveils "Lean Forward" Marketing Campaign
On October 11, 2010, MSNBC launched a $2 million "Lean Forward" marketing campaign to promote the channel as a progressive competitor to Fox News.
October 2010: MSNBC Adopts 'Lean Forward' Tagline
In October 2010, MSNBC adopted the tagline "Lean Forward". Some media outlets claimed that the network was embracing its politically progressive identity.
November 5, 2010: Keith Olbermann Suspended
On November 5, 2010, MSNBC President Phil Griffin suspended Keith Olbermann indefinitely without pay for donating $2,400 to each of three Democratic Party candidates during the 2010 midterm election cycle, violating NBC News policy.
November 7, 2010: Olbermann's Thank You and Reinstatement Announcement
On November 7, 2010, following his suspension on November 5, Keith Olbermann posted a thank you message to supporters via Twitter. That same day, MSNBC announced that he would return to the air on November 9.
2010: MSNBC Beats CNN in Viewership
In 2010, MSNBC surpassed CNN in both primetime and overall viewership for the first time since 2001, marking a significant achievement for the network.
2010: MSNBC Continues Lead Over CNN
In the third quarter of 2010, MSNBC continued to outperform CNN, becoming the only cable news network to have its key adult demographic viewership grow.
January 21, 2011: Keith Olbermann Departs from MSNBC
On January 21, 2011, Keith Olbermann announced his departure from MSNBC, with the episode being the final episode of Countdown. He later moved his show to Current TV.
July 16, 2012: Microsoft Sells Stake in MSNBC.com
On July 16, 2012, Microsoft sold its stake in MSNBC.com to NBCUniversal, and the website was rebranded as NBCNews.com.
November 15, 2013: Martin Bashir's Resignation After Controversial Comment About Sarah Palin
On November 15, 2013, Martin Bashir criticized Sarah Palin for equating the federal debt to slavery, referencing the cruel punishment of slaves and suggesting Palin deserved "a dose of discipline from Thomas Thistlewood." Bashir resigned following backlash.
2013: Alec Baldwin's show suspended
In 2013, Alec Baldwin's show Up Late with Alec Baldwin was suspended after five episodes because Baldwin used a homophobic slur towards a photographer in New York City.
2014: MSNBC Ratings Decline
During 2014, MSNBC's total ratings in the 25–54 demographic declined by 20 percent, falling to third place behind CNN, though it retained its lead among Hispanic and African-American demographics.
2015: Allegations of Anti-Israel Bias against Ayman Mohyeldin
In 2015, Ayman Mohyeldin was reporting live from Gaza for MSNBC, where he claimed to have witnessed an unarmed Palestinian man being shot by Israeli police. However, it was later revealed that the man was wielding a large knife.
2015: MSNBC Transition to Hard News Programming
In 2015, MSNBC transitioned from left-leaning, opinionated programming to hard news. Daytime opinionated news programs were replaced, leading to the departure of Ronan Farrow, Joy Reid, Krystal Ball, Touré, Abby Huntsman, Alex Wagner, and Ed Schultz. Al Sharpton's "PoliticsNation" moved to the weekend. NBC News personalities such as Jose Diaz-Balart, Chuck Todd, Kate Snow, Thomas Roberts, and Brian Williams took over the news programs. A new logo, news ticker, and graphics package were introduced in late summer 2015.
April 2016: MSNBC Ad Campaign Launch
In April 2016, MSNBC launched a promotional ad campaign with the theme, "in order to know beyond, you have to go beyond." The campaign promoted MSNBC's reporting and perspectives as "in depth" and an alternative to "talking points" coverage on other cable news outlets.
June 2016: New Tagline "This is who we are"
In June 2016, MSNBC introduced a new tagline, "This is who we are." This tagline appeared on MSNBC.
September 2016: Launch of The 11th Hour with Brian Williams
In September 2016, MSNBC launched "The 11th Hour with Brian Williams," a nightly wrap-up of the day's news and a preview of the following day's headlines. This was MSNBC's first new primetime program in nearly four years.
January 2017: Debut of For the Record with Greta
In January 2017, MSNBC debuted "For the Record with Greta" in the 6 pm ET hour, hosted by Greta Van Susteren. The show aired for six months.
March 2017: Increased use of NBC News Branding
In March 2017, MSNBC began to increase its use of the NBC News branding during daytime news programming, as part of an effort to emphasize MSNBC's relationship with the division.
March 2017: Promotional Campaigns with "This is who we are" Slogan
Promotional campaigns including the slogan "This is who we are" were aired on MSNBC in March 2017.
May 8, 2017: Premiere of Deadline: White House
On May 8, 2017, MSNBC introduced a new late-afternoon program, "Deadline: White House," hosted by Nicolle Wallace.
June 2017: Cancellation of For the Record with Greta and Promotion of Ari Melber
In late June 2017, "For the Record with Greta" was cancelled after six months. Ari Melber was promoted to host "The Beat with Ari Melber" at 6 pm ET.
April 16, 2018: Premiere of Morning Joe First Look and Retirement of On-Air News Ticker
On April 16, 2018, MSNBC premiered "Morning Joe First Look," replacing "Way Too Early." The same day, MSNBC also retired its on-air news ticker to reduce distractions.
September 2018: MSNBC Availability in Households
As of September 2018, approximately 87 million households in the United States (90.7 percent of pay television subscribers) were receiving MSNBC.
February 2, 2019: NBC Runs Story About Tulsi Gabbard's Campaign Benefiting From Russian Media
On February 2, 2019, NBC ran a story about presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard claiming that her campaign was benefiting from Russian state media, stating that she had received twice as many mentions on RT, Sputnik News and Russia Insider compared to expected front-runners Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden.
March 2019: Accusation of MSNBC ceding editorial control to DNC
In March 2019, The Huffington Post journalist Yashar Ali accused MSNBC managing editor Dafna Linzer of allowing the Democratic National Committee to influence editorial decisions. Ali claimed he was discouraged from announcing DNC debate locations in advance, raising concerns about the network's impartiality.
September 2019: MSNBC's coverage of the 2020 Democratic primary
From August to September 2019, MSNBC's coverage of the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primary was analyzed later in December 2019 by In These Times. The analysis found that Joe Biden received twice the coverage of Elizabeth Warren and three times that of Bernie Sanders.
October 2019: Jacobin Argues MSNBC Embodies Trump-Era Liberalism
In October 2019, the American socialist magazine Jacobin argued that "MSNBC embodies the politics and sensibility of Trump-era liberalism,", but noted that MSNBC "wasn't always liberal."
November 2019: Andrew Yang's criticism of MSNBC's coverage
In November 2019, Andrew Yang and his supporters criticized MSNBC's coverage of his campaign, specifically regarding the amount of speaking time allocated to Yang during a primary debate hosted by the network.
November 2019: MSNBC Launches on Fetch TV in Australia
In November 2019, MSNBC launched in Australia on the Fetch TV online PayTV network, on channel 171, as a direct US feed without delay. Fetch TV also offers MSNBC programs on a reverse EPG, allowing viewers to watch shows from the previous 24 hours.
December 2019: Analysis of MSNBC's 2020 primary coverage
In December 2019, In These Times analyzed MSNBC's coverage of the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primary from August to September 2019, finding that Joe Biden received twice the coverage of Elizabeth Warren and three times that of Bernie Sanders. Sanders was also the most negatively portrayed candidate among the three.
2019: Pew Research Center Survey on MSNBC Viewers
A 2019 Pew Research Center survey showed that among Americans who named MSNBC as their main source for political news, 74% are ages 50 or older, with 44% ages 65 or older. 95% of those who named MSNBC as their main political news source identify as Democrats.
2019: MSNBC Viewership Ranking
Nielsen ratings showed that MSNBC ranked second among basic cable networks in 2019, averaging 1.8 million viewers, behind rival Fox News.
February 2020: Jason Johnson's suspension
In February 2020, MSNBC contributor Jason Johnson was temporarily suspended after making controversial remarks about Bernie Sanders' supporters and African-American staffers. He accused Sanders supporters of alienating minorities and made disparaging comments about Sanders' African-American staffers.
March 2, 2020: Chris Matthews' Resignation and Premiere of The ReidOut
On March 2, 2020, Chris Matthews abruptly resigned from "Hardball" and MSNBC amid controversy. On July 20, MSNBC premiered "The ReidOut" with Joy Reid.
July 2020: Jason Johnson reinstated
In July 2020, Jason Johnson was reinstated as an MSNBC contributor after being temporarily suspended in February 2020 for controversial remarks about Bernie Sanders' supporters and African-American staffers.
December 7, 2020: Rashida Jones Named President of MSNBC
On December 7, 2020, MSNBC announced that Rashida Jones would succeed Phil Griffin as president in 2021.
2020: MSNBC Viewership During Democratic National Convention
During the first night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, MSNBC had an average viewership of over 5 million, the highest among three major cable news networks and ahead of CNN.
2020: MSNBC hosts' controversial historical references
In 2020, MSNBC faced scrutiny for historical references made by hosts during primary coverage. Chris Matthews compared Bernie Sanders to George McGovern and criticized Sanders' socialist label. He also made comments about Fidel Castro and socialism. Chuck Todd quoted an article comparing Sanders' supporters to Nazi brown shirts. Matthews later invoked "the fall of France" to describe Sanders' Nevada caucus victory. These analogies were criticized, and Matthews apologized.
2020: Analysis of MSNBC's 2020 primary coverage
In December 2019, a report analyzed MSNBC's coverage of the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primary from August to September 2019, discovering that Joe Biden received twice the coverage of Elizabeth Warren and three times that of Bernie Sanders. Sanders was also the most negatively portrayed candidate among the three.
January 2021: MSNBC's Highest-Rated Week
In January 2021, MSNBC had its highest-rated week ever in the wake of the January 6 United States Capitol attack, exceeding the ratings of Fox News for the first time since 2000.
February 2021: Poynter Institute Argues MSNBC and Fox News Differ on Truth Basis
In February 2021, Tom Jones, writing for the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, argued that the primary distinction between MSNBC and Fox News is not left bias vs. right bias, but rather that much of the content on Fox News, especially during its primetime programs, is not based in truth.
March 29, 2021: Refreshed Logo and Rebranding of MSNBC Live
On March 29, 2021, MSNBC introduced a refreshed logo and on-air imaging, including rebranding its MSNBC Live rolling news block as MSNBC Reports.
July 2021: MSNBC Presence on Peacock Streaming Service
In July 2021, MSNBC gained a presence on NBCUniversal's Peacock streaming service by co-branding its streaming hub "The Choice" as "The Choice by MSNBC".
2021: Brian Williams' Departure
Brian Williams departed the network in late 2021 and was succeeded on The 11th Hour by Stephanie Ruhle.
2021: Rashida Jones Becomes President
Rashida Jones succeeded Griffin as president of MSNBC in 2021.
March 10, 2022: MSNBC Hub on Peacock
On March 10, 2022, it was announced that MSNBC would launch a hub on Peacock to subsume The Choice by MSNBC, including next-day, on-demand streaming of selected MSNBC programs, as well as specials and documentaries.
May 2022: Rachel Maddow's Hiatus and Return to Weekly Hosting
As part of her new contract with NBCUniversal, Rachel Maddow took an extended hiatus from her program to focus on other projects. Upon Maddow's return in May 2022, she announced that she would only host the show on Monday nights.
August 16, 2022: Premiere of Alex Wagner Tonight
On August 16, 2022, Alex Wagner became the permanent host in the timeslot with the premiere of "Alex Wagner Tonight", replacing MSNBC Prime.
November 8, 2022: Temporary Replacement of The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell
Ahead of the mid-term elections, "The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell" was temporarily replaced on Friday evenings from October 14 to November 8, 2022, by "The Kornacki Countdown".
2022: MSNBC Average Weekday Primetime Viewership
In 2022, MSNBC's average weekday primetime viewership was 1.2 million, compared to Fox News's 2.3 million, a decline of 21% from the previous year, and with 148,000 viewers in the "key demographic" of viewers aged 25–54.
March 19, 2023: Premiere of Inside with Jen Psaki
On March 19, 2023, MSNBC premiered the new Sunday-morning program "Inside with Jen Psaki", which is hosted by Jen Psaki.
April 2023: MSNBC added to Foxtel and Flash in Australia
In April 2023, MSNBC was added to subscription-television outlet Foxtel and its streaming service Flash in Australia. This was part of a negotiated programming agreement between the Foxtel Group and NBCUniversal.
September 7, 2023: Announcement of Inside with Jen Psaki Replacing All In on Mondays
On September 7, 2023, it was announced that "All In with Chris Hayes" would be replaced by an additional Monday-night edition of "Inside with Jen Psaki" beginning September 25.
September 2023: Changes to All In with Chris Hayes
Between February and September 2023, the Monday edition of "All in with Chris Hayes" also featured rotating guest hosts, with Chris Hayes only hosting from Tuesdays to Fridays to accommodate Hayes' other projects.
October 2023: MSNBC added to Binge in Australia
In October 2023, MSNBC was added to Binge, another of Foxtel's streaming services, in Australia.
November 2023: MSNBC's Top Shows
In November 2023, MSNBC's most watched nightly shows were The Beat with Ari Melber and Deadline: White House; The Beat was the highest-rated non-Fox News show in the demo on cable news, averaging around 1.8 million viewers that year.
2023: The Beat as One of the Most-Watched News Programs
In 2023, Variety reported that "The Beat" was one of the two "most-watched news programs on cable", alongside "The Five" on Fox News.
January 13, 2024: MSNBC Revamps Weekend Schedule
On January 13, 2024, MSNBC revamped its weekend schedule, ending Mehdi Hasan's 9 pm ET show on Sundays and introducing an ensemble show—"The Weekend"—hosted by Alicia Menendez, Symone Sanders-Townsend, and Michael Steele from 8–10 am on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The revamp would also end Yasmin Vossoughian Reports, Symone, and American Voices, and move The Sunday/Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart into the 6 pm slot and The Katie Phang Show to 12 pm on Saturdays. Ayman would also expand to two hours each on Saturdays and Sundays, and Alex Witt Reports would take over Yasmin Vossoughian's vacated two hours, now airing from 1–4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The 5 pm hour would be filled by the week-in-review shows The Beat Weekend and MSNBC Prime Weekend on Saturday and Sunday.
November 20, 2024: NBCUniversal Announces Intent to Spin Off MSNBC
On November 20, 2024, NBCUniversal announced its intent to spin off most of its cable networks, including MSNBC, as a new publicly traded company controlled by Comcast shareholders.
January 13, 2025: Return of The Rachel Maddow Show to Weeknight Schedule
On January 13, 2025, it was announced that "The Rachel Maddow Show" would temporarily return to a weeknight schedule from January 20 through April 30 to cover the first hundred days of the second presidency of Donald Trump.
January 14, 2025: Rashida Jones to Step Down as Head of MSNBC
On January 14, 2025, it was announced that Rashida Jones would step down as head of MSNBC.
February 2025: Rebecca Kutler Appointed President of MSNBC
After acting as interim president, Rebecca Kutler was appointed president of MSNBC in February 2025.
February 23, 2025: Kutler's Plans for Major Changes to MSNBC's Lineup
On February 23, 2025, it was reported that Kutler was planning a series of major changes to MSNBC's lineup, as well as plans to expand its newsgathering resources, establish a dedicated Washington bureau, and pursue Jacqueline Alemany and Eugene Daniels for on-air roles.
February 24, 2025: Kutler Announces Upcoming Changes to MSNBC's Lineup
On February 24, 2025, Kutler announced upcoming changes to MSNBC's lineup; "The ReidOut" was cancelled, with Joy Reid leaving the network after that night's episode. "Alex Wagner Tonight" was also cancelled, and will be replaced by a new show hosted by Jen Psaki.
March 2025: Alemany and Daniels to Serve as Panelists for The Weekend
In March 2025, MSNBC announced that Alemany and Daniels would serve as panelists for the morning edition of "The Weekend", with Daniels also serving as MSNBC's new senior Washington correspondent.
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