History of MSNBC in Timeline
MSNBC is an American news channel and website based in New York City. Owned by NBCUniversal (a subsidiary of Comcast), it delivers news coverage and political commentary. The network broadcasts live from its studios at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan and provides content on its website, msnbc.com.
1940: Chris Matthews' Controversial Analogy
Chris Matthews, while commenting on the 2020 Nevada Democratic caucuses, sparked controversy by comparing Bernie Sanders' apparent victory to the fall of France to Nazi Germany in 1940, drawing criticism for the historical parallel.
July 15, 1996: MSNBC's Launch Day
On July 15, 1996, MSNBC made its debut. The inaugural show, anchored by Jodi Applegate, featured a blend of news, interviews, and commentary. The day's programming included rolling news coverage with "The Contributors," a show with Ann Coulter and Laura Ingraham, as well as interactive segments led by Applegate, John Gibson, and John Seigenthaler. In contrast to CNN's approach, MSNBC opted for longer, more in-depth stories. Notably, the network leveraged its connection with NBC by incorporating stories directly from NBC's network affiliates and breaking news coverage from those sources.
1996: MSNBC Launches with Plans for European Expansion
When MSNBC debuted in 1996, they announced intentions to broadcast in Europe the following year.
2000: Conservative and Centrist Anchors at MSNBC
In 2000, observations were made about the political leanings of MSNBC anchors, with some, like Joe Scarborough, known for his conservative views, and others, like Stephanie Ruhle, not aligning with specific political ideals.
January 2001: Mike Barnicle's Short-Lived Show
Mike Barnicle joined the MSNBC lineup in January 2001 with the launch of his own show. However, the high production costs associated with the show led to its cancellation just a few months later, in June 2001.
June 2001: Ballmer's Regret
In June 2001, Microsoft's chief executive officer, Steve Ballmer, expressed his disappointment with the challenges MSNBC had faced in attracting viewers, even going so far as to say he wouldn't have started the network had he known the difficulties that lay ahead.
September 11, 2001: MSNBC's Role in 9/11 Coverage
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, MSNBC became an essential platform for NBC News to provide real-time coverage, supplementing the more detailed reports on the main NBC network. With less financial news to cover, CNBC and CNBC Europe also relied on MSNBC's feed for a significant portion of the day. This tragic event thrust Ashleigh Banfield into the spotlight as she was present during the collapse of Building 7 while reporting on the World Trade Center. Her subsequent program, "Region In Conflict," capitalized on her newfound prominence, featuring exclusive interviews from Afghanistan.
2001: Previous Ratings Milestone
MSNBC's ratings victory in 2010 marked the first time it had beaten CNN in primetime and overall ratings since 2001.
2003: Michael Savage Fired from MSNBC
Michael Savage's brief stint hosting a weekend talk show on MSNBC ended in July 2003 after he made offensive remarks to a prank caller, leading to advertiser withdrawal, the cancellation of his show, and his dismissal from the network.
2003: Phil Donahue's Show Cancelled
Phil Donahue's show on MSNBC was canceled in 2003 due to his opposition to the Iraq War and his claims that the network enforced a conservative bias in guest selection.
2004: Audience Growth Compared to 2004
The 2008 presidential election saw MSNBC's audience more than double compared to the 2004 election. This surge in viewership propelled the channel to surpass CNN in ratings for the first time during the final three months of the campaign, particularly in the coveted 25–54 age demographic.
December 23, 2005: NBC Strengthens Control Over MSNBC
NBCUniversal made a strategic move on December 23, 2005, by announcing its acquisition of an additional 32% share of MSNBC from Microsoft. This acquisition solidified NBC's control over the television operations, enabling them to further integrate MSNBC's behind-the-scenes operations with NBC News and its other cable channels. However, the msnbc.com news website remained a separate joint venture between Microsoft and NBC for several more years before NBC ultimately purchased Microsoft's remaining stake.
2005: Microsoft's Divestment Begins
In 2005, Microsoft took a step back from its involvement with MSNBC, opting to divest itself from the television network.
2005: Attracting a Liberal Audience
Towards the end of 2005, MSNBC began to see a shift in its viewership, attracting more liberal and progressive viewers. This coincided with Keith Olbermann's growing critiques and satirical commentary on conservative media personalities during his show, "Countdown With Keith Olbermann." Olbermann particularly targeted Fox News Channel and its primetime commentator, Bill O'Reilly.
June 7, 2006: Kaplan's Resignation
After a two-year tenure as president of MSNBC, Rick Kaplan stepped down on June 7, 2006.
June 29, 2006: MSNBC's Primetime Shake-Up
Dan Abrams, who was recently appointed as MSNBC's general manager, unveiled a significant overhaul of the network's early-primetime and primetime schedule on June 29, 2006. As part of the changes, "Tucker" (previously "The Situation with Tucker Carlson") moved to the 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. ET slots, taking over Abrams' former time slot. Meanwhile, Rita Cosby's show, "Live & Direct," was canceled. Cosby transitioned to become the primary anchor for a new program called "MSNBC Investigates," which aired at 10 and 11 p.m. ET, filling the time slots previously occupied by Cosby and Carlson. "MSNBC Investigates," as per the press release, aimed to build on the channel's existing programming by leveraging its library of award-winning documentaries. This move towards pre-recorded programming during the 10 and 11 p.m. hours was likely influenced by the success of MSNBC's Friday "experiment" where the entire primetime lineup was replaced with taped specials.
September 4, 2006: MSNBC Dropped from XM Radio
MSNBC's first foray into satellite radio ended on September 4, 2006, when the channel was dropped from XM Radio.
September 24, 2007: Abrams Steps Down as General Manager
On September 24, 2007, Dan Abrams announced his decision to leave his role as general manager of MSNBC to concentrate on his 9:00 p.m. ET talk show, "Live With Dan Abrams." Following his departure, oversight of MSNBC was transferred to Phil Griffin, a senior vice president at NBC.
October 22, 2007: New Studios at 30 Rockefeller Center
MSNBC and NBC News marked a significant milestone on October 22, 2007, as they commenced broadcasting from their brand-new studios at NBC's iconic 30 Rockefeller Center complex in New York City. The extensive renovations undertaken in the studios facilitated the consolidation of NBC's entire news operation under one roof. From this point forward, all MSNBC broadcasts, along with "NBC Nightly News," originated from these state-of-the-art facilities.
November 2007: MSNBC's Primetime Lineup Shifts Left
In November 2007, The New York Times published an article highlighting the increasingly left-leaning stance of MSNBC's primetime lineup.
December 21, 2007: MSNBC's Master Control Relocates
While other parts of MSNBC had transitioned to 30 Rock, the master control remained at the old Secaucus headquarters. However, on December 21, 2007, it finally completed its move to the NBC Universal Network Origination Center, situated within the CNBC Global Headquarters building in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
2007: Shifting Focus to Politics
By 2007, MSNBC had gradually increased its focus on politics, a move highlighted by the Project for Excellence in Journalism. After a seven-year analysis of cable channels, the Project noted MSNBC's strategic shift to brand itself around politics, incorporating a significant amount of opinion and personality-driven content.
2007: Don Imus' Show Cancelled After Offensive Remarks
Don Imus' radio show, "Imus in the Morning," which had been simulcast on MSNBC for over a decade, was canceled in 2007 following his use of a racist and sexist slur to describe members of the Rutgers University women's basketball team. The incident sparked outrage, leading to advertiser boycotts and apologies from Imus and NBC News.
2007: MSNBC's Ratings Surge
From mid-2007 to mid-2008, MSNBC experienced a period of remarkable ratings growth. Primetime viewership, in particular, surged by an impressive 61%.
2007: Olbermann: "The Most Recognizable Face" of MSNBC
The New York Times recognized Keith Olbermann as "the most recognizable face" of MSNBC in 2007, highlighting his prominent role and influence on the network's identity during that period.
February 2008: Keith Olbermann's Influence at MSNBC
In February 2008, Men's Journal magazine published an article in which an MSNBC interviewee quoted a senior executive stating that liberal commentator Keith Olbermann held significant influence over the network, going as far as saying that Olbermann "runs MSNBC" due to his success.
May 2008: MSNBC's Growing Influence
By May 2008, MSNBC's increasing prominence in the cable news landscape was undeniable. Steve Capus, president of NBC News, acknowledged the network's newfound clout, remarking, "It used to be people didn't have to worry about MSNBC because it was an also-ran cable channel.... That's not the case anymore."
June 2008: Russert's Passing Leaves a Void
The sudden passing of Tim Russert in June 2008 left a significant void at MSNBC. Russert, who was widely regarded as the "rudder for the network" by The Wall Street Journal, played a pivotal role in shaping the network's direction. His death ushered in a period of transition for MSNBC.
September 2008: Olbermann and Matthews Removed from Live Political Event Coverage
In September 2008, MSNBC made a significant programming decision by removing Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews from their roles as anchors for live political events. The network cited growing criticism that both commentators were "too opinionated" to be perceived as neutral during the intensely partisan atmosphere of the presidential campaign.
September 2008: The Rachel Maddow Show Debuts
In a strategic move to bolster its primetime lineup, MSNBC brought in political analyst and Air America Radio personality Rachel Maddow in September 2008 to host a new political opinion show titled "The Rachel Maddow Show." The decision to create a dedicated program for Maddow was widely seen as a calculated effort to boost ratings, as MSNBC had been lagging behind in the fiercely competitive primetime slot. "The Rachel Maddow Show" quickly gained traction, consistently outperforming CNN's "Larry King Live" and establishing MSNBC as a serious contender in that time slot for the first time in over a decade.
2008: MSNBC's Coverage of the 2008 Presidential Election
A study by the Project for Excellence in Journalism found that MSNBC provided less negative coverage of Barack Obama (14% of stories versus 29% in the press overall) and more negative stories about Republican presidential candidate John McCain (73% of its coverage versus 57% in the press overall) during the 2008 election. The network's on-air slogan, "The Power of Change," was criticized for its resemblance to Obama's campaign slogan, "Hope and Change." Following the election, conservative commentator John Ziegler produced a documentary titled "Media Malpractice.... How Obama Got Elected," which heavily criticized the media's role, particularly MSNBC's, in Obama's victory. Ziegler specifically took issue with MSNBC's portrayal of Sarah Palin.
2008: MSNBC's 2008 Election Coverage
During the 2008 presidential election, MSNBC's coverage was spearheaded by Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews, and David Gregory, who became synonymous with the channel's political reporting. The intense interest in the election propelled MSNBC's ratings, which skyrocketed by 158% during the first three months of the campaign. However, both Olbermann and Matthews faced criticism for expressing what were perceived as left-leaning views on the network, ultimately leading to their removal from anchor roles.
2008: MSNBC Labeled as "Antithesis of Fox News"
In 2008, Washington Post media analyst Howard Kurtz observed that MSNBC's evening programming had taken a decidedly leftward turn, often positioning itself as the opposite of Fox News.
2008: Criticism of MSNBC's Coverage During 2008 Democratic Primaries
MSNBC faced criticism from some Democratic Party supporters, including former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell and Bill Clinton advisor Lanny Davis, during and after the 2008 Democratic Party primaries. They accused the network of displaying a bias towards Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in its coverage. Rendell went so far as to call MSNBC "the official network of the Obama campaign" and labeled their coverage "absolutely embarrassing."
January 1, 2009: MLB Network Takes Over Former MSNBC Building
Following MSNBC's move, Major League Baseball secured a long-term lease for the former MSNBC building in Secaucus. The facility was transformed into the new home studios for MLB Network, which officially launched from the building on January 1, 2009.
November 13, 2009: Dylan Ratigan's Photoshopped Image Controversy
On November 13, 2009, MSNBC host Dylan Ratigan sparked controversy by using photoshopped images of 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin during an episode of the channel's "Morning Meeting" program. The incident occurred in the days leading up to the release of Palin's book, "Going Rogue." Ratigan issued an apology a few days later, acknowledging the use of manipulated images.
2009: Verizon Challenges MSNBC's Exclusive Carriage Agreement
In 2009, Verizon filed a formal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), challenging its exclusive carriage agreement with Cablevision and advocating for its termination. Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal supported Verizon's stance, suggesting potential legal issues with the arrangement.
February 2, 2010: Verizon FiOS Adds MSNBC After New Agreement
Following a new agreement, Verizon FiOS added MSNBC to its channel lineup in New York City and New Jersey on February 2, 2010.
April 12, 2010: MSNBC Returns to Satellite Radio
On April 12, 2010, MSNBC made its return to satellite radio, being broadcasted on XM Satellite Radio channel 120 and Sirius Satellite Radio channel 90. This marked the network's second attempt to establish a presence on satellite radio.
June 2010: MSNBC Airs Documentary "Rise of the New Right"
In June 2010, MSNBC aired a documentary titled "Rise of the New Right," which explored the growing influence of right-wing figures and movements in American politics. The documentary featured interviews with prominent figures such as former House majority leader Dick Armey, "birther" movement leader Orly Taitz, and conspiracy theorist radio host Alex Jones. It also provided viewers with a glimpse into the Michigan Militia's survival training camp and followed the campaign trail with Kentucky senatorial candidate Rand Paul.
October 2010: MSNBC Adopts "Lean Forward" Tagline
MSNBC began using the tagline "Lean Forward" in October 2010. This move was interpreted by some media outlets, including msnbc.com, as a sign that the network was openly embracing its progressive political identity.
November 5, 2010: Keith Olbermann Suspended from MSNBC
Keith Olbermann was suspended indefinitely without pay by MSNBC President Phil Griffin on November 5, 2010, for violating NBC News policy by making political contributions to Democratic candidates without prior permission.
November 7, 2010: Keith Olbermann Reinstated by MSNBC
Following a brief suspension, MSNBC announced on November 7, 2010, that Keith Olbermann would be returning to the air on November 9, after initially being suspended for violating the network's policy on political contributions.
2010: MSNBC's Exclusive Carriage Agreement with Cablevision Limits Availability
Before 2010, MSNBC was unavailable to Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-verse subscribers in parts of New York State, northern New Jersey, and Connecticut due to an exclusive carriage agreement with Cablevision, restricting competing wired providers from carrying the channel.
2010: MSNBC Surpasses CNN in Ratings
In 2010, MSNBC surpassed CNN in both primetime and overall ratings for the first time since 2001, also winning in total adult viewers for seven of the previous eight months.
2010: MSNBC's Continued Ratings Dominance
In the third quarter of 2010, MSNBC continued to outperform CNN, securing a total day win for the first time since 2001's second quarter in the key adult demographic. This marked the fourth consecutive quarter of MSNBC's lead in both primetime and total viewers.
January 21, 2011: Olbermann Exits MSNBC
On January 21, 2011, Keith Olbermann announced his departure from MSNBC, marking the final episode of "Countdown." His departure followed MSNBC's termination of his contract, with Olbermann later joining Current TV.
2011: Cenk Uygur Departs MSNBC
Cenk Uygur left MSNBC in 2011, stating that the network's management, concerned about his tone, discouraged him from challenging those in power.
2011: MSNBC Characterized as "Left-Leaning"
In 2011, Politico described MSNBC as "left-leaning", and Salon.com's Steve Kornacki pointed out that the network's prime-time schedule was "awash in progressive politics." These characterizations solidified MSNBC's image as a counterpoint to the conservative-leaning Fox News.
January 2012: MSNBC's Use of Commentators During Iowa Caucuses Coverage
During its coverage of the Iowa Republican caucuses in January 2012, MSNBC prominently featured commentators such as Rachel Maddow and Chris Matthews. This approach drew criticism from Nando Di Fino of Mediaite, who argued that the network appeared to be prioritizing controversy over straight news coverage.
July 2012: msnbc.com Rebrands to NBCNews.com
In July 2012, msnbc.com, the website affiliated with MSNBC, rebranded to NBCNews.com to avoid brand confusion with the politically progressive MSNBC television network.
November 2012: MSNBC: "The Anti-Fox"
In November 2012, The New York Times dubbed MSNBC "The Anti-Fox," highlighting its role as a counterbalance to the conservative-leaning Fox News Channel. The article quoted former President Bill Clinton, who remarked, "Boy, it really has become our version of Fox." While acknowledging that Fox News had a larger overall viewership, the article pointed out that the two networks were closely matched in the coveted 25–54 age demographic.
2012: Microsoft Fully Divests
Microsoft completed its divestment from MSNBC in 2012, giving up its stake in msnbc.com. This led to the general news site being rebranded as NBCNews.com and the creation of a new, separate msnbc.com.
2012: MSNBC's Coverage of Mitt Romney in the 2012 Presidential Election
The Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism conducted a study that revealed MSNBC's coverage of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney during the final week of the 2012 presidential campaign was overwhelmingly negative (68% negative with no positive stories). This negativity significantly surpassed the overall press coverage of Romney. Conversely, MSNBC's coverage of Barack Obama became more favorable in the final week, shifting from a mix of positive and negative coverage in the preceding weeks to 51% positive coverage with no negative stories in the sample during the final week.
November 15, 2013: Martin Bashir Resigns
MSNBC host Martin Bashir resigned on November 15, 2013, following backlash from a controversial comment he made about Sarah Palin. Bashir's remark, in which he invoked a brutal slavery punishment while criticizing Palin's comparison of federal debt to slavery, drew widespread condemnation.
2013: Alec Baldwin Show Suspended
In 2013, MSNBC suspended Alec Baldwin's show "Up Late with Alec Baldwin" after only five episodes. The suspension followed Baldwin's use of a homophobic slur towards a photographer in New York City, sparking controversy and leading to the show's premature end.
2013: MSNBC.com Relaunched
In 2013, msnbc.com was relaunched as the website for MSNBC after a period of redirecting to NBCNews.com. The website included opinion columns from MSNBC hosts and guests, as well as live and on-demand videos from MSNBC programs.
2013: Melissa Harris-Perry's On-Air Apology
Melissa Harris-Perry issued an apology in 2013 following a segment on her show where she and her guests made jokes about Mitt Romney's adopted African-American grandson, which sparked criticism and accusations of insensitivity.
2013: MSNBC Ranked Most Opinionated News Network
The Pew Research Center's 2013 "State of the News Media" report identified MSNBC as the most opinion-driven news network, with 85% of its content consisting of commentary or opinions. This categorization contrasted with MSNBC's relatively lower spending on news production.
July 2014: Launch of msnbc2
In July 2014, msnbc.com launched "msnbc2", a brand focusing on web-only series hosted by MSNBC personalities.
December 2014: msnbc2 Renamed to shift
In December 2014, "msnbc2" was renamed "shift." The programming shifted away from a focus on politics towards content tailored for a younger audience.
2014: MSNBC Ratings Decline
In 2014, MSNBC experienced a 20% decline in total ratings among the 25-54 demographic, slipping to third place behind CNN. However, the network maintained its lead among Hispanic and African-American viewers.
2014: MSNBC Favors Insider Perspectives Over Public Trust, Argues Jason Linkins
Jason Linkins, in 2014, argued that MSNBC prioritizes presenting insider perspectives and opinions over fulfilling its responsibility to the public by providing honest and unbiased information.
2015: Ayman Mohyeldin's Reporting from Gaza Questioned
In 2015, Ayman Mohyeldin's live reporting from Gaza, where he claimed to have witnessed an unarmed Palestinian man shot by Israeli police, was disputed when it was revealed that the man was armed with a knife.
2015: Shift to Hard News Programming
In 2015, MSNBC president Phil Griffin announced a shift from left-leaning opinion programming to hard news programming in an effort to revitalize the struggling network. This resulted in the cancellation of several opinion shows and their replacement with news programs featuring established NBC News personalities.
April 2016: "Go Beyond" Ad Campaign
In April 2016, MSNBC launched a new ad campaign with the theme "in order to know beyond, you have to go beyond." This campaign aimed to position MSNBC's reporting as in-depth and a departure from the "talking points" coverage seen on other cable news channels.
June 2016: "This is who we are" Tagline Debuts
MSNBC introduced a new tagline, "This is who we are," in June 2016, further emphasizing its distinct identity and approach to news coverage.
September 2016: The 11th Hour with Brian Williams Launches
MSNBC premiered "The 11th Hour with Brian Williams" in September 2016, a nightly news wrap-up program hosted by the former NBC Nightly News anchor. This marked the network's first new primetime program in nearly four years.
January 2017: For the Record with Greta Debuts
In January 2017, MSNBC introduced "For the Record with Greta," a new program hosted by former Fox News Channel anchor Greta Van Susteren, airing in the 6 pm EST slot. However, the program was short-lived and canceled in late June 2017.
March 2017: Increased NBC News Branding
In March 2017, MSNBC began to more prominently feature NBC News branding during its daytime programming, further strengthening its association with the larger news division.
March 2017: Promotional Campaigns Continue
MSNBC continued to air promotional campaigns featuring the "This is who we are" slogan in March 2017, reinforcing its brand identity and commitment to in-depth reporting.
May 8, 2017: Deadline: White House Premieres
MSNBC launched a new late-afternoon program, "Deadline: White House," on May 8, 2017. Hosted by NBC political analyst and former White House communications director Nicolle Wallace, the show added to the network's lineup of news analysis programming.
June 2017: The Beat with Ari Melber Replaces "For the Record"
Following the cancellation of "For the Record with Greta," MSNBC promoted its chief legal correspondent, Ari Melber, to host a new program in the 6 pm hour titled "The Beat with Ari Melber."
April 16, 2018: Morning Joe First Look Debuts, News Ticker Retired
On April 16, 2018, MSNBC premiered "Morning Joe First Look," a new early morning program, replacing "Way Too Early." The network also retired its on-air news ticker, aiming to minimize distractions and emphasize its reporting.
September 2018: MSNBC Reaches 87 Million Households
As of September 2018, MSNBC's reach extended to approximately 87 million households in the United States, representing 90.7 percent of pay television subscribers.
September 2018: MSNBC's Reach Expands
By September 2018, MSNBC had expanded its reach to approximately 87 million households in the United States, representing 90.7% of pay television subscribers.
February 2, 2019: NBC Reports on Tulsi Gabbard and Russian Media
On February 2, 2019, NBC aired a report alleging that presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard's campaign was receiving support from Russian state media outlets, citing a higher frequency of mentions compared to other candidates.
March 2019: Allegations of DNC Influence on MSNBC's Editorial Decisions
In March 2019, journalist Yashar Ali accused Dafna Linzer, an MSNBC managing editor, of allowing the Democratic National Committee to influence editorial choices, citing an incident where he was discouraged from revealing DNC debate locations.
September 2019: Analysis of MSNBC's Coverage of the 2020 Democratic Primary
An analysis conducted by In These Times in December 2019, focusing on MSNBC's coverage of the 2020 Democratic primary between August and September 2019, found that Joe Biden received significantly more airtime than Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
October 2019: Jacobin Magazine Analyzes MSNBC's Political Stance
In October 2019, the American socialist magazine Jacobin published an article arguing that MSNBC had come to "embody the politics and sensibility of Trump-era liberalism." However, the article also contended that MSNBC's liberal stance was a more recent development, stating that the network "wasn't always liberal."
November 2019: Andrew Yang and Supporters Criticize MSNBC's Coverage
Andrew Yang and his supporters voiced criticism towards MSNBC in November 2019 for what they perceived as insufficient coverage of his campaign and limited speaking time during a primary debate hosted by the network.
November 2019: MSNBC Launches in Australia via Fetch TV
MSNBC became available in Australia in November 2019 through the Fetch TV online PayTV network, offering a direct feed of the US channel.
December 2019: In These Times Analyzes MSNBC's Primary Coverage
In December 2019, In These Times published an analysis of MSNBC's coverage of the 2020 Democratic primary, highlighting discrepancies in speaking time and the tone of coverage for different candidates.
2019: Pew Research Center Survey Examines MSNBC's Audience Demographics
A 2019 Pew Research Center survey revealed that 74% of Americans who considered MSNBC their primary source for political news were 50 years old or older, with 44% being 65 or older. The survey also highlighted that 95% of MSNBC's primary political news audience identified as Democrats.
2019: MSNBC Criticized for "Bland Respectability" and Lack of Ideological Diversity
In 2019, Maria Bustillos critiqued MSNBC for its focus on maintaining a neutral and inoffensive image, which she argued resulted in a lack of genuine ideological diversity and discouraged anchors from expressing their personal convictions.
2019: MSNBC Ranks Second Among Basic Cable Networks
In 2019, Nielsen ratings placed MSNBC second among basic cable networks, with an average viewership of 1.8 million, trailing behind its competitor, Fox News.
February 2020: Jason Johnson Suspended from MSNBC
MSNBC contributor Jason Johnson was temporarily suspended in February 2020 after making controversial remarks about Bernie Sanders supporters, accusing them of alienating minorities and dismissing African-American Sanders staffers and surrogates.
March 2, 2020: Chris Matthews Resigns from Hardball
On March 2, 2020, Chris Matthews announced his immediate resignation from "Hardball" following controversial remarks comparing Bernie Sanders' rise in the 2020 presidential campaign to the German invasion of France. After a period of rotating anchors, the 7 pm hour was eventually filled by "The ReidOut with Joy Reid" in July 2020.
July 2020: Jason Johnson Reinstated by MSNBC
Following a suspension for controversial comments made earlier in the year, Jason Johnson was reinstated by MSNBC in July 2020.
December 7, 2020: Rashida Jones Named MSNBC President
On December 7, 2020, MSNBC announced Rashida Jones would succeed Phil Griffin as president in 2021. Jones outlined goals to invest further in documentary-style programming and to distinguish clearly between the network's news and analysis programming.
2020: In These Times Analysis Highlights Bias in MSNBC's 2020 Primary Coverage
An analysis by In These Times in December 2019 examined MSNBC's coverage of the 2020 Democratic primary and concluded that the network showed bias in its allocation of speaking time and the framing of its coverage for different candidates.
2020: Chris Matthews' Controversial Comparisons During 2020 Primaries
During the 2020 Democratic primaries, Chris Matthews faced backlash for making several controversial statements, including comparing Bernie Sanders to George McGovern, criticizing Sanders' use of the term "democratic socialist," and making a remark about executions in Central Park if communists had won the Cold War. He later apologized for his comments.
2020: MSNBC Leads Cable News Ratings During 2020 DNC
On the first night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, MSNBC drew an average viewership exceeding 5 million, surpassing CNN and other major cable news networks.
January 2021: MSNBC Achieves Highest-Rated Week Ever
In January 2021, MSNBC had its highest-rated week ever, surpassing Fox News for the first time since 2000, following the January 6 United States Capitol attack.
February 2021: Poynter Institute Examines Distinctions Between MSNBC and Fox News
In February 2021, Tom Jones, senior media writer for the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, argued that the key difference between MSNBC and Fox News was not simply a matter of left versus right bias. Jones contended that a significant portion of Fox News's content, especially during primetime programming, lacked a foundation in truth, setting it apart from MSNBC.
March 29, 2021: MSNBC Introduces Refreshed Logo and On-Air Imaging
On March 29, 2021, MSNBC underwent a rebranding, introducing a new logo and on-air imaging. This included renaming their rolling news block from "MSNBC Live" to "MSNBC Reports" to differentiate news from analysis-based programs.
2021: Brian Williams Departs, Stephanie Ruhle Takes Over "The 11th Hour"
Brian Williams left MSNBC in late 2021, and Stephanie Ruhle became the new host of "The 11th Hour."
2021: Rashida Jones Assumes Role as MSNBC President
Rashida Jones assumed the role of MSNBC president in 2021, bringing her vision of expanding documentary-style programming and differentiating the network's news and analysis content.
March 10, 2022: MSNBC Offers On-Demand Programming on Peacock
On March 10, 2022, MSNBC expanded its on-demand offerings by making most of its news programs, excluding "MSNBC Reports," "The Rachel Maddow Show," and "Alex Wagner Tonight," available on the Peacock streaming service.
May 2022: Rachel Maddow Shifts to Once-a-Week Hosting
In May 2022, Rachel Maddow returned from an extended hiatus and announced she would host "The Rachel Maddow Show" only on Monday nights. The rest of the week featured rotating guest hosts under the "MSNBC Prime" banner.
August 16, 2022: Alex Wagner Returns to MSNBC with "Alex Wagner Tonight"
On August 16, 2022, Alex Wagner returned to MSNBC to host "Alex Wagner Tonight," replacing the rotating guest host format of "MSNBC Prime" in that time slot.
2022: Steve Kornacki Hosts "The Kornacki Countdown" During 2022 Elections
During the 2022 United States elections in October and November, Steve Kornacki hosted "The Kornacki Countdown" every Friday, temporarily replacing "The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell."
2022: MSNBC Experiences Decline in Primetime Viewership
MSNBC saw a decline in average weekday primetime viewership in 2022, with 1.2 million viewers compared to Fox News's 2.3 million, marking a 21% drop from the preceding year.
March 19, 2023: "Inside with Jen Psaki" Premieres on MSNBC
MSNBC debuted its new Sunday morning program, "Inside with Jen Psaki," hosted by the former White House press secretary, on March 19, 2023.
April 2023: MSNBC Added to Foxtel and Flash in Australia
In April 2023, MSNBC expanded its presence in Australia by becoming available on the subscription-television platform Foxtel and its streaming counterpart, Flash, through a programming agreement between the Foxtel Group and NBCUniversal.
September 7, 2023: "Inside with Jen Psaki" Expands with Second Monday Edition
On September 7, 2023, MSNBC announced the replacement of "All In with Chris Hayes" on Monday nights with a second weekly edition of "Inside with Jen Psaki," beginning September 25.
November 2023: MSNBC's Ratings Success
In November 2023, MSNBC found itself ranked as the second most-watched cable news network, surpassing CNN in viewership. Notably, "The Beat with Ari Melber" and "Deadline: White House" emerged as the channel's most popular nightly shows, with "The Beat" even claiming the title of highest-rated non-Fox News show in its time slot, according to AdWeek.
2023: "The Beat" Recognized as One of Cable's Most-Watched News Programs
Variety reported in 2023 that MSNBC's "The Beat" had become one of the two most-watched news programs on cable, sharing the distinction with Fox News's "The Five."
January 13, 2024: MSNBC Implements Weekend Programming Revamp
MSNBC significantly restructured its weekend lineup on January 13, 2024. This involved canceling Mehdi Hasan's Sunday 9 p.m. ET show, introducing the ensemble show "The Weekend," and making scheduling changes to other weekend programs like "The Sunday/Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart," "The Katie Phang Show," and "Alex Witt Reports."
July 13, 2024: MSNBC Provides Special Coverage of Attempted Assassination of Former President Donald J. Trump
On July 13, 2024, MSNBC joined NBC News and NBC News NOW to provide special coverage of the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump, with a network-wide NBC News Special Report anchored by Lester Holt and Hallie Jackson.
July 16, 2024: MSNBC Resumes Regular Weekday Programming
After several days of special coverage, MSNBC returned to its regular weekday programming schedule on July 16, 2024.
July 20, 2024: MSNBC Resumes Regular Weekend Programming
MSNBC resumed its regular weekend programming schedule on July 20, 2024, following special coverage earlier in the week.
2024: MSNBC Increases Opinion Programming, Raises Concerns About Bias
The New York Times reported in 2024 that MSNBC was significantly increasing its focus on opinion-based programming. This shift raised concerns about potential political bias, leading some NBC News reporters to decline appearances on the network to maintain their impartiality. The article noted that reporters often chose to break news stories on NBC News Now, NBC's straight news platform, rather than on MSNBC.
