MSNBC president Rashida Jones has announced her immediate resignation amid the network’s most drastic ratings decline in history and the anticipated corporate restructuring that will separate MSNBC from NBCUniversal.
In a staff memo, Jones stated, “After four remarkable years heading MSNBC and 11 years within NBCU, I have made the choice to explore new opportunities.”
The departure of viewers from MSNBC has been unparalleled. The network’s primetime programs, which averaged 1.8 million viewers in October 2024, have dropped sharply to just 808,000 viewers since the election night, marking a 54% decline. The network’s daytime viewership also mirrors this trend, with a 16% drop in total day viewers and a 57% decline in the critical 25-54 age demographic, which advertisers highly value.
Several significant programs on the network have reached historical lows in viewership. “Alex Wagner Tonight,” “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” “Chris Jansing Reports,” “Deadline: White House” with Nicolle Wallace, “José Díaz-Balart Reports,” Joy Reid’s “The ReidOut” and “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” all reported their lowest audiences of the year. “All In with Chris Hayes” experienced its lowest viewership since May 10, 2016.
As Comcast gets ready to separate its cable assets into a new publicly traded company called “SpinCo,” this change in leadership is crucial. This restructuring could potentially move MSNBC away from its longtime headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Rebecca Kutler, a former CNN executive and current senior vice president of content strategy, will assume the role of interim president.
Mark Lazarus, who will head the newly independent company, commended Jones’ tenure in a staff memo, commenting that she had “expertly steered MSNBC through an unrelenting and unprecedented news cycle that lasted several years.”
MSNBC has announced major programming adjustments in response to the ratings crisis. Rachel Maddow, whose show averaged 2.5 million viewers in 2024, will return to a five-day-per-week schedule for the first 100 days of the new administration. Alex Wagner, whose show recently experienced its lowest ratings since its 2022 start, will move to special assignments during this period.
The contrast with competitor Fox News is glaring. While MSNBC’s total audience has shrunk by 46% compared to early 2024, Fox News now holds 70% of the cable news audience and has seen a 58% increase in primetime viewership compared to 2024 averages. Fox News’ viewership spiked by 61% following election night, while MSNBC lost 26% of its year-to-date totals.
Viewer dissatisfaction with MSNBC’s programming has grown increasingly evident. Sharon Waxman, CEO of TheWrap and a dedicated MSNBC viewer, voiced her frustration, stating she hasn’t turned on the news since Donald Trump’s election win. She described feeling overwhelmed by the network’s commentary, saying, “I can’t bear to listen to another minute.” Waxman acknowledged the contributions of anchors like Joy Reid, Lawrence O’Donnell, and Rachel Maddow but admitted her “entire body recoils” at the thought of tuning in again. While not ruling out a return, her comments reflect the discontent shared by some viewers.
This drop in viewership reflects a similar decline after Trump’s 2016 victory. Still, it is amplified by growing consumer distrust in traditional news outlets and a continuous shift away from cable TV subscriptions.
Jones’ tenure had its bright spots. Under her guidance, MSNBC surpassed CNN to become the second-most-watched news channel and achieved its first-ever election night ratings victory over CNN. However, industry analysts indicate that the election night triumph may have been an anomaly, as viewers may have tuned in specifically for the network’s event coverage.
Multiple factors contribute to MSNBC’s losses. Johanna Dunaway, a political science professor at Syracuse University, stated, “Partisan viewers turn away in disgust when it’s the other side having that postelection euphoria.” The disillusionment among left-leaning audiences and disappointment over Vice President Kamala Harris’s defeat has temporarily led many to disengage from political content.
This trend is not restricted to MSNBC. CNN, another left-leaning network, reported a 46.7% drop in primetime viewers, while Fox News saw its audience expand.
This slip also underscores a broader shift in how Americans consume news. Streaming platforms, on-demand podcasts, and digital-first outlets are becoming increasingly popular. MSNBC has to retain its core audience and compete with these emerging platforms. This change underlines what Jones called an “existential crisis” for traditional cable news.
MSNBC’s future is fraught with challenges. In addition to the declining cable subscriptions affecting all networks, MSNBC must manage its new corporate structure while trying to regain its audience. While Lazarus confirmed that the network will retain its name after the spin-off, its average of 1.22 million viewers in primetime during 2024 has significantly diminished.