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MSNBC staffers ‘in a panic’ as NBC-parent Comcast plans to spin off channel
—
and possibly change its name
MSNBC staffers ‘in a panic’ as NBC parent Comcast plans to spin off channel — and possibly change its name
“People don’t really know what’s going on,” an insider close to the network said. “They had the election, holidays are coming up. People are tired and just trying to g…
nypost.com
Panic engulfed MSNBC headquarters on Wednesday after parent company Comcast confirmed a massive spinoff of its cable properties — with a top executive even suggesting the left-leaning network may be forced to change its name.
MSNBC stars Rachel Maddow, Chris Jansing and Katy Tur joined a tense 10 a.m. meeting at 30 Rock in Midtown led by NBCUniversal chairman Mark Lazarus, who will lead the new company, sources told The Post.
Staffers fearing looming layoffs peppered him with questions about if the network will need to change its name, logos and headquarters after reports surfaced that the new entity could be cut off from the reporting muscle of NBC News, sources said.
~Snip~
The rabid anti-Trump network has averaged roughly 550,000 viewers since Election Day, marking a 39% drop compared with its viewership in October, according to Nielsen data. In primetime, MSNBC’s audience fell 53%, according to Nielsen.
~Snip~
Rival CNN has experienced similar declines, averaging 413,000 viewers, or a 22% dip from its October averages. Primetime viewership fell 43%.
Meanwhile, at Fox News, the audience continues to grow in the weeks after the election. The network’s total day audience jumped 38% and its primetime audience grew 21%.
For Comcast, a tax-free spin-off frees it up from declining cable networks. Comcast can focus on its Xfinity broadband service, as well as NBCUniversal’s NBC broadcast TV networks, film studios, theme parks and streaming service.
Proponents of SpinCo say that the cable networks can use its reported $7 billion in yearly revenue, to reinvest in the cable networks and potentially attract investors or partners when the separation occurs next year.
“When you look at our assets, talented management team and balance sheet strength, we are able to set these businesses up for future growth,” said Comcast chairman and CEO Brian Roberts. “With significant financial resources from day one, SpinCo will be ideally positioned for success and highly attractive to investors, content creators, distributors and potential partners.”
Commentary:
There is not an unbiased network on broadcast tv, subtle as they may be, they all lean left. On cable there is a choice between liberal and conservative. Fox has a couple extreme pundits, but over all, they run pretty close to their tag line: Fair and Balanced.
Actually Chris Wallace was one of the first to fall at CNN, I wonder how many other talking heads at NBC will fall as well?
Hmm...., a new company rising out of the ould named "SpinCo", Ironic!.
Will they repeat and spin all the upcoming bad news for the Left and try to "Spin" it so that it can be presented as a triumphant march of Marxism through a society dominated by deplorable racist Nazi garbage?
Possible name change suggestions were "Baghdad Bobs News Channel” and their Spanish version is “Un Pravda”.
I wonder how many talking heads are worried that thier contracts will not be renewed.
