American TV news channel MSNBC moves Joy Reid to a primetime slot with The ReidOut replacing Hardball.

by Thinus Ferreira

The American TV news channel MSNBC (StarSat 263) is moving anchor Joy Reid to a primetime slot in the United States with her new nightly news programme, The ReidOut that will replace Hardball from 20 July.

Viewers in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa will be able to watch Joy Reid and The ReidOut at 01:00 in the mornings South African time on MSNBC.

Joy Reid joined MSNBC in 2011 as a contributor and started as the presenter of AM Joy in 2016 on weekends.

The New York Times reports that The ReidOut will be done from Washington and focus on political analysis but will also "address race, class, policing and other cataclysmic social issues we need to reckon with".

In an interview with The Washington Post Joy Reid explained that The ReidOut show name is a reference to a "readout" in politics, when a summary of a call or meeting is provided.

"I really thought a lot about the name because it’s got a good little hashtag capability, and I think it speaks to my love of politics."

MSNBC in a prepared statement only released by MSNBC on Thursday afternoon after the two newspaper interviews serving as the announcement, Phil Griffin, MSNBC president, said that "I’m thrilled to have Joy on five nights a week".

In the statement, Joy Reid said that "I’m honoured and thankful for this opportunity. I’ll always be proud of the work we did on AM Joy by pushing the envelope and tackling pragmatic conversations."

"I’m eager to carry that same energy into primetime where we can continue to build on bringing in diverse, smart, and accomplished voices to the table on topics that are important to our viewers."

Greta van Susteren joins MSNBC from FOX News; will start on Monday 9 January with new hour long show, For the Record with Greta.

Greta van Susteren who abruptly left FOX News in September 2016 amidst the swirling sexual harassment scandal that engulfed then FOX News boss Roger Ailes, is joining MSNBC (StarSat 263).

Exactly as was reported earlier this week, Greta van Susteren is joining MSNBC from this coming Monday, with the official announcement late on Thursday coming a day after news that Megyn Kelly is dumping FOX News and joining MSNBC.

Greta van Susteren will start on Monday 9 January with her new weekday, hour long show, For the Record with Greta. At FOX News Greta van Susteren - who South African viewers also saw before on CNN International before jumping to FOX News - presented On the Record with Greta.

For the Record with Greta at MSNBC replaces the Bloomberg Television show With All Due Respect that was cancelled in early December and that was simulcast on MSNBC.

MSNBC in a statement says For the Record with Greta is part of MSNBC's makeover and its "strategic shift to a break news focus during the day".

Phil Griffin, president of MSNBC, says in the statement "Greta is a true pro with a proven record of tough journalism. Her broad range of experience and sharp news judgment will be of great value to MSNBC as we build on our momentum going into a new year and a new administration".

Greta van Susteren in the statement says "I'm thrilled to start my next chapter at MSNBC. The network is the right destination for the smart news and analysis I hope to deliver every day, and I look forward to joining the talented journalists and analysts I respect there".

Joy Reid replacing Melissa Harris-Perry in her old timeslot on MSNBC in a new 2-hour show on Saturdays and Sundays at 4pm, starting this Saturday.

Joy Reid is taking over the old timeslot of the fired Melissa Harris-Perry on MSNBC (StarSat 263) from this Saturday, according to MSNBC.

Melissa Harris-Perry was fired in February after 4 years after saying she's not MSNBC's "token little brown bobble head" after the incensed anchor lashed out over MSNBC for taking her show off the air for weeks for political coverage of the upcoming American elections.

Joy Reid, a national correspondent for MSNBC who joined the TV news channel in 2011, will now anchor a new 2-hour show on Saturdays and Sundays at 16:00 (South African time) in Melissa Harris-Perry's old timeslot.

Joy Reid's new show will start this Saturday, 7 May on MSNBC.

"Melissa did a show that was incredibly valuable," says Joy Reid in a statement.

"Instead of trying to replace it, we will fill the space with something new; something compelling, and something that adds to the conversation."

"MSNBC viewers crave not only the facts, but also in-depth discussion and analysis from a range of perspectives," said MSNBC president Phil Griffin.

"There is no one better equipped than Joy Reid to lead this new project, and create a place for the kind of unique discussion our audience has come to expect."

MSNBC dumps The Cycle, Now with Alex Wagner and Ed Show, brings back Chuck Todd as news channel tries to claw back to hard news coverage.

MSNBC (StarSat 263) is dumping several shows, announcing late on Thursday that The Cycle, Now with Alex Wagner and The Ed Show will all abruptly have their last editions today as the struggling American TV news channel tries to move from a progressive slanted channel to once more focused on straight hard news and breaking news reporting.

MSNBC president Phil Griffin told staff of the 24-hour TV news channel on Thursday in an internal memo that the three shows will be gone after Friday.

It follows the cancellation in February of Ronan Farrow and Joy Reid's shows. Longtime presenter Ed Schultz who've anchored on MSNBC since 2009, as well as Krystal Ball, Abby Huntsman and Toure are leaving MSNBC.

Alex Wagner will stay on and Ari Melber who was one of The Cycle's panelist will also remain as MSNBC's chief legal correspondent.

Chuck Todd, the moderator of Meet the Press seen on Sundays at 23:00 on sister channel CNBC Africa (DStv 410) will get a new, daily hour long show, keeping his Sunday show and adding the new MSNBC programme.

Chuck Todd's new daily MSNBC weekday show which hasn't been named yet will be be seen at 23:00 on weekdays in South Africa.

"In the coming weeks, as we complete our plans to create a new look and flow for our programming, our hours will begin to pivot towards live, breaking news coverage - with interim hosts from among our very talented ranks," Phil Griffin told MSNBC staffers.

"In September we'll unveil a schedule driven by dynamic coverage of breaking news events that are shaping the day".

The discredited, damaged and recently removed news anchor Brian Williams - previously of NBC Nightly News and also seen daily on CNBC Africa on DStv across Africa but now with new anchor Lestor Holt, will now be appearing on MSNBC.

After Brian Williams admitted that he falsified reports during trips covering news stories, he was removed from NBC Nightly News earlier this year, but will now become MSNBC's "anchor for breaking news reports".

MSNBC has not yet said when Brian Williams will start to appear on the 24-hour TV news channel, although its likely that it will co-incide with the new schedule coming into effect from September.

"Change can be hard. There's no doubt it's been a difficult time, but we have exciting opportunities ahead," Phil Griffin told MSNBC staffers.

Alec Baldwin getting a weekly talk show entitled 'Up Late with Alec Baldwin' on MSNBC from October.

Actor Alec Baldwin is getting his own weekly talk show on MSNBC (TopTV 410) from October, the American 24 hour TV news channel announced.

Up Late with Alec Baldwin will start in October as a weekly hour long talk show and will be shown on Friday nights late in America and will be seen in South Africa on MSNBC on Saturday mornings at 04:00.

Up Late with Alec Baldwin will focus on current events and popular culture.

"I've been talking with Alec for a while and can't wait to bring his personality and eclectic interest to MSNBC," says Phil Griffin, president of MSNBC in a statement. "He's got such passion for ideas and what's going on in the world - he's going to be a great addition to our line-up."

"I've developed a fondness for hosting a show that involved talking with smart, talented and engaging people in every imaginable field," says Alec Baldwin in the statement who've been doing a podcast show in New York for the past two years. "I'm grateful to MSNBC for helping me bring a similar show to television."

MSNBC continues to beef up weekend programming as Karen Finney gets her own weekend hour on Saturdays and Sundays.

MSNBC (TopTV 410) is continuing to beef up its weekend programming with Karen Finney who is getting her own show - with a name to still be determined - for an hour between 22:00 and 23:00 (South African time) on Saturdays and Sundays.

The starting date of Karen Finney's show on the American 24-hour news network is still to be determined.

She has appeared as a contributor on MSNBC since 2009 and worked for the Clinton White House and Hillary Clinton's senate campaign.

"Karen's rich background in both education policy and politics will add a unique point of view to our expanding live weekend programming," says Phil Griffin, the president of MSNBC in a press statement.