MSNBC host Joy Reid who hosts “The ReidOut” has publicly criticized the Democratic Party about excluding younger leadership and also may have to make large pay cuts due to recent drop in ratings for the station. Stephanie Ruhle and Joy Reid both currently face potential salary reductions according to a recent news report by The Ankler because the network experiences lower viewership along with other network structural issues.
MSNBC Mulls Pay Cuts for Top Anchors Amidst Restructuring and Declining Viewer Numbers
MSNBC officials are actively looking into re-negotiating contracts and many media reporters have pointed to the fact that both Stephanie Ruhle and Joy Reid were approached by the network about reducing salaries which has sparked much discussions. Ruhle who hosts “The 11th Hour” is currently earning 2 million dollars annually while Joy Reid of "The ReidOut” makes approximately 3 million dollars annually while facing network re-structuring in the future. MSNBC’s parent company Comcast announced it will spin off MSNBC to create another company called SpinCo and this has generated worries about possible staffing changes.
MSNBC Parent Company's Decision Causes Panic at Headquarters and Salary Concerns For Long-Time Hosts
Reports indicate staffers at MSNBC’s headquarters have expressed significant concerns and panick after learning about MSNBC's future as a spin off named SpinCo. NBCUniversal chairman Mark Lazarus leader of SpinCo. shared information during a company meeting that employees fear possible job losses plus organizational and network re-branding as the spin-off develops. The New York Post published some articles with insights and details of staff's anxieties as well as concerns for future opportunities. One MSNBC source has noted employees felt intense unease due to instability regarding their work.
"Morning Joe" Hosts Cause Stir After Meeting With Former President Trump Which Directly Impacts Viewership
"Morning Joe" hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski made waves with a visit to Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago in November during his post election victory tour that generated a strong reaction from liberal viewership which dramatically decreased ratings. This controversial decision intended to re-establish relationships between the two parties led to an additional 17 percent decline in Morning Joe viewership. Ratings for "Morning Joe" have already declined 35 percent throughout 2024 showcasing the dramatic viewership challenges. "The ReidOut" a major program within MSNBC has seen a 47% decline in total audience after averaging 1.4 million views before elections day versus approximately 759000 views after elections as identified by Nielsen Media Research.
MSNBC's Prominent Shows Witness Sharp Audience Reduction With Declining Key Demos After Election Coverage
Ratings for many MSNBC’s prominent anchors like Chris Hayes of “All In” also drastically declined after elections when 56 percent of key viewers in the time slot vacated leaving the 8 pm spot struggling across weekdays from Tuesday till Friday. Lawrence O'Donnell with "Last Word" also had significant audience decline with just around 930000 viewers post elections plus an additional 78000 viewers lost in key demographics experiencing a viewership decline of 40%. Maddow show now airing just Monday evenings has had 43% of audience leave with the anchor facing potential salary decrease like many within MSNBC network showing the extensive impact .
Rachel Maddow Joins other MSNBC Anchors with Taking Pay Cut as Network Restructures Financially
The Ankler reports that Rachel Maddow will also have her pay reduced by approximately $5 million dollars yearly and make an estimated $25 million per year over the coming 5 year period for staying with network despite ratings being lower across primetime programming. Fox News Digital reached out to MSNBC to confirm this report but has had no direct confirmation which implies some degree of speculation until official response arrives regarding their concerns or changes.
Gabriel Hays an associate editor for Fox News Digital created the recent article discussing ratings issues within the MSNBC network.