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Cable news network MS NOW announced a significant reshuffling of its programming lineup Wednesday, marking one of the most substantial schedule overhauls the network has implemented in recent years.
Beginning in June, anchor Stephanie Ruhle will move from her current late-night slot to host a two-hour daytime program starting at 9 a.m. ET. Alicia Menendez will take over the noon time slot, creating a new midday presence for the network as it seeks to strengthen its daytime viewership.
The changes extend to the network’s evening programming as well. Veteran correspondent Ali Velshi will assume Ruhle’s current 11 p.m. position, while Luke Russert joins “The Weeknight” at 7 p.m., replacing Menendez. Russert will co-anchor alongside current hosts Symone Sanders Townsend and Michael Steele.
The network’s flagship morning program, “Morning Joe,” will see its runtime reduced from four hours to three, now airing from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET. According to network representatives, this change came at the request of the program’s team, potentially allowing hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski more focused airtime as the 2024 election cycle intensifies.
The restructuring has led to significant shifts for some current daytime personalities. Ana Cabrera will depart the network entirely, while Chris Jansing will transition from anchor to a new role as MS NOW’s chief political reporter. This change for Jansing comes at a strategic time as the presidential campaign season accelerates, potentially leveraging her extensive political reporting background.
One time slot still remains unfilled in the new schedule. The network has yet to announce who will take over the 11 a.m. hour before the changes take effect this summer, creating speculation about whether MS NOW might bring in fresh talent or promote from within.
In a notable development for the network’s west coast operations, Jacob Soboroff will anchor two three-hour weekend shifts from Los Angeles. This marks MS NOW’s first program to be based in California, potentially signaling a broader geographic expansion for the network’s news coverage beyond its traditional East Coast focus.
The scheduling changes come amid a challenging landscape for cable news networks. The industry has faced declining viewership in recent years as consumers increasingly shift toward streaming platforms and alternative news sources. Networks like MS NOW have been experimenting with programming changes to maintain relevance in a fragmented media environment.
Industry analysts suggest this reorganization could be part of a larger strategy to create more distinctive programming blocks throughout the day, with stronger personality-driven shows that build loyal viewership. The changes also appear designed to better position MS NOW against competitors Fox News and CNN, both of which have undergone their own recent programming adjustments.
These moves come as cable news networks prepare for what promises to be an intense election news cycle, with programming decisions increasingly focused on political coverage heading into the 2024 presidential campaign. The placement of Jansing in a dedicated political reporting role underscores this priority.
The network has not disclosed specific ratings targets for the new lineup, but the comprehensive nature of the changes suggests MS NOW executives see a significant opportunity to reshape viewer habits and strengthen the network’s competitive position in key time slots.
The restructured schedule is set to debut in June, giving anchors and production teams several weeks to prepare for their new assignments and time slots.
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10 Comments
I’m a bit skeptical about the changes, as major schedule shuffles don’t always work out as planned. But MS NOW is likely trying to shake things up and find new ways to stand out in a crowded cable news landscape.
Reducing Morning Joe’s runtime is an intriguing decision. I wonder if it’s an attempt to make the show feel more focused and impactful.
Overall, these programming changes suggest MS NOW is being proactive in trying to adapt to the evolving cable news landscape. It remains to be seen if the shifts will pay off in terms of ratings and viewer engagement.
The reduction in Morning Joe’s runtime is an intriguing move. I wonder if it’s an attempt to make the show feel more tightly focused as the election cycle heats up.
The moves of Ruhle and Menendez to daytime slots could be a good opportunity for them to build larger audiences. Strengthening the network’s midday presence seems like a logical strategy.
I’m curious to see how the new evening lineup with Velshi and Russert performs. Bringing in fresh faces could inject some energy into that part of the schedule.
Interesting to see MS NOW making such significant changes to their daytime lineup. Curious to see how Stephanie Ruhle and Alicia Menendez perform in their new time slots and if it helps boost the network’s viewership.
The move to shorten Morning Joe’s runtime is also noteworthy. I wonder if this will allow the hosts to dive deeper into key topics as the 2024 election cycle ramps up.
This seems like a strategic move by MS NOW to try and capture more of the daytime audience. Shuffling around their top anchors could help differentiate their programming and bring in new viewers.
It will be interesting to see if these changes translate to improved ratings for the network. Time slots can make a big difference in cable news.