MSNBC's Cheapskating Comes Under Fire

Just like its sister network CNBC, MSNBC has a considerable reliance on longform documentary programming, particularly at weekends.  It is quite to the network's detriment too when big news stories break and the other news channels are straight on air, leaving MSNBC for dust.

The Wrap's Josef Adalian takes a look at the issue;

Now that newsies (especially those with left-leaning tendencies) have adopted MSNBC as their own, there’s growing frustration among the network’s fans over MSNBC’s erratic coverage.

As one newshound tweeted over the weekend, out of frustration over MSNBC being MIA: “Don’t make me watch Fox News!”

So why is MSNBC seemingly oblivious to the complaints? In a word, money.

In a quest to improve bottom line profits for parent company GE, MSNBC’s ultimate boss, Jeff Zucker, years ago decided to add more longform programming to MSNBC’s lineup, thus cutting back on live news.

After all, it’s far cheaper to repurpose old “Dateline” episodes or snap up a cheesy prison special than to keep a newsroom staffed with actual reporters/anchors.

This might have made sense back when MSNBC was struggling. But post-2008, the network is back in the game — if not as a threat to Fox News than as a viable rival to CNN.

It’s time for NBC to stop pinching pennies when it comes to MSNBC. There’s nothing wrong with including long-form specials in the programming mix, even the sleazy, sensational ones like “Lockup.”

Read more here.

Acknowledgements: Inside Cable News