Sep 7, 2023 - Economy & Business
MSNBC adds Jen Psaki to Monday prime-time lineup
- Sara Fischer, author of Axios Media Trends
Photo: Amy E. Price/Getty Images for SXSW
Former White House spokesperson Jen Psaki will host an hour of prime-time programming at 8pm on Monday evenings for MSNBC, beginning Sept. 25, the network announced today.
Why it matters: The network has leaned into partisan personalities to drive ratings in the post-Trump era.
- Psaki joined MSNBC last October after leaving the White House. She launched her own show, "Inside With Jen Psaki," earlier this year. The show, which airs on Sundays at noon, has been a ratings success for the network.
- MSNBC hired Symone Sanders, a former adviser and senior spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris, in January 2022. She began hosting a weekend show for the network earlier this year.
Details: Psaki will continue to host her show on Sundays, as well as appearing on other shows as a contributor.
- MSNBC host Chris Hayes will continue to host his show, "All In With Chris Hayes," during the 8pm hour Tuesdays through Fridays, the network said in a statement.
The big picture: MSNBC is continuing to experiment with scheduling shifts to accommodate multiplatform projects from its biggest stars and to boost ratings.
- Rachel Maddow, for example, began hosting her 9pm show only on Monday evenings last year. She signed a new contract with the network in 2021 to focus more on things like documentaries and podcasts.
- The network has been experimenting with a similar model for "All In With Chris Hayes" by having a group of rotating hosts anchor the 8pm hour on Mondays for the past year.