MS Now Announces First Major Programming Moves Since Rebranding
MS Now, the liberal cable news network previously known as MSNBC until November, has revealed its first substantial programming changes since being spun off into the new media company Versant. The network announced on Wednesday a series of adjustments aimed at strengthening its lineup, with changes set to take effect in June.
Morning Show Overhaul and New Additions
The flagship breakfast program Morning Joe will be reduced from four hours to three hours daily. Co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough have cited the strain of hosting a four-hour show as a key reason for this shift. Taking over one of those hours, Stephanie Ruhle will host a new two-hour morning show from 9 to 11 am. Ruhle, a longtime MS Now anchor, currently hosts a late-night show at 11 pm, which will now be taken over by Ali Velshi.
In other changes, Jacob Soboroff will assume hosting duties for Velshi's weekend show. Ana Cabrera, who anchored a 10 am news show, will depart the network as part of these restructuring efforts.
Evening and Daytime Programming Adjustments
The network's 7 pm show, The Weeknight, which replaced Joy Reid's program, will see Luke Russert join as a new co-host alongside Symone Sanders Townsend and Michael Steele. Russert is the son of legendary Meet the Press moderator Tim Russert. Additionally, Alicia Menendez, currently part of the hosting trio for that show, will receive her own daily program from 12 to 2 pm. Chris Jansing, the current 12 pm anchor, will transition to a reporting role.
Chris Hayes will return to hosting his 8 pm show five days a week instead of four, further solidifying the network's prime-time offerings.
Strategic Rationale and Company Growth
Rebecca Kutler, president of MS Now, linked these changes to the upcoming midterm elections and the 2028 presidential election, emphasizing the need for a robust news lineup. In a memo to employees, Kutler stated that many staffers affected by the changes would be able to move into new roles within the company, with overall staff count expected to grow by year's end. "I am confident that these changes will make what is already a successful lineup even stronger in the future," she wrote.
Parent Company Performance and Ratings Context
Versant, the parent company of MS Now which also includes networks like CNBC and the Golf Channel, reported its first earnings earlier this month. Total revenue for 2025 was projected at $6.69 billion, a 5.3% decrease from the previous year. However, CEO Mark Lazarus highlighted that MS Now has achieved significant viewership growth since the name change in November, with primetime ratings in February averaging 1.4 million total viewers, up 20% year-over-year.
Despite this growth, daytime ratings have remained weak, a challenge the new programming changes aim to address. In a post on X, Ana Cabrera commented on her departure, stating she "decided to make a change" and will share future plans soon, reaffirming her commitment to journalistic integrity and accountability.
These planned changes were first reported by the media newsletter Status, underscoring the network's strategic pivot in a competitive media landscape.
