WEATHER ALERT
Network political contributors have a long history. But are they more trouble than they're worth?
Read full article: Network political contributors have a long history. But are they more trouble than they're worth?NBC News' messy hiring and firing of former Republican National Committee head Ronna McDaniel puts a spotlight on television's practice of paying on-air political contributors.
CNBC axes Shepard Smith's nightly newscast after two years
Read full article: CNBC axes Shepard Smith's nightly newscast after two yearsCNBC says it is pulling the plug on Shepard Smith's weeknight general interest news program, saying it wants to focus on the network's core strength of business news.
Conventions highlight aggressive fact-check efforts
Read full article: Conventions highlight aggressive fact-check effortsBoth Maddow and CNN's Daniel Dale aired lightning-round fact-checks following President Donald Trump's acceptance speech on Thursday night. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)NEW YORK Rachel Maddow ended her fact-check mission with a lightning round after President Donald Trump's nomination acceptance speech 12 corrections in about a minute. You can't win.Some of the efforts also stretch the definition of fact-checking, like when MSNBC interviewed Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan after a convention speech where South Dakota Gov. There he goes, lying again, anchor Sean Hannity said in cutting off a speech by former President Bill Clinton. Maddow's anchor colleague, Joy Reid, said as the convention's third night was coming to a close that she saw why it was necessary.
Democrats hope unconventional travelogue entices viewers
Read full article: Democrats hope unconventional travelogue entices viewers(Democratic National Convention via AP)NEW YORK An unexpected travelogue connected as a television event during the second night of the Democrats' virtual convention, livening up a show that so far is struggling in the ratings. Four years ago, opening night drew just under 26 million viewers. NBC's telecast drew 2.28 million viewers, down from 4.29 million four years ago, Nielsen said. The left-leaning MSNBC, where Rachel Maddow, Joy Reid and Nicolle Wallace were anchors, led the way Monday with 5.1 million viewers, up from four years ago. Fox News Channel's audience was unimpressed; the 2.1 million viewers it reached for its hour of convention coverage compared poorly with the 3.4 million viewers that time slot occupant Laura Ingraham had on an average July day.
TV's unconventional night capped by raves for Michelle Obama
Read full article: TV's unconventional night capped by raves for Michelle Obama(Scott Olson/Pool via AP)NEW YORK After a night in which television struggled to keep up with the Democrats' virtual convention, networks were rewarded with the most traditional of political events a powerful speech. This will not be like any convention we have seen before, ever, CNNs Anderson Cooper said at the opening of his networks coverage. Segments spent on broadcast networks previewing speeches by Obama and Sanders seemed like time-wasters when there were other things to show. Wallace's colleague, Dana Perino, stumbled into an unfortunate word choice in an effort to convey enthusiasm for Obama's address. Four years ago, when Hillary Clinton was nominated, 25 million people tuned in to the first night.
Coronavirus upends conventions, changes TV coverage
Read full article: Coronavirus upends conventions, changes TV coverageLOS ANGELES The Democratic and Republican conventions will lack for crowds but not television coverage. The Democratic meeting will be virtual, with Biden planning to make his acceptance speech from Wilmington, Delaware. Broadcast networks ABC, CBS and NBC plan an hour of nightly coverage of the conventions at 10 p.m. EDT. CNN's commentators for the Democratic meeting include Van Jones, Jennifer Granholm, Andrew Yang, and Scott Jennings. Commentary for the Republican convention will be handled by Rick Santorum, David Urban, Amanda Carpenter and Granholm.
MSNBC appoints Joy Reid as Chris Matthews' replacement
Read full article: MSNBC appoints Joy Reid as Chris Matthews' replacementFILE - In this April 20, 2018 file photo, Joy Reid attends the Tribeca TV screening of "Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story" during the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival in New York. MSNBC has picked Reid to fill the 7 p.m. hour that was vacated by longtime host Chris Matthews in early March. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK MSNBC says Joy Reid will move into the early evening time slot vacated in March by former Hardball host Chris Matthew's retirement in March. I'm honored and thankful for this opportunity, Reid said in a statement. Matthews retired on-air in early March following a series of gaffes and an article written by journalist Laura Basset that accused him of making inappropriate comments to her and other women who were on his show.
MSNBCs Joy Reid Becomes First Black Woman to Host Nightly Evening News Show
Read full article: MSNBCs Joy Reid Becomes First Black Woman to Host Nightly Evening News ShowJoy Reid is making history. The host and political commentator is the new host of MSNBC's nightly evening show, The ReidOut, making her the first Black woman to anchor a primetime news show on the network. Rocking my idol Gwen Ifill in my avi in honor https://t.co/SrDL1hhmcN Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) July 9, 2020Reid joined MSNBC in 2011 as a contributor and has been a weekend anchor for her AM Joy show since 2016. Rachel Maddow tweeted that she couldn't be more excited. https://t.co/P5WDz1gfD1 Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) July 9, 2020You go, gurl!