I am out at MSNBC –
— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) June 29, 2017
Greta Van Susteren just announced on Twitter that she is out at MSNBC.
The former Fox News and CNN host joined MSNBC in January of this year hosting a 6 PM show that failed to earn big ratings or get attention among the chattering class.
Like every other cable news outlet, MSNBC has enjoyed a significant boon in ratings during the Trump administration, even outpacing its competitors in growth in many time slots. The NBC News network has gone through a bit of transition under the leadership of Andrew Lack, adding stronger conservative voices to the network that recently promoted itself with the progressive “Lean Forward” tagline.
If Van Susteren is truly out (as her tweet indicates), speculation will soon turn to who will get the 6 PM hour on MSNBC. Legal analyst and backup primetime host Ari Melber is likely the strongest candidate to get that time slot, though there are number of up-and-comers at the network who will also merit serious consideration.
An MSNBC spokesperson confirms that Greta is out in what was termed a “mutual decision,” though Van Susteren’s sudden tweet seems to bely the action a willing participant in this parting of ways.
Vanity Fair confirms that Melber will get the spot.
UPDATE: John Cole, husband to Van Susteren confirms to CNN that the parting was not mutual, saying “They let her go” and “We’re working out contract issues now.”
Below is a screen capture of an internal memo reportedly sent to staff by MSNBC head Phil Griffin.
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