Tucker Carlson is the new Dan Abrams

Changes announced at MSNBC today. Good news for Rita Cosby and one-hour longform. Bad news for Tucker.

    Network To Complement Live News Programming With Two Hours Of Compelling Documentary Programming During Weekday Prime

        Expanding Her Role With The Network, Rita Cosby To Become Primary Anchor Of "MSNBC Investigates"

        Tucker Carlson moves to 4 & 6 p.m. (ET)

       SECAUCUS, NJ - June 29, 2006 - MSNBC today announced that the network will air two hours of documentary programming during weekday prime, at 10:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. (ET), beginning July 10, 2006.  On January 13th of this year, MSNBC began presenting documentary programming on Friday evenings, resulting in stunning ratings growth (MSNBC is up 67% in the adult demographic and 34% in total viewers)*. MSNBC is now expanding this popular programming throughout the week. The announcement was made by Dan Abrams, General Manager of MSNBC.

The documentaries will complement MSNBC's existing programming by building on our library of award winning documentaries.  Michael Rubin and Scott Hooker will lead MSNBC's long form unit.  Hooker, an award winning documentary producer who has been with the network since its inception, will be Senior Executive Producer of Documentary Production and Development. Hooker is joined by Michael Rubin, who recently returned to MSNBC in the role of Vice President, Long Form Programming.  Rubin, a veteran broadcast and cable network programmer, had been with MSNBC from 1999 to 2001, as Senior Executive Producer of Long Form. Prior to that, he was an Executive Producer at CBS news for several years working in primetime, on the CBS news magazine "West 57th" and on special projects. Both Hooker and Rubin report to Abrams.

"MSNBC has made tremendous strides in key primetime hours," said Abrams, "and these adjustments to our primetime schedule will continue to propel our momentum, as we concentrate on our strengths and continue to serve our viewers with the right mix of programming."

Rita Cosby will now expand her role with the network and will become the primary anchor of the long running franchise "MSNBC Investigates," airing in the 10 and 11 p.m. Monday through Friday timeslots.  She will also head up the newly created "Rita Cosby Specials" unit.  Known for her tenacity and tireless energy, Cosby will continue to focus on the big stories and important interviews that MSNBC's audience has come to expect.  She will have her own production team and will be featured prominently throughout MSNBC's primetime and on NBC News.  "Rita is a top notch journalist who I look forward to seeing more on our network," said Abrams. "As Rita's visibility increases, she will become that much more important to the network as a whole."  "I am absolutely thrilled to be taking on these additional duties with MSNBC," said Cosby.  "I have always admired the work of the documentary unit and I can't wait to be a part of it. The combination of reporting live from the biggest stories and working on compelling documentary programming is the ultimate job for me."

Also as part of the schedule shift, Tucker Carlson's program will move to 4:00 p.m. (ET) and 6:00 p.m. (ET), occupying what was previously the timeslot for "The Abrams Report." Carlson will continue to hold newsmakers, as well as news shapers in the media, accountable for what they do and fail to do. "It's going to be a dramatic couple of years in the news," said Carlson.  "We may be pulling out of Iraq.  Hillary could be president.  Whatever happens, we'll be there, fighting the power with a smile."

*According to Nielsen Media Research data, during the period from January 13 through June 25, 2006, on Friday nights, MSNBC is up 67% in the 25-54 demographic and 34% in total viewers, from 10 p.m. to midnight (ET) versus a year ago.

Comments

Why do you consider this bad news for Carlson? As far as I'm concerned, these changes are only bad news for the viewers, who are now going to be exposed even more to these two low-life no-talents while we're trying to watch Olbermann.

[Soonerthought]

Rita Cosby=gag. She's everything that's wrong with television "journalism."

[renton]

I actually like most of Carlson's current show -- except for Carlson.

[Suzn]

Well...guess I can permanently delete that time slot from TiVo. I would rather watch dust motes than Tucker Carlson. The ONLY shot worth watching on MSNBC has been the Abrams Report. I hope that with Dan in charge we will see a gradual shift towards something more engaging than the current lineup but so far I'm not impressed.

The New York Daily News has a different spin on the story:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/431172p-363418c.html

[Ms. Jones]

I sure do miss Dan's show! It was one of my favorites. Can't watch Tucker. Not worth the VHS tape. Rita is "ok." She does have it in her to increase ratings and she gets a lot of "gossipy" stories and unique guests. I still miss Dan though. I still taped the show after Dan was promoted. I guess no real legal analysis now! The Abrams Report was intelligent and fun. I do wish Dan & MSNBC all the best. Dan is top notch.

[Dialwon]

Is it me or is Tucker Carlson moving more to the center from the right and making more sense in the process? He's even been more critical of the administration and its policy in Iraq. I think there's hope for both him an his show.

Dan Abrams has a sharp, critical view of topics at hand. I hope he'll have a strong, direct influence over MSNBC's lineup and content. More 'real' news and less sensationalism. Oh! And they should leave Countdown alone! Best show on their primetime lineup. :p