Brian Williams’ MSNBC Contract Is Expiring, And May Have Two Good Competing Options – OutKick

Coming off a monstrous 2020, MSNBC faces a way forward for uncertainty. In addition to a presidency failing to generate efficient left-wing speaking factors, an getting old demographic, and Rachel Maddow’s impending departure from primetime — the community now plans to lose one other nightly host.

Brian Williams’ contract with MSNBC expires on the finish of the 12 months, and desires to maneuver away from his present 11 pm ET time slot. And in accordance with Business Insider, Williams’ big-time lawyer, Bob Barnett, has had talks with CBS News co-president Neeraj Khemlani and CNN’s Jeff Zucker.

CBS and CNN are each investing assets into streaming companies devoted to their information divisions. CNN+, the extra notable of the 2, will launch in early 2022. Meanwhile, CBS’s service will endure a reputation change that higher resembles the remainder of CBS News’ merchandise. Williams would match at both place.

On the tv facet, Willaims must take a backseat. At 62 and with a wierd historical past of mendacity, CNN isn’t pushing Anderson Cooper or Jake Tapper to the facet for Williams. Nor is CBS with Norah O’Donnell. Still, there’s sufficient airtime that CNN and CBS may match Williams someplace if he calls for a linear presence.

Willaims may additionally re-sign with MSNBC in a brand new position. Williams desires to go away the eleventh Hour, that doesn’t imply he wouldn’t think about re-signing with the corporate. NBC’s streaming service, Peacock, would supply Williams the identical assets because the competing companies. Moreover, MSNBC is extra prone to discover different TV alternatives for him.

For instance, if MSNBC strikes Nicolle Wallace to Maddow’s spot, as some NBC execs desire, it creates a gap from 4-6 pm ET, Wallace’s present time slot. Williams would fill that position higher than somebody on MSNBC’s bench, one of many weakest in broadcasting.

Then there’s MSNBC’s determination at 11 pm. Unless Williams adjustments his thoughts, the community has one other spot to fill. I don’t have perception that the community would do that, but it surely should see the success of Greg Gutfeld at 11 pm. Gutfeld is now main late-night. And whereas an MSNBC satirist would share the worldview of the opposite late-night hosts, theirs would have a stronger lead-in at 10 pm.

Here is a line I by no means thought I’d write in 2021: It’s Brian Williams is as soon as once more a narrative.