ABRAMS REPLACED BY MADDOW AT MSNBC

ABRAMS REPLACED BY MADDOW AT MSNBC

In a long-expected shakeup, Dan Abrams has been removed as host of MSNBC's 9 00 p.m. hour and will be replaced by political commentator Rachel Maddow, the New York Times reported today (Wednesday), saying that its information was confirmed by MSNBC executives and that a formal announcement is expected today. Abrams's final program will air on Thursday. Maddow is due to take over the time period on September 8 following the political conventions. Last month MSNBC President Phil Griffin had said "At some point I don't know when, she should have a show. ... She's on the short list. It's a very short list. She's at the top." Several political blogs interpreted the move as an effort to fashion MSNBC as the liberal alternative to Fox News. The Times itself suggested as much when it commented, "A program hosted by Ms. Maddow will almost certainly be a closer ideological fit with [Keith] Olbermann's." Although the Times reported that Abrams would likely remain with the cable network, the website TVNewser quoted an insider as predicting that he will leave. "There's interest from other news networks," the source said.

20/08/2008