NEW YORK (AP) — Al Sharpton is losing his daily show on MSNBC, with the network saying he’ll be downshifted to the weekend. The move is one among many changes at the network as it moves away from commentary and towards breaking news coverage.
Sharpton’s “Politics Nation” has aired at 6 p.m. EDT on weeknights for the past four years at the ratings-challenged news network. MSNBC is in the midst of wholesale changes under NBC News boss Andrew Lack, deemphasizing its left-leaning programming during the daytime hours in favor of more straight news shows.
Sharpton’s show occasionally put MSNBC in awkward positions, since he continued his political activism while doing some stories where there was racial controversy while remaining host of a news program. The show averaged between 500,000 and 600,000 viewers in recent weeks, trailing Fox News and CNN in the key age demographic of 25-54, the Los Angeles Times reports.
MSNBC said Wednesday that starting Oct. 4, Sharpton’s “Politics Nation” will air at 8 a.m. Sundays. His daily show ends Sept. 4.
“I want to congratulate Al and his team,” MSNBC president Phil Griffin said. “For four years they have done a terrific job bringing his voice and a big spotlight to issues of justice, civil rights and equality. And as many of you know, The Rev never missed a show. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do with a Sunday morning news maker program
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