Reply #11: Here's your answer: [View All]

[Mabus]

from insidecable.blogsome.com

January 11, 2006
MSNBC to run tape on Friday nights…

TVNewser scoops with news that MSNBC is planning running tape Friday nights for the next five weeks instead of Live and Direct, Scarborough Country, and The Situation. According to Rick Kaplan’s internal memo this is all supposed to be a good thing….

As we go into this important period leading up to the Olympics, we’re going to air some of the great taped programming we run on weekend nights. Scott Hooker and his team have done great work with these programs and we want to give our weeknight viewers the opportunity to see them. For these five weeks, Rita, Joe and Tucker will contribute to our other primetime shows on Fridays and will be on stand-by in case of breaking news. This opportunity will also give their terrific teams a chance to get a jump on the week ahead.

Does anyone really buy this? As a programming move it makes no sense at all. MSNBC Investigates may deliver higher numbers on the weekends and that may be the thinking behind this Friday tryout but from a PR standpoint it’s another black mark on MSNBC’s reputation as a “must see” news network that competes with CNN and FNC. And it makes even less sense if this is just a temporary thing as Kaplan says it is. You can’t build traction in four to five weeks.

And are the staffs of these shows so burdened that they need a four day show week to be able to do a better job? Kaplan makes it sound like they are. And I don’t buy the wanting to give weeknight viewers a chance to see these shows. They probably already have seen these shows since they’ve been repeated so many times before on the weekends. rest at http://insidecable.blogsome.com/2006/01/11/msnbc-to-run-tape-on-friday-nights/

Or, if you prefer the word from mediabistro.com


Wednesday, Jan 11
For Four Weeks, MSNBC Is Piloting Taped Programming On Friday Nights
msnbcinvestigates.jpgFirst on TVNewser: In a memo to staffers this afternoon, Rick Kaplan outlined a temporary programming change that's coming to MSNBC on Friday:

"I want to tell all of you about some special programming we're going to be running on Friday nights from 9pm until midnight for the next five weeks. As we go into this important period leading up to the Olympics, we're going to air some of the great taped programming we run on weekend nights. Scott Hooker and his team have done great work with these programs and we want to give our weeknight viewers the opportunity to see them. For these five weeks, Rita, Joe and Tucker will contribute to our other primetime shows on Fridays and will be on stand-by in case of breaking news. This opportunity will also give their terrific teams a chance to get a jump on the week ahead. The three hour block will kick-off this Friday night with MSNBC Investigates: Lockup: Return to Riker's Island at 9pm, followed by MSNBC Investigates: Lockup: NC Women's Prison at 10 pm and City in Fear: Son of Sam at 11pm."

The taped programs have helped MSNBC deliver relatively impressive 25-54 demo ratings on the weekends, and the network is hoping to extend that to Fridays with this pilot... http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/msnbc/for_four_weeks_msnbc_is_piloting_taped_programming_on_friday_nights_30737.asp