MSNBC President Rick Kaplan Gone!

[drbtg1]

Rick Kaplan's goodbye to MSNBC staffers:

"I want to let you all know that today I'm leaving MSNBC. It is not often in professional life that someone has the opportunity to end his tenure on such a high note. I couldn't be more proud of the progress we've made together over the last 2 and a half years.

Together, we've increased MSNBC's viewership 25% in primetime and 19% in dayside. Over just the last year, we've had great success across the board, with Hardball and Countdown coming into their own. All of our primetime programs have improved tremendously in their production and content. Together we had a great election year in '04 and you're poised to improve on that excellence this fall.

It truly has been an honor to work with all of you who make up the best team in TV news. My genuine hope is that you continue to grow and build on the momentum we've achieved together at MSNBC."

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/msnbc/rick_kaplan_resigns_effective_immediately_president_of_msnbc_steps_down_38122.asp?c=rss

Since KO stated in the C-SPAN Q&A interview that Kaplan was one of Countdown's biggest fans, I have a bad feeling that KO isn't far behind.

[NMDemDist2]

1. KO's numbers are too good for them to dump him n/t

[T Roosevelt]

2. So were Donahue's

and he got canned...

[RamboLiberal]

7. Donahue was at a time when * was getting 80+ approval ratings

Now that the worm has turned and Faux is dropping key demo numbers while KO gains - my bet is no way will KO get dumped. Maybe the next guy will be better - after all wasn't it Kaplan who hired Scarborough and Carlson. Scarborough has good numbers but Carlson's show is in the tank and should be dumped.

[drbtg1]

15. Actually, Scarborough prime demo numbers suck

After the Scarborough-Cosby switch, the demo numbers generally have taken a nosedive after Countdown. Countdown and Scarborough Country don't match for anybody, liberals or conservatives.

However, Dead Intern Joe matches better with the GE mentality.

[T Roosevelt]

18. Point taken, but numbers don't guarantee security

I don't see Olbermann getting canned, but you never know...

[LostinVA]

3. Yeah, but Donahue was the highest-rated show...

[Cooley Hurd]

4. So were Donohue's...

:(

[Cooley Hurd]

Fuck...

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/msnbc/rick_kaplan_fired_whats_next_38127.asp

Rick Kaplan Fired: What's Next?
Glaringly absent from today's announcement about Rick Kaplan's departure is any mention of what's next for the MSNBC president. He's packing up and leaving today -- but where is he going?

Kaplan met with NBC News president Steve Capus at 30 Rock this morning, a source tells TVNewser. He was apparently told that MSNBC is moving in a new direction.

The tip box has been buzzing about Rick Kaplan lately. On Tuesday, FTVLive said "word is that Kaplan is quietly pitching himself for the GMA gig." But other insiders say he's not on the short list for that...

If they cancel Olbermann...:grr:

[NMDemDist2]

13. O NO that's not good. Jeebus on a Jetski, I'm glad for FSTV and

Stewart.

crap


:banghead:

[rurallib]

5. First reaction - maybe a chance MSNBC will lean a bit more left

then reality set in. I forgot who owned them. They'll probably start a bidding war for Glen Beck (pronounced puke). I can see Tucker's bow tie rising. I think I may cry. YThank God for AAR and freespeechTV.

[napi21]

6. Soooo, why's he leaving? Don't give me the "Spend more time story"

either. These guys dont walk away, they're always pushed, by someone or something!

[NMDemDist2]

9. I was wondering that myself............ n/t

[NMDemDist2]

8. are you sure that was the President KO referred too? I thought it was a

past president he was speaking of in that interview??

[Warpy]

10. The only reason their numbers inproved is because people are

starting to realize just how bad Pox SUCKS and what unrelenting liars they are.

They'll get wise to MSRNC, too.

I wish I could see a change for the better with this joker's departure, but I know the parent company is GE and GE will never allow it.

[MADem]

11. DICK EBERSOL is tight with KO, I wouldn't be too worried

Ebersol let him out of the Olympics to do COUNTDOWN. And SPORTS is where the big ad dollars come in, not expanded/basic cable. And he's the NBC sports god...he's brought in a load of coverage for the network in his position.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

12. is this the guy who replaced donahue with joedeadintern?

and hired dick armey, michael savge and tucker carlson for 'balance?'

[Cooley Hurd]

14. TVNewser saying that Kaplan was FIRED?

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/msnbc/rick_kaplan_fired_whats_next_38127.asp

Rick Kaplan Fired: What's Next?
Glaringly absent from today's announcement about Rick Kaplan's departure is any mention of what's next for the MSNBC president. He's packing up and leaving today -- but where is he going?

Kaplan met with NBC News president Steve Capus at 30 Rock this morning, a source tells TVNewser. He was apparently told that MSNBC is moving in a new direction.

The tip box has been buzzing about Rick Kaplan lately. On Tuesday, FTVLive said "word is that Kaplan is quietly pitching himself for the GMA gig." But other insiders say he's not on the short list for that...

(I meant to reply to the OP, but goofed and replied upthread - this can't be good)

[gatorboy]

16. Moving in a new direction?

Hopefully that means the Hardball "All Stars" are toast....

[Norquist Nemesis]

28. Hopefully the Host is toast too!!!

I finally absolutely swore off Matthews last night. I'm done. I just haven't decided whether I should go ahead a write to the Matthews, his producer(s), and the top execs detailing why I'm bidding them good riddance.

[gully]

17. Moving closer to assisting Republicans in the coming elections?

:eyes:

[SuperWonk]

19. They have been...

talking about pulling the plug on this 'dead man walking' for months.
After taking this network into the gutter what else would you expect?

The only question I have is, who would want to step into his shoes?

[gully]

22. He increased ratings by 25% evenings and 19% days.

I guess I question how that's taking them into the gutter?

[EmmitFitzhume]

27. Some other theories . . .

Check out the numerous theories that Inside Cable News is mentioning. A combination of the two wouldn't surprise me given all of Kaplan's misfires and MSNBC's need to do something to move out of third place. Looks like bad times are ahead for MSNBC.

http://insidecable.blogsome.com/

The first school of thought is that Kaplan was fired but allowed to play this out in a more face saving manner which benefits both sides. The evidence for a firing would be that it was abrupt with no time built in for a transition. Even Erik Sorenson got kicked upstairs when he was removed as President of MSNBC. But if it was a firing, it would put NBC Corporate in a bad position since execs have publicly backed MSNBC with no less that Bob Wright giving the equivelent of a thumbs up on Your World last week. To fire Kaplan under this public backing of MSNBC would bring out charges that NBC was saying one thing but doing another. The graceful exit we witnessed today would therefore be a means of removing Kaplan without disrupting MSNBC’s perceived momentum.

The second school of thought, which is more disturbing to me, is that Kaplan saw where MSNBC was going to go under this rumored “new direction” NBC News is planning and wanted no part of it. Say what you will about Kaplan and his tenure at MSNBC but in the end he was a newsman with a long tenure in hard news going back to his days with ABC. Say, for example, that NBC News wants to gut daytime news with canned programming, as has been rumored on TMZ.com (I’m not saying that’s the direction they’re going to go…I’m just tossing out one scenario). Would a newsman like Kaplan want to be in charge of that? See what I’m getting at? Perhaps Kaplan’s departure is a sign of ominous things to come for people who watch MSNBC for news?

[Norquist Nemesis]

29. Good Catch! Welcome to DU!

I'm am still seeting over Chris Matthews from last night. The blatant promotion of Republicans with zero representation from the Democrats or a Democratic spokesperson ...even Faux fakes giving both sides.

Matthews has gone fully and completely into 60 minutes of RNC Propaganda.

[givemebackmycountry]

20. THAT is NOT good news.

He was apparently told that MSNBC is moving in a new direction...

And would that direction be left or right?

I'm just asking.

I can not see them all of a sudden deciding that Randi Rhodes gets 60 minutes and FUCK Chris Matthews.

Rachel Maddow IN.
Fat Cow/Harvey Firestein sounding/Rita Cosby GET OUT.

Tucker Carlson GET OUT.
Bill Maher, have a seat.

There's no way that's happening.

Right?

[Vinnie From Indy]

21. Kaplan is a BushCo flunkie!

He gives as much of a shit about America as any of the participants of the vast right wing media machines. I won't be surprised at all if his next gig is with The Carlyle Group in some capacity. Never forget that Kaplan reigned over MSNBC during these last few years of naked propaganda, irrelevance and lies.

[drbtg1]

23. Kaplan is a BushCo flunkie that liked Olbermann

The successor could easily be a BushCo flunkie that does not like Olbermann. Hence the problem. Plus, the new people, who will be charged with getting those ratings up at all costs, may surely realize it's much easier to make shows for the sheep of the conservative base that it is for the more discriminating tastes of liberals. It's not likely the new guys will want to put in the effort to program for liberals.

Yes, Kaplan reigned over MSNBC during these last few years, but ALL of the MSM was full of naked propaganda, irrelevance and lies.

If NBC-Universal had any brains whatsoever, they'd make MSNBC 9pm-midnight est liberal talk and news analysis AND CNBC conservative. It would be like people who give money to both parties.

[UTUSN]

24. He's the one who SCREAMED at Keith

When Keith did his stop-smoking tribute to Peter JENNINGS, the night of Rita COSBY's debut, and KAPLAN thought her thunder was being stolen. He screamed at Keith, "I won't care if you don't show up for work tomorrow !!1" Oh, so Countdown is "coming into its own" eh?

[drbtg1]

26. Watch the C-SPAN Q&A interview

In that, KO said yes, Kaplan yelled, thinking everyone is as squimish about blood as he is. But then, with equal energy, Kaplan apologized. KO said Countdown has no bigger fan than Kaplan.

[Armstead]

25. I heard that Microsoft and NBC are gettiing a corporate divorce

MSNBC is a partnership between NBC and Microsoft.

There were reports a few months ago that Microsoft ws going to leave the venture nd NBC would take it over completely.

If true, that could mean any number of things. One possibility is that they would fold the opoertion more closely into NBC News, in terms of management and programming.

Dunno, but the fact is that MSNBC's ratings still, suck in general. There's no excuse for a news network associated with a high-profile entity like NBC News to be lagging behind crap like CNN nand Faux News.

On the positive side, it might mesn that they could get more serious about the news, instead of their current diet of Tabloid Crap and hyped up News As Shouting Match.

On the downside, it could mean that they'll decide they have to become even more tabloid and more slavishly imitate Faux News.

In either case, Olbermann has been one of their few bright spots in terms of both ratings and credibility with viewers who have been left behind by the other two cable news networks in the race to the bottom. So IMO he's probably safe whatever happens....I hope so anyway.