Rachel Maddow Faces Massive Salary Slash Amid MSNBC Turmoil

The 2024 election has upended the media landscape, but nowhere has the fallout been more pronounced than at MSNBC. With ratings in free fall after Donald Trump’s decisive victory, insiders say the network is preparing for a major overhaul. Changes include programming shakeups, shifting roles for household names, and, notably, a significant pay cut for its star anchor, Rachel Maddow.

Maddow, who once commanded a staggering $30 million annual salary, has reportedly re-upped her contract for a fraction of that amount. She has renegotiated her contract for a $25 million salary over the next five years. According to The Ankler, Maddow’s deal was quietly renewed earlier this fall under vastly different terms.

“This is a difficult time and they needed to keep her,” an executive explained to The Ankler. “No one else can do what she does. You can’t build a brand like it overnight.”

Another executive referred to Maddow as “ratings Viagra.”

The network intends to deploy her as a “secret weapon” on other shows during breaking news events, the outlet reported. “We were so pro-Harris that when she lost, viewers were shocked,” an on-air commentator revealed. “It turned into one giant echo chamber. If MSNBC wants to serve its viewers well, they can’t keep them in a fantasy land.”

Three years ago, Rachel Maddow’s $30 million contract was celebrated as a bold investment in MSNBC’s future. Today, her renegotiated, smaller contract shows the network’s ongoing struggles.

MSNBC’s viewership has plummeted by 40% since Trump’s electoral victory, according to recent Nielsen data. The decline comes as the network’s traditionally left-leaning viewers have grown discontent. Criticism has largely focused on MSNBC’s leadership and its relationship with key figures such as Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, who have come under fire for their reported meetings with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, further estranging viewers opposed to Trump.

“I don’t know if having these people on would put any useful information out,” another told the outlet.

Adding to the chaos, MSNBC’s parent company, Comcast, is set to spin off NBCUniversal’s cable channels, including MSNBC and CNBC, further complicating the network’s future. The move is expected to result in significant cost-cutting measures across the board, leaving many questioning the long-term viability of cable news in its current form.

Executives are reportedly finalizing a lineup shakeup that includes changes to daytime and weekend programming, a new host for the Morning Joe lead-in, and a redistribution of airtime among top talent.

Shortly after President-elect Trump’s victory, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski traveled to Mar-a-Lago to meet with him, aiming to “restart communications” despite their prior critical stance toward Trump. The backlash has been swift and severe, resulting in a significant drop in “Morning Joe’s” ratings. According to The New York Post, between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., viewership fell by 17%, and among the key 25-54 age demographic, it plummeted by 38%.

Internally, MSNBC staffers have voiced their discontent, describing the meeting as an act of “cowardice” and expressing concern over the network’s direction.

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