MSNBC Wants to Meet More Fans Without Using Its Cable Network

As a devoted follower of MSNBC, I can confidently say that 2025 is poised to be an exciting year for us, the fans. The recent event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music has shown me that the network is not only listening to its audience but actively seeking ways to bring their content closer to us.


Some of MSNBC’s most dynamic moments in 2025 may not take place on a TV screen.

It’s quite possible that you’re correct. Over the weekend, Rashida Jones, president of an NBCUniversal-funded cable network, found herself in the lobby of the Brooklyn Academy of Music. What caught her attention was the fact that many of the people she encountered weren’t locals. Instead, they had traveled from cities like London and Hawaii to catch a glimpse of MSNBC figures such as Rachel Maddow, Katy Tur, Joy Reid, Jen Psaki, and Chris Hayes. These media personalities were part of a day-long event that attracted around 4000 ticket holders for discussions about the upcoming election and national politics.

According to Jones, it’s time for us to admit that MSNBC viewers don’t always require the cable network to fully satisfy their interests. Jones, who became head of MSNBC in 2021, shared this with the audience in Brooklyn, stating they made their preferences clear. “I want to emphasize even more,” said Jones, “the concept of taking the brand directly to the people. I aim to do this in various locations.

MSNBC has been trying out various live hosting formats. For instance, in March, they hosted an exclusive event in Washington that included Psaki, Steve Kornacki, and Stephanie Ruhle. During the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Luke Russert and Symone Sanders Townsend interviewed Eric Holder and Stacey Abrams at an event sponsored by Lyft. Notably, Luke Russert, who used to work for NBC News and is the son of the late “Meet the Press” moderator Tim Russert, was recently hired by MSNBC to host their live events.

It’s worth exploring the demand for MSNBC events such as conferences, dinners, and discussions, given that it and other major cable news networks like Fox News and CNN are likely to experience a decline in subscribers and revenue in 2024, as per estimates from Kagan, a research firm under S&P Global Intelligence. This year alone, MSNBC’s subscriber base is projected to shrink by about 6%, down to approximately 64.5 million from the current 68.5 million. Additionally, affiliate revenue is anticipated to decrease by almost 4% in 2024, dropping to $295.1 million compared to $307 million in the previous year.

The income generated from events may not be the primary factor determining MSNBC’s financial strategy, but it can undeniably aid in balancing out any deficits.

As a cinephile reflecting on last Saturday’s industry gathering, I find myself echoing the sentiments of Rebecca Kutler, MSNBC’s Senior Vice President of Content Strategy. The event served as an auspicious beginning, hinting at the boundless possibilities that lie ahead for live events in the coming year.

She visualizes organizing smaller, privately-funded gatherings along with larger ideas to bring in income. Some of these events might offer guests a sneak peek into different ventures spearheaded by the MSNBC team. Others could leverage MSNBC’s expanding collection of audio content.

Kutler mentioned being inspired by chatting with a guest from Florida over the weekend – a state not typically associated with an MSNBC audience in recent times – who proposed the idea of hosting a dinner for local supporters. Within just one day, this fan followed up with potential venues and strategies to boost attendance.

It turns out that the attendees were coming from locations much farther off than initially expected. Initially, it was believed that they would be primarily from New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Previously, other entities have explored comparable ideas. CNN hosted a sequence of real-time “Citizen” gatherings in recent times, where notable figures and CNN anchors would debate significant day-to-day topics. Among those who participated were Jimmy Kimmel, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Fox News Channel has been running its “Patriot Awards” for several years now; the event also includes opportunities to mingle with others and enjoy a whiskey tasting.

MSNBC personalities will engage in more interactive discussions with their viewers through live events, as stated by Jones. Currently, these journalists and analysts communicate nightly to a large audience, but they lack the opportunity to hear from or observe viewer reactions. In other words, they miss out on direct eye contact.

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2024-09-10 17:46