Election night favorite Steve Kornacki has quit his role at MSNBC – as the liberal network prepares to split from parent company NBCUniversal.
Kornacki, famed for his fascinating data updates during presidential election counts, will instead stick with NBC News.
The 45 year-old broadcaster will now devote his expertise to shows like ‘Meet the Press,’ ‘Today’ and ‘NBC Nightly News,’ as well as the network’s streaming channel, NBC News Now.
He will also provide stats for big sporting events aired by the Peacock Network like the Triple Crown races, the Olympics and the NFL.
The data reporter is one of few on-air talents who has found success with both conservative and liberal fanbases – thanks to his relentlessly information-driven updates.
His exit comes as MSNBC has recently seen it ratings tank, and after it fired outspoken progressive Joy Reid.
Other stars lost their shows as well, as MSNBC seeks to slash costs and reportedly rejig toward the center.
Sources told outlets such as Status and The Ankler that that’s the work of the boss of the cable-centered spinoff – called SpinCo. – NBCU alum Mark Lazarus.
Steve Kornacki, pictured on election night 2024, has announced he is stepping down from MSNBC. Kornacki, known for his data analysis, will stick with parent company NBC News as the two entities split
MSNBC’s panel is seen on election night 2024. The troubled network has since fired Joy Reid, seen second from left in the background
Under the still-being-ironed out agreement, MSNBC and NBC News will be parting ways.
Money-minded CNBC will go to SpinCo as well, as both it and MSNBC will soon be tasked with gathering its own news and content, without help from NBCU-owned assets like NBC News.
Kornacki, upon signing his new contract, opted for NBC News – a network that itself has been plagued by high-profile exits.
Lester Holt revealed he would be stepping down from Nightly News last month – though staying with Dateline – and Longtime Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd left his post in January, taking his successful podcast with him in the process.
That same month, Hoda Kotb left her long-held post at Today, following a 26-year NBC News career.
Like Holt, Kotb is also staying at the network – though in an unspecified role.
Reid, meanwhile, was fired in February as part of a programming bloodbath said to be masterminded by new boss Rebecca Kutler, who replaced Rashida Jones last month.
The latter was the first black woman to ever run a major news station, a stint that lasted three years.
Joy Reid was fired from the netorking in February as part of a programming bloodbath said to be masterminded by MSNBC’s new boss
Pictured, new new network president Rebecca Kutler, who replaced Rashida Jones last month. The latter was the first black woman to ever run a major news station, a stint that lasted three years
During that time, the left-leaning station has been met with plummeting ratings, paving the way for The ReidOut’s cancellation on February 24.
The move was accompanied with others that saw Katie Phang, Jonathan Capehart and Ayman Mohyeldin lose their shows as well, though the latter two will be moving to new shows elsewhere on the network.
At the time, a well-placed executive told DailyMail.com that Reid had it coming – citing lukewarm contracts talks and her allegedly politically insensitive views surrounding the Israel-Hamas war
The day after news of her firing leaked, MSNBC’s marquee star Rachel Maddow took to the airwaves to complain to management about the programming changes, saying, ‘I think it is a bad mistake to let [Reid] walk out the door.’
She also griped about the people losing their shows all being persons ‘of color’, on what’s become the network’s lone source of respite when it comes to ratings, The Rachel Maddow Show.
The new lineup, meanwhile, is set to roll out later this month, under the guidance of newly minted Senior Vice President Scott Matthews.
Following Kornacki’s exit – which was first reported by the Hollywood Reporter – the catalog of shows will have to make due without contributions from the data maven, whose new title at NBC as a contributor will be chief data analyst.
He was first propelled to stardom during the 2020 election, before widening his scope to include sports in 2021. He covered the 2024 election as well, using data to stand up statements from mainstays like Reid and Maddow
During that span, his khakis and enthusiasm for numbers earned him an impressive following – one that MSNBC now seems set to lose
He was first propelled to stardom during the 2020 election, before widening his scope to include sports in 2021.
He covered the 2024 election as well, using data to stand up statements from mainstays like Reid and Maddow.
During that span, his khakis and enthusiasm for numbers earned him an impressive following – one that MSNBC now seems set to lose.
The SpinCo spin-off agreement, meanwhile, is expected to be close sometime soon, this year.