It’s official: Comcast is done babysitting its sinking cable TV properties, and that includes the hot mess that is MSNBC.
In a move that screams “we’ve had enough,” Comcast announced plans to spin off several cable networks, including MSNBC, CNBC, Syfy, USA Network, and more, into a separate public company. This isn’t just a business decision—it’s a lifeboat for Comcast to distance itself from a floundering medium while focusing on more lucrative ventures like broadband and streaming.
Let’s be honest: cable TV has been in a tailspin for years, but MSNBC is in a class of its own. The network went all-in on anti-Trump hysteria and Kamala Harris worship, only to face a rude awakening after Donald Trump’s historic return to the White House. Post-election, MSNBC’s ratings cratered by 53%, with some broadcasts hitting their lowest numbers in over two decades. The Morning Joe circus, once a flagship program, now resembles a ghost town, with viewership tanking mid-show after hosts awkwardly tried to justify a meeting with Trump.
Imagine you’re MSNBC, facing layoffs after a significant drop in viewership and being sold off your Comcast platform, having to report that social media influencers and X do a better job than you reporting the news.
Also, did they liken us to “basket makers” ? pic.twitter.com/huh8yzBne1
— Shipwreck (@shipwreckshow) November 20, 2024
Even as viewers flee, MSNBC’s problems extend far beyond ratings. The network is embroiled in ethical scandals, including Al Sharpton’s cozy (and undisclosed) financial ties to Kamala Harris’ campaign. Harris’ $500,000 donation to Sharpton’s nonprofit before an overly friendly MSNBC interview reeks of “pay-to-play,” and while cable networks might skirt payola laws designed for traditional broadcasts, the optics are devastating. This isn’t journalism—it’s a political infomercial dressed up as news.
Comcast’s decision to cut MSNBC loose is as strategic as it is brutal. By spinning off the network with other cable properties, Comcast can shield its core businesses from the sinking ship that is cable TV. The newly formed entity will inherit the baggage, from plummeting ratings to credibility issues, while Comcast walks away with its broadband and streaming portfolios intact. The spinoff company’s pitch to investors is bound to be an uphill battle: “Here’s MSNBC, bundled with Syfy and Golf Channel, for all your niche-viewing needs!”
Comcast spinning off MSNBC?
Elections have consequences and so does poor ratings.
Jesse has some news on the crumbling media. pic.twitter.com/Gwk5IuXmsm— SweetPeaBelle (@SweetPeaBell326) November 20, 2024
What’s truly remarkable is how MSNBC managed to squander its platform. The network positioned itself as the go-to for progressive viewers, only to alienate them with hysterical overreach and transparent bias. Even the audience that once tuned in for the daily Trump-bashing seems to have decided there are better ways to spend their time—and their money.
“Comcast is reportedly looking to sell MSNBC after viewership craters.”
The faces and audible gasps are priceless: pic.twitter.com/Wy3lM5pua5
— Douglas Ritz (@douglasritz) November 12, 2024
So, can MSNBC recover? Probably not. With its credibility in tatters and ratings in freefall, the network is entering survival mode. Investors will need more than spreadsheets to find value in a network that appears more focused on preaching to a shrinking choir than delivering anything resembling objective news. For Comcast, the message is clear: MSNBC is someone else’s problem now.
Comcast is selling MSNBC because ratings are in the toilet. If Elon Musk bought it, he could literally add Alex Jones, Tucker, and anyone else who was railroaded by MSM and big tech! I’d be willing to do a show, too! We are truly MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/uuZuanWDYJ
— Live From America TV (@LFATVUS) November 12, 2024
