Al Sharpton's MSNBC show is canceled
Rev. Al Sharpton speaks during a rally at the National Action Network in New York City on May 2, 2015. Credit: AP
The Rev. Al Sharpton's four-year weeknight run is over: MSNBC has canceled his 6 p.m. series and will instead slot the civil rights activist as host of a Sunday morning program, effective Oct. 4. The last edition of "PoliticsNation" will air Sept. 4.
MSNBC announced the move internally Wednesday in the middle of a busy news day via a memo from MSNBC chief Phil Griffin, who wrote: "I want to congratulate Al and his team. For four years they have done a terrific job bringing his voice and a big spotlight to issues of justice, civil rights and equality.And as many of you know, The Rev. never missed a show. I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do with a Sunday morning newsmaker program."
MSNBC, under NBC News chief Andy Lack, is in the midst of a restructuring as it prepares to bring former "Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams on board as breaking news anchor, and seeks to distance itself from what has long been characterized -- essentially by itself -- as a left-of-center news network. While Sharpton's 4-year-old series airs outside of prime time, hosts in the evening hours have also been dropped.
Sharpton's ratings are not huge, but his presence absolutely is: Even though he is a frequent guest on Fox News, critics have long wondered why MSNBC allowed a prominent political activist and sometime-adviser to President Barack Obama to host as opposed to taking the lesser role of commentator.
Sharpton's Sunday program will air at 8 a.m. MSNBC on Wednesday did not name a replacement for his weeknight program.
