On the heels of tanking ratings since the landslide election victory for President-elect Donald Trump in November, insiders now say that left-leaning cable network MSNBC is drastically cutting the salaries of some their top talent.
And some believe it could be a precursor to the network firing some of their biggest stars in 2025.
According to a report published by media outlet Outkick, MSNBC has reportedly offered one of their stars, Joy Reid, an ultimatum — take a pay cut or leave the network.
According to reporter Lachlan Cartwright of the Ankler newsletter, Reid is among a number of on-air hosts who MSNBC has informed that they would need to accept a pay reduction to stay on the air.
Joy Reid’s 7 p.m. primetime show has averaged just 759,000 viewers since the election, down from 1.4 million viewers before.
NEW: Far-left MSNBC host Joy Reid will have to take a pay cut if she wants to stay in her role at the network, according to The Ankler.
The news comes after Rachel Maddow was also reportedly forced to take a $5M pay cut.
Reid and Maddow aren't the only anchors impacted. Host… pic.twitter.com/6Om3ekAOti
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 19, 2024
Network mainstay Rachel Maddow has already agreed to a $5 million a year pay cut.
Maddow will now make only $25 million to host her once-a-week primetime program.
The shakeup comes at a tumultuous time for the liberal-leaning network.
The network has lost over half of its audience since Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election in November.
Reports also say that company president Rashida Jones is reportedly weighing an exit, and parent company Comcast announced plans to spin off several of its cable networks, including MSNBC, separate from the flagship NBCUniversal News Group.