MSNBC has extended its contract with Rachel Maddow, TVNewser has confirmed. The news was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter‘s Marisa Guthrie.
A source in the agent community tells TVNewser that they heard the new deal extends at least into 2014, ensuring that Maddow will be the tent-pole of MSNBC’s primetime lineup well past the 2012 election.
MSNBC is expected to make the announcement official during its panel session at the Television Critics Association Summer press tour in Beverly Hills later today.
Guthrie notes that locking up Maddow dampens speculation spurred on by now-Current TV host Keith Olbermann, who has spoken openly about wanting to poach Maddow for Current. It looks like he might have to wait a while to do so:
Maddow said she has not spoken to Olbermann since he left MSNBC. And in typical self-deprecating fashion, she disputed the charactirization that she is the “face” of MSNBC.
“I don’t think we’re a one-face network,” she said. “I actually think we have a mutually supportive and pretty cohesive atmosphere. I think that we’re working together well. We internally compete for ratings and bookings and all that stuff but it’s mutually supportive. So I like it. It’ s a fun place to work.”