Greta Van Susteren has just announced her own departure from MSNBC in a tweet:
I am out at MSNBC –
— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) June 29, 2017
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Van Susteren joined MSNBC less than 6 months ago after a 14-year run at Fox News Channel. Airing at 6 p.m. ET, her she, For The Record, has not managed to hold the ratings of its 5 p.m. lead in, Meet the Press Daily, even as the network is seeing some of it best ratings in other dayparts, in its 21-year history.
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In the 2nd quarter of 2017, For the Record averaged 980,000 total viewers and 207,000 in the A25-54 demo, making it the No. 30 cable news show, trailing her 6 p.m. competition, Special Report with Bret Baier (No. 5 show overall) and CNN’s Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer (No. 23).
Van Susteren departed Fox News last September when a window in her contract allowed her to leave. At the time, she was hosting one of the top cable news programs on TV. In her final full quarter (Q2 2016) On the Record averaged 1.749 million total viewers and 275,000 in the demo, making it the No. 6 most-watched show on cable for the quarter.
FOR THE RECORD WITH GRETA — Pictured: (l-r) ?Greta van Susteren appears on the premiere episode of “For the Record with Greta” in Washington, D.C., Monday, January 9, 2017 — (Photo by: William B. Plowman/MSNBC)
MSNBC president Phil Griffin just announced that Ari Melber will take over the 6 p.m. timeslot. About Van Susteren: “We are grateful to her and wish her the best.”
Team,
As we continue to grow and evolve as a network during one of the most newsworthy periods in recent history I have important news about our 6pm hour.
MSNBC and Greta Van Susteren have decided to part ways. Greta is a well-regarded television veteran and one of only a few broadcasters who can say they’ve hosted shows at all three major cable news networks. We are grateful to her and wish her the best.
I’m also pleased to share that Ari Melber, MSNBC’s Chief Legal Correspondent and host of the “The Point” on weekends will become the permanent host of the 6pm hour next month. Ari is a frequent presence on TODAY and across various MSNBC shows and will continue those appearances as he takes on his new duties.
As you know, Ari has filled in for our prime time hosts, showing a natural ease with the anchor chair. Before Ari starts, we’ll have a rotation to cover six o’clock.
Please join me in wishing Greta well as she departs. We have enjoyed having her on our air and we’re thankful to her and the show team. Please also join me in welcoming Ari to this exciting new role where we’re confident he will continue to shine as he has since he started with MSNBC.
And let me take this moment to again recognize the hard work, drive and focus that’s propelled us to the best ratings this network has ever seen. Thank you.