On the same day ratings showed a 7-year low for MSNBC, TVNewser spoke to network president Phil Griffin at a luncheon for new morning anchor Jose Díaz-Balart.
“I think we’ve done a lot of good stuff,” Griffin told us regarding the changes he’s made this year to the daytime lineup, which includes adding Ronan Farrow and Joy Reid at 1pm and 2pmET, respectively.
“It’s been a tough run honestly since it’s happened because of the storylines, but I’ve been really pleased. Ronan’s done a lot of good stuff,” he continued, noting a story Farrow did on rape kit backlogs across the country.
“I’m in this for the long term. This has been a tough stretch, for everybody, but I think we’ve got the right people. Look, we’ll probably tinker with it, you always have to figure out where you are and how the world is changing. We should, we gotta respond.”
Will that tinkering include adding new hosts and shifting others around? “Look, I’m always looking at things. I just think you’ve got to respond. Look what’s happening out there and how the country has changed over the last couple of years. I think there’s been a big change.”
So far this year, Griffin added Díaz-Balart, who is Telemundo’s main anchor, at 10amET following Chris Jansing’s move to NBC News. He shifted Tamron Hall from 2pm to 11amET, Andrea Mitchell from 1pm to noonET, and Alex Wagner from noon to 4pmET. Griffin currently has the 9amET hour to fill following Chuck Todd’s ascension to “Meet the Press.”