MSNBC is negotiating pay cuts with night anchors Joy Reid and Stephanie Ruhle as the cable channel nosedives in the ratings after the election, according to a report.
Rachel Maddow, arguably the star of the network, previously agreed to pare down her $30 million salary, it was reported.
The Ankler’s report this week about Reid and Ruhle negotiating pay cuts should come as no surprise.
Parent company Comcast generated concern over MSNBC’s future by announcing a plan to spin off MSNBC and some other NBCUniversal properties into a new company.
But perhaps more urgent is the station’s plummeting viewership. Its prime-time audience tanked 55% from Nov. 4 through Dec. 15, according to Nielsen ratings cited by The Wrap. (CNN, a mainstream counterpart, experienced a 46.7% drop.)
“The ReidOut” host Reid and “11th Hour” host Ruhle, whose salaries are believed to be considerably lower than Maddow’s, are experiencing audience declines in line with the network’s overall numbers.
Newly promoted “Morning Joe” co-host Jonathan Lemire has also been presented with a new deal at a lesser salary, according to Ankler.
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An MSNBC spokesperson declined to comment, saying the network dose not publicly discuss personnel and contract negotiations.