MS NOW Replaces Weekend Evening Live Shows with Taped Podcasts; Alex Witt to Depart

MS NOW is overhauling its weekend evening lineup, replacing live hosted hours after 6 p.m. ET with taped video podcasts. The restructuring, announced in a memo from network president Rebecca Kutler, also marks the departure of veteran anchor Alex Witt, who joined the network in 1999 and is set to leave later this summer. The move signals a deepening embrace of creator media and podcast-driven programming by the cable news channel. "This move reflects the growing convergence between creator media and traditional TV news." Variety reported that the new taped slots will include shows from Crooked Media as well as podcasts hosted by Nicolle Wallace and Chris Hayes, underscoring MS NOW's strategy to expand content partnerships and attract a weekend audience accustomed to on-demand viewing. "The network cites success from its content agreement with Crooked Media." Deadline noted that the restructuring ends The Weekend: Primetime on Saturdays, with co-anchor Antonia Hylton moving to weekend daytime hours from 1 to 4 p.m. ET. Co-anchors Ayman Mohyeldin, Elise Jordan, and Catherine Rampell will remain at the network as contributors. Alex Witt's departure after 25 years marks the end of an era for the channel. Both outlets confirmed that the longtime anchor has announced her exit, with Deadlining specifying she will leave this summer. The programming shift, as outlined by Kutler, reflects a broader industry trend as traditional news outlets adapt to the rise of on-demand content and podcast audiences.

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