cable news news

MSNBC Bumps Al Sharpton From Weeknights to Sunday Mornings

Al Sharpton's National Action Network Hosts Its National Convention In New York
Reverend Al Sharpton speaks at the National Action Network national convention on April 8, 2015 in New York City. Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images

As part of its ongoing overhaul, MSNBC announced today that Reverend Al Sharpton’s show, which currently airs weekdays at 6 p.m., will be moved to Sundays at 8 a.m. Politico reports the last weekday PoliticsNation will air on September 4, and the new show will start on October 4. The weeknight slot will initially be filled by an hour-long news broadcast, and MSNBC president Phil Griffin said they’ll “share our plans for a new 6 p.m. show” soon.

In a memo sent to staff on Wednesday, Griffin also congratulated Sharpton, and said he’s “looking forward to seeing what he can do with a Sunday morning newsmaker program.” In an interview with the Daily News, Sharpton painted the move as a step up, not a demotion. He said he’s “very happy” and thinks he can “help set the policy tone” for the news programs that air later on Sunday.

First, I can reach a wider audience of people who don’t get home by 6 at night. Second, I can now get the A-list guests and newsmakers I want. And third, a Sunday morning host is what I always wanted to be,” he said. “I never wanted to be a weeknight pundit. I wanted to be a Sunday morning newsmaker. I wanted to be Dr. Martin Luther King, not Larry King.”

MSNBC Bumps Sharpton From Weeknights to Sundays