Rachel Maddow, one of the most popular left-wing commentators on MSNBC, is apparently mulling a departure from the network, per a recent Daily Beat report.
Maddow has become one of the top ratings hosts for the network, though her contract is due to end next year. Reportedly, negotiations with MSNBC are not going very well.
According to at least six different sources contacted by the Daily Beast, Maddow is apparently searching for other media alternatives, as opposed to serving as the flagship host to the ultra-left wing media outlet, or the antithesis of Fox News.
Maddow has also directly hinted at departure herself, mainly by informing her viewers that she has become rather tired with the demands of running a daily show, as well as having relatively limited time with her family.
Maddow has noted that “it’s fine to work long days” after a decade of experience, though she also adds it is not generally healthy to work incredibly long days, five days per week and fifty weeks per year for a decade.
Consequently, Maddow is looking towards possible alternatives in the podcasting and streaming space.
However, Mark Shapiro, who serves as president of Endeavor, or the talent agency that represents Maddow, claimed that negotiations with the network remain ongoing.
“Nothing has been decided. We are deep into it with NBCUniversal and Rachel has an excellent relationship with them,” Shapiro insisted.
Lorie Acio, an MSNBC spokesperson, also stated that they would not comment on matters related to employees.
Presently, Maddow has no clear successor for leading the network if she opts to leave, and she has been the host of the 9 p.m. primetime spot for the past 12 years.
Recently, Maddow had a rare success in terms of overall viewers against Sean Hannity, who has a primetime show on Fox News. This past Monday, Maddow scored 2.57 million viewers, in contrast to Hannity’s 2.32 million viewers.
