As MSNBC Ratings Crater After Election, Network Gives Rachel Maddow Brutal New Deal: Report

As ratings continue to decline and NBCUniversal considers spinning off its cable assets, MSNBC’s top star is reportedly taking a financial hit.

According to a report released Thursday, Rachel Maddow has allegedly renegotiated her contract, resulting in a $5 million annual pay cut.

The Daily Beast noted that her previous contract earned her $30 million a year, but this adjustment brings her annual income down to $25 million.

Network insiders claimed the report, which initially surfaced in the Hollywood-focused Substack newsletter The Ankler, was “not accurate.” However, no alternative figure was provided to the Daily Beast for clarification.

This development coincides with data from Nielsen showing that MSNBC’s ratings are down to 40 percent of what they were a year ago, a drop linked to the post-election fallout following Donald Trump’s victory.

While The Daily Beast stated that “execs are counting on viewers to come back the way they did in 2016 once Trump’s administration gets underway,” Comcast, the parent company of NBCUniversal, is reportedly exploring a sale of its cable properties due to their negative impact on the company’s stock performance.

Adding to the turbulence, The Ankler highlighted that “viewership is in revolt,” with MSNBC personalities Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski facing backlash for compromising their anti-Trump reputation by meeting the president-elect at Mar-a-Lago.

This creates a challenging scenario for MSNBC, which needs to reduce expenses while retaining its marquee talent.

“This is a difficult time, and they needed to keep her. No one else can do what she does. You can’t build a brand like it overnight,” an executive told The Ankler.

Another source described Maddow as “ratings Viagra,” emphasizing that she’s seen as a “special weapon” for significant stories beyond her Monday night show.

Yet, the network’s heavy lean to one side of the political spectrum is also seen as a hindrance. As an MSNBC insider described it, the network has become “the only safe space for a liberal TV audience,” making it challenging to integrate conservative voices.

“We were so Harris propaganda that when she lost, viewers were shocked,” one anonymous on-air pundit admitted to The Ankler.

“It turned into one giant circle j*** and echo chamber. If MSNBC wants to be of service to its viewers, they can’t keep them in fantasy land.”

Meanwhile, a producer expressed uncertainty about handling what they termed a “‘Star Wars’ freak show” of Trump’s appointees.

“I don’t know if having these people on would put any useful information out,” they remarked.

Ultimately, these challenges signal further trouble for MSNBC. Maddow’s pay cut reflects a larger trend of viewers abandoning the network, which could spell even tougher times ahead for lesser-known talent.