MSNBC Ousts President
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 11:35 am
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - MSNBC president Erik Sorenson will be replaced at the helm of the struggling cable news network by an ABC News veteran, according to knowledgeable sources who said the move will be announced Tuesday.
Rick Kaplan, who was senior VP at ABC News, will likely report to NBC News president Neal Shapiro, who has overseen MSNBC during the past year.
Sorenson, who joined MSNBC in July 1999, was unable to pull the network out of third place in the cable news wars, a standing that has embarrassed NBC honchos.
Kaplan, a 30-year news veteran, had his own unhappy cable experience when was president of CNN U.S. from 1997-2000 after working for ABC News for 18 years. He was fired after his plans to make CNN a destination viewing spot -- through shows like "NewsStand" -- failed. He also took heat for clashing with CNN icon Lou Dobbs, who left the network shortly before Kaplan.
ABC rehired Kaplan in February 2003 to help run its war coverage, and in June named him to oversee "Nightline," "World News Tonight" and Sunday's "This Week."
MSNBC's poor ratings also have fueled speculation about Shapiro's future as well, especially with Jeff Zucker, president of the NBC Entertainment, News and Cable Group, about to add news to his portfolio once NBC's GE parent completes its acquisition of most of Vivendi Universal's entertainment interests.
An MSNBC spokesman declined comment late Monday.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
Rick Kaplan, who was senior VP at ABC News, will likely report to NBC News president Neal Shapiro, who has overseen MSNBC during the past year.
Sorenson, who joined MSNBC in July 1999, was unable to pull the network out of third place in the cable news wars, a standing that has embarrassed NBC honchos.
Kaplan, a 30-year news veteran, had his own unhappy cable experience when was president of CNN U.S. from 1997-2000 after working for ABC News for 18 years. He was fired after his plans to make CNN a destination viewing spot -- through shows like "NewsStand" -- failed. He also took heat for clashing with CNN icon Lou Dobbs, who left the network shortly before Kaplan.
ABC rehired Kaplan in February 2003 to help run its war coverage, and in June named him to oversee "Nightline," "World News Tonight" and Sunday's "This Week."
MSNBC's poor ratings also have fueled speculation about Shapiro's future as well, especially with Jeff Zucker, president of the NBC Entertainment, News and Cable Group, about to add news to his portfolio once NBC's GE parent completes its acquisition of most of Vivendi Universal's entertainment interests.
An MSNBC spokesman declined comment late Monday.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
