“What MSNBC needs is a series of new prime time shows, and this doesn’t solve this.” “It’s not going to make any difference for MSNBC,” the rival network executive said. “A big conversation here is what kind of message does this send - are lies OK on MSNBC, but not NBC?” one MSNBC insider told TheWrap, adding that producers feel executives are more interested in the possible ratings surge Williams can provide the struggling network rather than in protecting its credibility.īut one executive at a rival network predicted it would not impact the ailing cable news channel. Meanwhile, Williams continues to take criticism internally from colleagues at the network, and is not much better liked at MSNBC, where he anchored a show in its early years. NBCU chairman Steven Burke was known to have been furious at Williams and wanted him fired, but calmed down over time and agreed to an outcome that allowed everyone to save face.Įveryone, including Williams, felt the right deal was made, according to one executive with knowledge of the discussions.Īlso Read: Brian Williams-less 'Nightly News' Beats 'World News Tonight' for Second Week in a Row In the heated negotiations, his best ally was Andrew Lack, the former NBC president who recently returned to become NBC News chairman and who knows Williams well. By contrast, on Tuesday, June 16, MSNBC’s highest-rated show was “The Rachel Maddow Show,” an hour-long broadcast with 742,000 viewers and just 166,999 in the 25-54 demo.Īccording to insiders, Williams was offered at least one possible option that would have allowed him to stay at NBC though not at the nightly telecast. In early June, the half-hour “NBC Nightly News” averaged 7,868,000 viewers per night and 1,928,000 in the 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen figures. The disgraced news anchor was making closer to $15 million at the network, not the $10 million that has been previously reported, the insider said.Īlso Read: Brian Williams Demoted to MSNBC Breaking News AnchorĪn NBC News spokesman declined to comment, saying that the network won’t discuss personnel contracts.īut multiple individuals told TheWrap that Williams’ salary cut was not as significant as might be expected, given how much smaller the MSNBC audience is than that of the network he was leaving. The insider said that Williams would be making “between $8 and $10 million,” adding that the figure represented what the former anchor considered a big cut in pay. Brian Williams will still make close to $10 million per year despite his demotion to a breaking news role at MSNBC, which has at best just 10 percent the audience of the “NBC Nightly News” broadcast, an individual with knowledge of his compensation told TheWrap.
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