Dylan Ratigan to MSNBC

Its official:  Dylan Ratigan, formerly of Bloomberg and CNBC fame — as well as the Big Picture Conference —  is going to MSNBC.  Ratigan will launch a new program weekdays from 9am to 11 a.m., starting June 29.

Variety reported that:

Ratigan will host his own untitled show at 9 a.m. (ET) weekdays beginning June 29 on sister cabler MSNBC following “Morning Joe.” He will also contribute to various NBC News programs.

“What draws me to MSNBC is that they have offered me a two-hour forum to discuss any and all political issues with no directive other than to provide compelling content, which apparently now I have to do,” said Ratigan, whose contract with CNBC ended on March 31.

Not every Media outlet was as effusive; Gawker was somewhat less complimentary. But the most interesting take came from Marketwatch’s Jon Friedman, who asked, Will Ratigan help MSNBC and hurt CNBC?:

“Dylan Ratigan’s move to join MSNBC could ultimately hurt CNBC, the cable channel at which he made his mark.

Ratigan, who established himself at CNBC as a high-octane expert on the stock market and Wall Street, is joining MSNBC, it was announced Wednesday afternoon. He will anchor a 9-to-11 a.m. show beginning June 29.

It’s great news for Ratigan and MSNBC, but what does it mean for CNBC? After all, the Ratigan hiring also allows MSNBC to compete directly with …CNBC. Both, of course, are properties of General Electric…

For MSNBC, the move embodies a commitment to increase the size of its audience. It’s unrealistic to assume that MSNBC can become No. 1 any time soon in cable news because the Fox News Channel — which, like MarketWatch, is owned by News Corp — has too big a lead in the ratings.”

Good luck at MSNBC !

>

Sources:
Ratigan takes on hosting duties
STUART LEVINE
Variety, May 6, 2009, 10:38am PT
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003254.html

Will Ratigan help MSNBC and hurt CNBC?
Jon Friedman
MarketWatch 3:43 p.m. EDT May 6, 2009
http://tinyurl.com/cf5fqm

Former ‘Fast Money’ Host Moves Elsewhere in NBC
BILL CARTER
NYT, May 6, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/07/business/media/07ratigan.html

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