Steve Kornacki Exits MSNBC for New Deal with NBC News and NBC Sports
Introduction to the Change
MSNBC viewers have seen the last of Steve Kornacki’s big board. The popular data maven has signed a deal with NBC that will expand his presence across the network’s news and sports divisions. But the new contract does not include working for MSNBC, which is being spun off into a new corporate entity formed by parent company Comcast.
Background on the Spinoff
Under the spinoff arrangement, MSNBC and NBC News are separating their operations, with the left-leaning cable network building its own newsgathering unit. Kornacki has chosen to remain with NBC. Kornacki, 45, will continue to be NBC’s go-to expert for statistical analysis of polls and election results and during major sporting events, including Triple Crown horse racing, the Olympics and the NFL.
New Roles and Responsibilities
He will appear on the streaming channel NBC News Now along with the broadcast network franchises “Meet the Press,” “Today” and “NBC Nightly News.” A representative for NBC News confirmed the move Tuesday. A representative for MSNBC declined to comment on Kornacki’s exit, but noted the cable network is hiring more than 100 journalists in preparation for its split from NBC News. The search is already on for a new data guru.
Recent Announcements
On Tuesday, the network announced that correspondent Antonia Hylton, who worked at NBC News and MSNBC, is joining the cable network full time and will co-host “The Weekend: Primetime” alongside Ayman Mohyeldin, Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell and political analyst Elise Jordan.
Flexibility in the New Deal
Kornacki’s new deal, which makes him an NBC contributor with the title of chief data analyst, allows him to pursue projects on other networks and media platforms as long as they are unrelated to politics and sports. He shot a game show pilot in 2022 and, as a major enthusiast of the genre, is likely to pursue a hosting role in the future.
Impact of the Departure
Kornacki’s choice to depart from MSNBC is a significant loss. He will be the second big name on-air talent to leave since the spin-off was announced. MSNBC fired longtime host Joy Reid in February. (Jesse Dittmar/For The Times)
Legacy at MSNBC
Kornacki’s deep dives into polling numbers and voting results became a signature ingredient in the network’s political coverage, especially after he put in marathon hours in front of his touchscreen electoral college map when it took four days to call the 2020 presidential election for Joe Biden. Kornacki’s genuine enthusiasm (and trademark khaki pants from the Gap) won him a major following on social media, including celebrity fans Chrissy Teigen and Leslie Jones. In 2020, People magazine named him as one of its Sexiest Men Alive. (“There was some voter fraud on that one,” he told The Times in 2021). Kornacki became a fixture for MSNBC’s political coverage. (Virginia Sherwood / MSNBC / Getty Images)
Career Background
Kornacki started out writing about politics, earning him contributor work on CNN. He joined MSNBC in 2012 as a co-host of a panel show called “The Cycle” and was later part of the MSNBC lineup on afternoons and weekends. After Kornacki became a pop culture sensation during the 2020 election, NBC expanded his role to sports in 2021.
Expansion into Sports
As a horse racing analyst, he picked the 12-1 paying winner of the Kentucky Derby during the network’s coverage of the race. He also became a regular on NBC’s “Football Night In America” and the half-time report for “Sunday Night Football,” and broke down the medal counts during its Olympics coverage.
Conclusion
Steve Kornacki’s move from MSNBC to a broader role within NBC News and NBC Sports marks a significant shift in his career, allowing him to leverage his analytical expertise across a wider range of platforms and programs. This change reflects the evolving media landscape and the spinoff of MSNBC into a separate entity, prompting talent rearrangements and new opportunities for growth and collaboration.
FAQs
- Q: Why is Steve Kornacki leaving MSNBC?
- A: Kornacki is leaving MSNBC as part of a new deal with NBC that expands his role across NBC News and NBC Sports, following the spinoff of MSNBC into a separate entity.
- Q: What will Steve Kornacki do in his new role?
- A: Kornacki will serve as NBC’s chief data analyst, appearing on various NBC platforms including NBC News Now, “Meet the Press,” “Today,” and “NBC Nightly News,” and will continue to provide statistical analysis for major sporting events.
- Q: Can Steve Kornacki work on other projects outside of NBC?
- A: Yes, Kornacki’s new deal allows him to pursue projects on other networks and media platforms, provided they are unrelated to politics and sports.
- Q: How will MSNBC replace Steve Kornacki?
- A: MSNBC is in the process of hiring over 100 new journalists, including a search for a new data analyst to fill the role left by Kornacki’s departure.
