MSNBC host Ari Melber is reportedly exploring options to leave the network, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation. Breaker first reported on May 27 that the 45-year-old journalist has held meetings with rival networks and is considering departing the Comcast-owned MSNBC as it prepares to be spun into a new company called VERSANT.
Two people familiar with the matter indicated that Melber is also weighing whether to start his own media company. The host of “The Beat with Ari Melber” has anchored the program since 2017 in the network’s coveted 6 p.m. Eastern time slot. The show consistently ranks as one of MSNBC’s highest-rated programs and has built a substantial following on digital platforms.
Melber’s potential departure would represent a significant ratings blow for MSNBC, particularly following Rachel Maddow’s return to airing only once a week. For the first 100 days after Donald Trump’s second term began, Maddow was on the network five nights a week before scaling back her schedule to Monday evenings and special events like presidential debates.
The timing of these discussions coincides with Comcast preparing to spin off MSNBC and other cable properties from NBCU into the new company VERSANT, led by Mark Lazarus. This corporate restructuring has created uncertainty for talent across the network’s lineup.
Melber serves dual roles at MSNBC as both the host of “The Beat” and the network’s chief legal correspondent. His show has gained recognition for securing interviews across the political spectrum, including appearances by Trump-aligned figures such as border czar Tom Homan, former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro, former Trump campaign adviser Corey Lewandowski, and current White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.
The program has also featured notable confrontational interviews, including a January appearance where Melber questioned then-Representative Matt Gaetz about denying testimony from White House aides regarding his alleged request for a pardon from Trump in December 2020. Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn also admitted on “The Beat” to helping Rudy Giuliani lead the fake elector plot in 2020.
Digital performance has become a key component of MSNBC’s growth strategy under new boss Rebecca Kutler. Melber’s show performs exceptionally well on YouTube, with Mediaite calculating over 1.5 billion views overall as of December. Individual clips from “The Beat” routinely generate tens of thousands of views, making the show a significant digital asset for the network.
According to September 2024 cable news ratings data, “The Beat with Ari Melber” ranked 10th among all cable news programs in total viewers with 1.699 million viewers. The show’s audience tends to skew younger than most cable news viewers, a demographic highly valued by network executives facing aging viewership across the industry.
MSNBC has already experienced talent departures this year, with the network confirming in April that popular data analyst Steve Kornacki signed with NBC, effectively severing his connection to the cable news outlet. Network brass are reportedly monitoring how MSNBC’s newly shuffled evening schedule performs, featuring hosts Symone Sanders Townsend, Michael Steele, Alicia Menendez, and Jen Psaki, though none have matched the viewership levels of Melber or Maddow.
Earlier this year, Melber defended MSNBC’s performance amid criticism from Trump, who claimed the network was “close to death” and called it “worse than CNN.” Melber told Forbes that “MSNBC is doing great,” adding that the network was reaching more people than ever and beating ESPN and CNN in total audience television ratings.
Making overtures to competitors is a common tactic employed by cable news personalities to gain leverage for more favorable contracts with their current employers. With the VERSANT spinoff scheduled to occur sometime this year, the next few months will reveal whether Melber pursues opportunities elsewhere or negotiates a role in MSNBC’s new corporate structure.
Prior to joining MSNBC, Melber worked as a legislative aide for Washington Senator Maria Cantwell and contributed to John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign. He earned his law degree from Cornell University. If Melber joins the independent media landscape, he would become one of several high-profile personalities who have opted to exit network contracts in favor of producing their own content.
Both Melber and MSNBC representatives declined to comment on the reports. The potential departure comes at a time of broader uncertainty for cable news networks facing declining viewership and corporate restructuring across the industry.
Sources:
https://www.tvinsider.com/1194343/ari-melber-leaving-msnbc-rumors/
https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/msnbcs-ari-melber-reportedly-in-talks-with-rival-networks/
https://www.thedailybeast.com/rumors-swirl-msnbc-host-ari-melber-is-considering-leaving-the-network/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ari-melber-report-msnbc-breaker_n_6836ede9e4b036203879bf86
https://www.newscaststudio.com/2025/05/28/ari-melber-leaving-msnbc-report-528/
