At the end of his Wednesday program, MSNBC “The ED Show” host Ed Schultz said he had volunteered to lose his 8 p.m. Eastern prime-time MSNBC slot, where he has been a fixture going back to October 2011, and instead air from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
The show, which first debuted in April 2009 in the 6 p.m. slot, later moved to 10 p.m. and finally settled on 8 p.m. as the lead-in for the cable news network’s prime time.
“And to ‘The Big Finish’ tonight: a big personal and professional announcement,” Schultz said at the end of the Wednesday show. “MSNBC will be expanding its weekend programming, and this opens a big opportunity for ‘The ED Show’ and my brand. I will be leaving this time slot at 8 p.m. [EST] and moving to Saturday and Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. I want you to know that I raised my hand for this assignment for a number of personal and professional reasons.”
Schultz described his new move as an opportunity to get out among the people, but pledged to continue hosting his radio show.
“I want to get out with the people, like I did in Wisconsin,” he continued. “I want to get out and tell their stories all over the country. This show has been a show that has been a voice for the voiceless.”
Schultz’s show had been a ratings struggle at times. Back in December, a New York Times report from Brian Stelter speculated Schultz would be replaced by Washington Post blogger and occasional MSNBC “The Last Word” fill-in Ezra Klein.