Transcript: MSNBC Bets on its 'Ratings Viagra'
Inside the liberal net's survival plan for a Trumpian, post-spinoff world. Plus: Our exclusive on the fight for the future of the Golden Globes
Sean McNulty (00:04):
Welcome to The Ankler Podcast. This is Sean McNulty of The Wakeup newsletter here at The Ankler, here in New York City on Thursday, November 21st. I'm joined in Los Angeles by Elaine Low and Ankler CEO Janice Min, who slacked me on Monday saying, "Sean, I have to come on the pod this week and talk all about the NBA and WBD." So, Janice, the mic is yours. What do you got?
Janice Min (00:25):
Burning thoughts. And there's only one outlet that could fully accommodate my big feelings about it all.
Sean McNulty (00:33):
If you want to read about that, you can of course check out The Wakeup this week. We will not be talking about that today, as much as I would love to hear what Janice's thoughts are on that. But we can-
Janice Min (00:40):
I think you did. I think we're done.
Sean McNulty (00:42):
I think we just heard about it. Okay. Exactly. You're taking Richard's non-sports seat this week, Janice, for sure.
Janice Min (00:49):
Exactly. But Sean, can I just say, the real reason I'm on is because you have horribly shamed me into coming on.
Sean McNulty (00:54):
It worked.
Janice Min (00:56):
It worked. Shaming works because you pointed out that I did interviews elsewhere but not with my own people.
Sean McNulty (01:04):
Just saying, you do a lot of podcasts and listen, you're a very popular person. Yeah, we have a little podcast here. Thought you might want to join sometime to say hello.
Janice Min (01:11):
I am delighted to join.
Sean McNulty (01:13):
All right. Well, we're happy to have you, Janice. It's a pleasure to have you on the pod here, but this week, of course, is all about Comcast or Cablegeddon, I think, as we called it, Janice, this week over there at NBCUniversal and Comcast. Ankler contributor Lachlan Cartwright is going to join us.
Janice Min (01:30):
Did you almost say Lachlan Murdoch? Should we announce Lachlan Murdoch as a contractor?
Sean McNulty (01:36):
I'm waiting for him to join the pod at some point, honestly. So yeah, I do that all the time. In my defense, I write a lot about Fox, so that is part of my purview in The Wakeup. So Lachlan Cartwright will be joining us in just a little bit to spill all the tea inside of NBC News this week, including some pretty big new talent deals going on there. Some fun numbers to look at. But first, Janice, the country's biggest cable company, essentially said, Guys, it's been real. Cable TV networks, not so much anymore. Kabletown, no more.
Janice Min (02:07):
Kabletown, no more.
Elaine Low (02:08):
Wither Jack Donaghy.
Sean McNulty (02:09):
We need a Jack Donaghy here. Yeah, exactly.
Janice Min (02:11):
Yeah. 30 Rock is Elaine's specialty, but even I know Kabletown. So, it's crazy. Sean, I'm curious what you think, how two weeks ago, they're like, Hmm, this is something we're going to consider.
Elaine Low (02:23):
Little study.
Janice Min (02:24):
We're going to study it.
Sean McNulty (02:25):
We're studying it.
Janice Min (02:29):
Yeah, and then, Actually. Yeah. No. Haha. Here we go.
Sean McNulty (02:31):
Yeah, that was literally one line on an earnings call.
Janice Min (02:34):
Okay. But Sean, is that a thing? Are you floating that on an earnings call to see how analysts respond? How does that work?