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XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX SUN DEC 07, 2003 19:51:03 ET XXXXX Freelancers and per-diems are receiving early Christmas presents at all-news cable channel MSNBC -- after layoff slips are quietly passed around the network's offices! "People are in shock over it," said one fired peacock. Cut from payroll in recent weeks have been producers, line producers, tape producers, associate producers, segment producers and writers. One insider describes the action as "rolling layoffs" as the network continues to struggle with its identity and its ratings. "Look, we are making a profit, and the numbers are going up," said a network executive...

November 26, 2003 MSNBC Is Clearing Out a Slot in Prime TimeBy JIM RUTENBERG SNBC is reshuffling its lineup again to clear the way for a star, so far unidentified, it hopes to introduce in prime time in the coming weeks, according to a memorandum made available yesterday. Erik Sorenson, the president of MSNBC, said in the memorandum to his staff that he was moving "The Abrams Report" to 6 p.m.. from 9 p.m. weekdays. It had been at the later hour since major combat in Iraq ended but that time slot was supposed to be a temporary berth. The...

<p>NEW YORK - Former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan has lost his regular perch on MSNBC.</p>

<p>October 2, 2003 -- FOX officials say they are thinking about spinning off two new channels from Fox News Channel - one for business and another for entertainment news.</p> <p>Fox Entertainment president Peter Chernin told analysts this week that discussions were underway about creating two new channels from the highly successful FNC, according to reports.</p>

Four news networks --CNN, Headline News, MSNBC and CNBC -- lost viewership in the third quarter, but powerhouse Fox News picked up steam, according to Nielsen Media Research. In the third quarter, Atlanta-based CNN attracted an average of 440,000 -- down 15 percent from the same period last year. Sister network Headline News attracted an average of 170,000, down 25 percent. MSNBC drew an average of 203,000 viewers, a 19 percent slide. And CNBC got an average of 160,000, down 23 percent. Meanwhile, Fox increased viewership 17 percent, attracting an average of 730,000 viewers. This is the seventh straight quarter...

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Fox News Channel was the only cable news service in August to grow in viewership from a year ago, gaining 20% in primetime and 29% across the entire day, according to Nielsen Media Research. By comparison, CNN fell by 9% in primetime and total day, while MSNBC lost 21% in primetime and 11% for the day. Headline News and CNBC also suffered losses greater than 20% compared with August 2002. It marked the 28th consecutive month that Fox led the news channel pack. For the month, Fox averaged 1.3 million viewers in primetime, compared with...