MSNBC president Rashida Jones is stepping down effectively immediately, according to reports on Tuesday.
Jones, who has helmed the Comcast-owned cable network for four years, broke the news to staffers on Tuesday morning, according to the Status newsletter and Variety. An MSNBC spokesperson confirmed the reports when reached by The Post.
She will be replaced on an interim basis by Rebecca Kutler, senior vice president of content strategy, according to Status.
Her exit has been widely anticipated since reports surfaced in December indicating that change was afoot at the left-leaning network.
Jones’ departure comes during a pivotal period for parent company NBCUniversal, which is preparing to spin off MSNBC and other cable properties into a new publicly traded entity, SpinCo, to be led by veteran executive Mark Lazarus.
“After four incredible years at the helm of MSNBC and 11 years at NBCU, I have made the decision to pursue new opportunities,” Jones wrote in a memo to employees.
She wrote that Lazarus has asked her to stay on for a few more months “to help guide the network during this transitional period.”
Lazarus praised Jones, crediting her for having “expertly navigated MSNBC through a years-long, unrelenting and unprecedented news cycle, all while driving the network to record viewership and making investments in nonlinear businesses.”
“MSNBC is well-positioned for the future, and I am grateful that she will continue to support us during this transition,” Lazarus wrote in a memo to employees.
During her tenure, Jones guided MSNBC to ratings successes as the network solidified its place as the second-most watched all-news cable channel behind Fox News.
CNN, the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned outlet, has been lagging in the ratings race — coming in a distant third, according to Nielsen figures. Fox News and The Post share common ownership.
She sought to expand the channel’s reach beyond linear television by exploring live events and investing in streaming initiatives.
But the news and opinion channel has faced declining viewership since the Nov. 5 election, which was won resoundingly by President-elect Donald Trump.
MSNBC’s sagging viewership prompted network brass to re-install Rachel Maddow, who until now has appeared just once a week on the channel, as host of the 9 p.m. Eastern prime time hour on a full-time basis for at least the first few months of the second Trump administration.
This temporary schedule will continue until April 30, after which Maddow will revert to her current Monday-only routine.
Alex Wagner, who hosts the 9 p.m. hour from Tuesday to Friday, will undertake various assignments during the first 100 days of the administration.
After April 30, Wagner will return to her normal schedule.
This is a developing news story. Refresh for updates.