MSNBC announced on Thursday that conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt is getting his own self-titled show starting Saturday, June 24. The show will air Saturday mornings at 8:00 a.m. for 30 minutes.
The newest addition to the network would come amid hopes to improve viewership, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
MSNBC is trying to expand weekend night programming, with Thomas Roberts anchoring a live news program from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekend nights. These hours normally air re-runs of "The Rachel Maddow Show" and "The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell," which are the two highest-rated programs on the network.
New York Magazine reported in April that MSNBC was talking with Hewitt about giving him a show.
Sources told New York Magazine that some staff were worried that NBC News chairman Andy Lack was leading MSNBC in a more conservative direction. Former Fox News host Greta Van Susteren's hire, for example, raised internal controversy at MSNBC, with host Chris Matthews being especially frustrated with the hire.