MS NOW is making a notable change to its weekend lineup, moving away from live primetime programming after 6 p.m. ET and leaning into taped podcast-style shows and other content on Saturday and Sunday nights.
The shift comes as the network points to strong results from its content agreement with Crooked Media, the progressive media company behind popular political podcasts including Pod Save America. For MS NOW, the move signals a bigger bet on personality-driven, on-demand-style formats that can work both on television and across digital platforms.
MS NOW weekend schedule changes after 6 p.m. ET
Under the new plan, MS NOW will use the post-6 p.m. ET weekend hours for taped podcast programming and other pre-produced content rather than its current live weekend primetime block. The change affects the network’s Saturday and Sunday night strategy and represents a clear pivot toward formats that are already familiar to podcast audiences.
The network also confirmed that The Weekend: Primetime will end on Saturday. Co-anchor Antonia Hylton is set to move to the 1 p.m. ET to 4 p.m. ET weekend slot, keeping her on the network while shifting her role into an earlier daytime window.
Alex Witt to depart MS NOW amid programming shake-up
The weekend changes also arrive as longtime anchor Alex Witt prepares to depart MS NOW. Witt has been a familiar presence for viewers who follow the network’s weekend political coverage, and her exit marks another major adjustment during a period of broader schedule experimentation.
While MS NOW has not framed the changes as a retreat from weekend news, the move does show a willingness to rethink how political commentary and current-affairs programming are packaged. Instead of relying solely on traditional live panels, the network appears to be testing whether podcast-driven storytelling can keep viewers engaged during lower-viewership weekend evening hours.
Why MS NOW is betting on podcast content
Podcasting has become a powerful lane for political media, especially with audiences who prefer conversational analysis over standard cable news formats. By bringing taped podcast and partner content into weekend nights, MS NOW can stretch recognizable brands across television, streaming-style viewing, and digital clips.
The Crooked Media relationship appears to be a key part of that thinking. Political podcasts often generate loyal communities, and those audiences may be more likely to follow hosts across platforms if the programming feels authentic rather than overly produced for cable.
For viewers, the change could mean less live breaking-news coverage during those weekend evening hours, depending on the news cycle, but more polished long-form conversations and commentary. It also gives the network flexible programming that can be reused, promoted online, and clipped for social media.
Where can MS NOW be watched?
MS NOW can be watched in the United States through participating cable, satellite, and live TV streaming providers that carry the network. Availability in the UK and across the EU may be limited and can vary by provider, though selected clips, podcast content, and related digital segments may be available through official online platforms and podcast apps.
The new weekend-night format will air on the MS NOW TV channel in the U.S., with related podcast and partner content expected to remain part of the network’s broader digital strategy.
Tags: #MSNOW #AlexWitt #WeekendTV #CrookedMedia #CableNews
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