MSNBC locks schedule shift

Dan Abrams named official 9 p.m. host

By MICHAEL LEARMONTH

Abrams

MSNBC has shifted Dan Abrams from network executive to 9 p.m. host, making official a long-expected shuffle triggered by the firing of morning host Don Imus last April.

To fill the unexpected void in the morning after Imus was axed, MSNBC shifted former Florida congressman Joe Scarborough to the three-hour morning slot. Abrams, who had just been named general manager of the network, filled in over the summer at 9 p.m.

On Monday, NBC News made those moves permanent, with Scarborough at the helm of "Morning Joe," and Abrams host of "Live With Dan Abrams" at 9 p.m.

Abrams gives up management duties in the switch; NBC News senior veep Phil Griffin resumes day-to-day management of the network.

In October, when MSNBC's operations will be merged into NBC News headquarters at the Peacock's 30 Rock headquarters, NBC will add an executive, Sharon High-Bassalik, former veep at CBS affiliate WFOR/WBFS in Miami as managing editor for news.

At 9 p.m., Abrams gets the benefit of a lead-in from Keith Olbermann, the network's highest-rated primetime personality.

In August, Abrams was third at 9 p.m. behind Fox News' "Hannity & Colmes" and CNN's "Larry King Live."