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Comcast has announced plans to create a new company grouping its cable assets. But Bill O’Reilly believes it has more to do with a disconnect between NBC News and MSNBC than anything.
During his weekly appearance on NewsNation with Chris Cuomo, O’Reilly shared his belief that the decision by Comcast to spin off its cable channels — including CNBC, E!, Golf Channel, Oxygen, and USA Network, in addition to its cable news channel — is more about self-preservation for its network channel.
“So they’re uncoupling — their word, Comcast — MSNBC from NBC News,” said O’Reilly. “That means MSNBC has no resources at all. None. They’re not going to be able to pay these people millions of dollars, Rachel Maddow, whatever she’s making. NBC News is saying ‘We don’t want you around.’
“Why? Because NBC News’ numbers — Lester Holt and The Today Show — are a catastrophe,” O’Reilly continued. “Because half the country equates NBC News with MSNBC and they won’t watch. So NBC is desperately trying to save the mothership of information and they have to throw MSNBC overboard.”
Bill O’Reilly continued by positing that the network isn’t alone in its attempts to preserve its heritage brands. He stated that ABC News will be forced to cut ties with The View due to its “hateful” programming at some point in the near future.
He also questioned if George Soros — who recently purchased a major stake in radio giant Audacy — would be interested in purchasing MSNBC, stating that Comcast would give him the network for pennies on the dollar.
