MS NOW is moving away from live weekend primetime, and the change comes with the announcement that Alex Witt exit is planned later this year. In a staff memo, President Rebecca Kulter said the network will replace live programming after 6 p.m. ET on weekends with taped shows while remaining prepared to cover major breaking news.
What MS NOW announced
In a memo to staff obtained and reported by Fox News Digital, MS NOW President Rebecca Kulter outlined changes to weekend programming. The memo said the network will shift to taped programming after 6 p.m. ET on weekends and will add more pre-recorded hours and content partnerships.
The memo specifically named one weekend show slated to end and explained the broader scheduling approach as a move toward packaged, pre-recorded content while preserving the ability to scale up live coverage for major breaking news.
Alex Witt exit and her tenure
The memo confirmed that Alex Witt has informed the network she will conclude her tenure later this year. The message describes Witt as the network’s longest-tenured anchor and notes she joined the organization in 1999.
Kulter wrote: “Alex Witt has shared with us her plans to conclude her tenure with the company later this year, following an extraordinary career. We thank Alex for her endless contributions to the network and will have more opportunities to celebrate her in the coming months.”
Weekend schedule changes and program impact
The most immediate change for viewers is the end of live weekend primetime after 6 p.m. ET. Kulter’s memo said “The Weekend: Primetime” will air its final broadcast on Saturday.
MS NOW has been incorporating podcast highlights and curated content into weekend hours. The memo notes existing Crooked Media podcast segments such as “Pod Save America,” “Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams” and “Pod Save the World” will remain part of the mix, and the network plans additional taped hours and partnerships to fill the newly pre-recorded slots.
Network leaders framed the shift as a format change rather than a retreat from breaking-news coverage: routine weekend primetime will be pre-recorded, but staff will be available to deliver live coverage of major events as needed.
Staffing changes and who remains
Kulter told employees that “a small number of roles across the organization are being impacted” and that affected staff have been notified. The memo uses the phrase “less than approximately 2% of roles across the entire organization,” presenting the headcount reduction as limited and approximate.
Named on-air contributors who will remain engaged with the network include Ayman Mohyeldin, Elise Jordan and Catherine Rampell, the memo said.
The memo also detailed a brief weekend hosting plan:
- Antonia Hylton will anchor weekends from 1-4 p.m. ET.
- Hylton will fill in on the 11 a.m. hour until Peter Alexander begins his assignment later this summer, per the memo.
- Management encouraged impacted employees to explore internal openings.
The memo reiterated that the staffing changes are intended to be modest and that leaders will help affected employees with transitions where possible.
What comes next for viewers and the network
For viewers, the practical outcome is fewer live broadcasts in weekend primetime and more taped programming and podcast-driven highlights. The network said it will stay prepared to scale up live coverage for significant breaking stories.
Witt’s departure is scheduled for later this year; MS NOW said the precise timing and any planned on-air farewells will be announced in the coming months. The network also plans to roll out additional taped hours and partnerships alongside the existing weekend lineup.
Leadership framed the move as part of a broader programming and content strategy shift while emphasizing continuity for breaking-news responsibilities and the retention of key contributors.
Reader takeaway
Alex Witt exit marks a notable change for a long-serving anchor as MS NOW shifts the tone of weekend evenings toward pre-recorded content. The memo characterizes the headcount impact as limited and keeps the network positioned to cover major breaking events.
Source: Reporting is based on a staff memo from MS NOW President Rebecca Kulter and reporting by Fox News Digital. For the original coverage and memo details, see Fox News Digital: MS NOW’s longest-tenured anchor Alex Witt to exit network amid weekend programming overhaul.
