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[[Image:April 2nd MSNBC.png|right|frame]]

[[Image:April 2nd MSNBC.png|right|frame]]

'''MSNBC''' is a  24-hour cable news channel. It is the second rated of the three major cable news channels.

'''MSNBC''' is a  24-hour cable news channel. It is the lowest rated of the three major cable news channels.

The channel was started in 1996 as a joint venture between [[Microsoft]] and [[NBC]]. On December 23, 2005, ending a partnership that soured long before, Microsoft and NBC announced that they would dissolve their joint ownership of the cable news channel, with NBC taking control. NBC completed a deal to assume majority control of the channel, with an 82 percent stake.[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30610F93E540C778EDDAB0994DD404482]

The channel was started in 1996 as a joint venture between [[Microsoft]] and [[NBC]]. On December 23, 2005, ending a partnership that soured long before, Microsoft and NBC announced that they would dissolve their joint ownership of the cable news channel, with NBC taking control. NBC completed a deal to assume majority control of the channel, with an 82 percent stake.[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30610F93E540C778EDDAB0994DD404482]

MSNBC has received criticism from both liberal and conservative groups regarding the channel's perceived biases. The conservative media watchdog group the Media Research Center<ref> [http://www.mediaresearch.org/about/aboutwelcome.asp About Media Research Center] www.mediaresearch.org</ref> argues that MSNBC has a [[liberal]] slant, citing shows by [[Keith Olbermann]] and [[Chris Matthews]], while the liberal Media Matters for America<ref> [http://mediamatters.org/ Media Matters for America homepage] www.mediamatters.org</ref> decries the channel's conservative slant, citing shows by right-[[libertarian]] [[Tucker Carlson]] and conservative [[Joe Scarbourough]].

MSNBC has received criticism from both liberal and conservative groups regarding the channel's perceived biases. The conservative media watchdog group the Media Research Center<ref> [http://www.mediaresearch.org/about/aboutwelcome.asp About Media Research Center] www.mediaresearch.org</ref> argues that MSNBC has a [[liberal]] slant, citing shows by [[Keith Olbermann]] and [[Chris Matthews]], while the liberal Media Matters for America<ref> [http://mediamatters.org/ Media Matters for America homepage] www.mediamatters.org</ref> decries the channel's alleged conservative slant, citing shows by left-[[libertarian]] [[Tucker Carlson]] and centrist [[Joe Scarbourough]].

In the past, MSNBC shows have featured [[Mitch Albom]], [[Ann Coulter]], [[Phil Donahue]], [[Bill Moyers]], [[Maury Povich]], and [[Michael Savage]], among others. That varied programming was gradually reduced as NBC veered more [[leftist]] in its point-of-view.

In the past, MSNBC shows have featured [[Mitch Albom]], [[Ann Coulter]], [[Phil Donahue]], [[Bill Moyers]], [[Maury Povich]], and [[Michael Savage]], among others. That varied programming was gradually reduced as NBC veered more [[leftist]] in its point-of-view.