MSNBC taps Abrams as new chief

NBC News on Monday announced a new management team for its beleaguered MSNBC network, less than a week after the cable news channel’s president abruptly exited.

In a surprise move, Dan Abrams, who since December 2001 has hosted the network’s legal affairs show “The Abrams Report,” will take over as general manager. He will report to NBC News senior vice president Phil Griffin, a former MSNBC executive who currently helps oversee “Today” and will add oversight of the cable channel to his duties.

Last week, Rick Kaplan left his post as MSNBC president after a 2 1/2 -year tenure marked by some ratings and profitability gains. The improvements were not enough, however, to satisfy executives at NBC Universal, majority stake holder in the channel with partner Microsoft. Senior management has been frustrated by the outlet’s difficulties competing against rivals Fox News Channel and CNN.

In a statement, NBC News president Steve Capus said that Abrams’ “insider’s perspective” made him the right candidate.

“Dan is passionate about MSNBC and has the experience and strategic vision to lead it into its second decade,” Capus said.

Abrams, a Columbia-educated lawyer who joined the network in 1997, said in an interview that he would need some time to reflect before making definite changes at MSNBC, which next month will celebrate its 10th anniversary. But he said he wanted to see the “excitement and irreverence” of MSNBC’s two top shows, “Hardball With Chris Matthews” and “Countdown With Keith Olbermann,” spread to the rest of the lineup.

“We don’t have to do ‘newscasts’ all the time, but it doesn’t mean we do a yell-fest either,” he said. “We can do news and information in a more exciting way.”

Abrams will give up his hosting chores on “Report,” a decision he says he made reluctantly. For the time being, the show will continue with guest hosts. Meanwhile, Abrams will retain his title as chief legal correspondent of NBC News, but he said he’ll keep his focus on managing the cable network.

“My job is going to be general manager,” he said. “Occasionally I’ll do legal analysis and commentary, but I do not expect that’s going to be particularly time-consuming.”