Struggling MSNBC cancels 3 daytime shows with liberal slant

NEW YORK (AP) -- MSNBC said Thursday that it is canceling three of its afternoon programs, part of a network-wide shift to a straight news focus during the daytime hours.

Hour-long programs hosted by Ed Schultz at 5 p.m. Eastern and Alex Wagner at 4 p.m. were both axed, as was "The Cycle," a roundtable that aired at 3 p.m. with hosts Ari Melber, Toure, Abby Huntsman and Krystal Ball.

Schultz had the longest history at MSNBC. He was once a prime-time personality at the network and was relegated to weekends, then was brought back for a daily show. He'll be leaving the network, MSNBC President Phil Griffin said.

Wagner will stay on at MSNBC as a political reporter, and Melber was named the network's chief legal correspondent. Toure, Huntsman and Ball are leaving the network.

All of the shows featured a liberal perspective. Under new NBC News boss Andrew Lack, MSNBC will focus on news coverage during the day with opinionated shows in prime time as it struggles to reverse a ratings decline. Former "Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams will join MSNBC as a breaking news anchor.

MSNBC said last week that "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd will get a daily show on the cable network at 5 p.m.

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)