NBC News Expands Carson Daly’s Role as CNBC Restructures Leadership
NBC News has appointed Carson Daly as the new co-anchor of Saturday Today, where he will join Laura Jarrett starting November 7. According to Adweek, the move expands Daly’s presence at the network to six days a week. Simultaneously, CNBC has signed a long-term deal with Jim Cramer while overhauling its dayside programming and newsgathering leadership.
Context from Industry Pulse
The media landscape is currently defined by executive reshuffling and the expansion of direct-to-consumer services. NBC News is leveraging established talent like Carson Daly to stabilize its weekend morning block following Peter Alexander’s exit to MS NOW. Simultaneously, CNBC is doubling down on its most recognizable personality, Jim Cramer, while streamlining its internal reporting structure to better integrate digital and linear operations. The broader industry shift is reflected in MS NOW’s aggressive move into connected TV platforms like Roku and Apple TV, seeking to capture audiences who have moved away from traditional cable bundles in favor of on-demand and live-streaming digital memberships.
Carson Daly is set to increase his presence at NBC News, taking on co-anchoring duties for the Saturday edition of the Today franchise. Adweek reports that Daly, who has served as the host of the Orange Room since 2013, will maintain his existing weekday responsibilities. This new assignment follows the departure of Peter Alexander, who previously left the network to join MS NOW earlier this year. Daly will work alongside a weekend team that includes Laura Jarrett, Joe Fryer, and Angie Lassman.
At CNBC, the network has solidified its partnership with Jim Cramer through a new multi-year agreement. Per Adweek, this deal includes the 2027 launch of a premium subscription tier for the CNBC Investing Club. The network is also implementing a significant leadership shuffle within its editorial and programming departments. Todd Bonin has been appointed to lead the Business Day segment during the morning hours, while Sandy Cannold will oversee the afternoon programming blocks.
Further changes at CNBC include new reporting lines for several high-profile programs. Adweek notes that Anne Tironi and Lisa Villalobos will manage Squawk Box and Squawk on the Street respectively, both reporting to Bonin. Maria Boden is expanding her portfolio to include Fast Money in addition to her work on Closing Bell: Overtime. Matt Quayle will shift his focus toward multi-platform content development after previously serving as a senior executive producer for midday shows.
CNBC is also reorganizing its newsgathering and investigative units under the direction of Lacy O’Toole and Ken Brown. According to Adweek, O’Toole will now manage the network's special units and oversee all correspondents not tied to specific strategic verticals. Meanwhile, MS NOW is expanding its digital footprint by launching a membership experience on major connected TV platforms, including Roku and Amazon Fire TV, allowing viewers to access live feeds and on-demand content without traditional cable subscriptions.
The Industry Pulse Bottom Line
These talent and platform shifts highlight a dual strategy: securing veteran anchors to maintain linear viewership while aggressively expanding digital subscription models and connected TV accessibility to reach cord-cutting consumers.