Saying this was predictable was a understatement.
Comcast, the Republican leaning corporation they are, goal was to drive the Firebrand of MSNBC off the channel --- that was and always will be Keith Olbermann -- allow for his "replacement" Rachel Maddow to try and fill K.O. shoes (that has NEVER happened and they knew this).
Next, the goal was built a series of parrots ---oops folks who sounded similar to Rachel around her (can one say OVERKILL) -- and drive the quasi "Liberal Network" into the ground.
That is exactly what has happened and it was designed just that way.
See the point was to drown America (or at least the America that watches MSNBC faithfully -- which has been falling by the day since the 2012 Elections) with so-called "News Anchors" -- NOT -- Commentary Hosts -- YEP --- that repeated the same ole', same ole' from program to program similar to sheep walking in a line to the barn.
Viewers (the ones who watches less and less MSNBC by the day) became ever so growing sick to death of the lack of original thought (screaming CAN WE HAVE THOM HARTMANN), fiery yet critical when necessary Progressive Stances (screaming the entire FREE SPEECH TV LINEUP) and a complete inability to stop toning the lines of Corporate Dems (..."Hillary is a shoe-in" --- a day after the 2012 Presidential Election) and since

.
Now the chickens have come home to roost (for lack of a better catch phase). The Big Money Comcast donors (not you or I) want to FLOOD the AIRWAVES with Republican Presidential Candidates, talking points, Citizens United Money --- you name it. With such, Bye-Bye to "Lean Forward" and Hello to "Drive Right"!!
From The Daily Beast:
“Everybody in the food chain from top to bottom understands that the Olbermann era is over,” said an MSNBC source, referring to the glory days during George W. Bush’s administration when incendiary liberal Keith Olbermann regularly attracted a million viewers—many of them seeking refuge from White House and Republican talking points.
The MSNBC source said, “Going left was a brilliant strategy while it lasted and made hundreds of millions of dollars for Comcast, but now it doesn’t work anymore...The goal is to move away from left-wing TV.”"
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/19/after-msnbc-axes-ronan-farrow-and-joy-reid-s-shows-is-chris-hayes-next.html
And BAM --- she drops the mic!

She being I..... Told ya....
In the end, MSNBC/Comcast w/ Billions upon Billions of dollars of post Citizens United money will keep Rachel -- however look for her "reporting" (Commentary) to change BIG TIME.
Chris Hayes will soon move from show host, back to correspondent -- and eventually back writing for dollars with The Nation. Joy Ann Reid clock is ticking just like Ronan "Ole' Blue Eyes alleged son Farrow as the duos former show host, now correspondent days are numbered.
The Cycle's three bobble heads with the exception of Ari Melber --who's the smartest one of that bunch-- will go back to blogging, or Abby Huntsman -- back on Daddy big bucks (Jon Huntsman) payroll.
Ari is likely will be tapped to fill the 9:00 pm slot as Rachel's last stand will be placing her head to head with the O' Reilly Factor at 8:00 pm ET. Yet, she will be kept until after the 2016 Election cycle (you know for if nothing else for the corporate media critics to discuss how bad her ratings will be against Brian Williams II (in lies) Bill O'Reilly.)
Alex Wagner -- might keep 4:00 pm ET slot as rumor has it she is Phil Griffin's Favored Person EVER...

.
Al Sharpton --- weekends then nothing which in IMHO would NOT be a lost after his Glamour Shot at SNL 40 with no other than Sister "Valley Trash" (she called herself this) Sarah Palin -- who has called the sitting President of the United States -- a Boy.
Ed Schultz -- well he MIGHT want to fire back up his daily radio show and kill the podcast -- as he might be next on the chopping block of MSNBC's "Drive Right in the 2016 Elections stance". Just saying....
Morning Pluke and Stepford Wife Mika are coming on for now FOUR HOURS in the morning -- taking over for Thomas Roberts (a true news anchor) "Way Too Early". Four hours of straight un-watchable Drive Right TV to start a day. Yep, MSNBC will be the new Faux News light indeed.
Yet there are those who will continue to place their heads in the sandbox and say "No MSNBC is not going to change. They will keep "Leaning Forward" and other feel good phases like that," they boast.
For those individuals, feel free to make the blind familiar with this "Well Placed" MSNBC source statement to the Daily Beast on February 19, 2015 (as it needs to be repeated -- often):
The MSNBC source said, “Going left was a brilliant strategy while it lasted and made hundreds of millions of dollars for Comcast, but now it doesn’t work anymore...The goal is to move away from left-wing TV.”
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/19/after-msnbc-axes-ronan-farrow-and-joy-reid-s-shows-is-chris-hayes-next.html
Maybe now or maybe never, who knows --- folks will wake up and get on board with True Progressive Networks like
Free Speech TV,
TYT or smaller yet indeed Progressive resources like
Independent Underground News & Talk along with a variety of others programs on the netwaves. Who knows!