"Hardball" host Chris Matthews has signed a new contract that keeps him at MSNBC through 2009. Matthews will also be MSNBC's anchor on election nights in 2002 and 2004.
The fast-talking newspaper columnist and former political aide has made "Hardball" into one of the most popular shows on a network that needs as many as it can get. It will shift from 7 to 9 p.m. and air exclusively on MSNBC, with no reruns airing on CNBC, as has been done recently.
Matthews will displace a nightly news program with Ashleigh Banfield. A spokeswoman said Banfield's show will move to another time slot that hasn't been determined.
Meanwhile, Fox News Channel announced that Alan Colmes had signed a contract extension to stay on that network's 9 p.m. show, "Hannity & Colmes."
(AP)
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