Chris Hayes will host the 8 pm hour on msnbc weekdays beginning April 1, the company said Thursday. Hayes has hosted a weekend morning program for msnbc, Up with Chris Hayes, since 2011.
"Chris has done an amazing job creating a franchise on weekend mornings," said Phil Griffin, msnbc president. "He’s an extraordinary talent and has made a strong connection with our audience. This is an exciting time for msnbc.”
Hayes regularly contributed to msnbc's 2012 presidential election last year and served as a guest host for other primetime shows, such as The Rachel Maddow Show and The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell.
“I am thrilled to be joining Rachel and Lawrence in primetime,” said Hayes. “I've absolutely loved hosting Up on the weekends and I'm looking forward to thinking through the news five nights a week.”
He takes over the slot previously held by Ed Schultz who will move to weekend evenings.
Hayes is author of Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy.