NEW YORK, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- MSNBC will keep former wrestler and Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura on as a network political analyst in 2004, according to Monday's Hollywood Reporter.
Though MSNBC canceled the hourlong "Jesse Ventura's America" because of budget concerns, Ventura will be featured throughout the year giving political commentary.
For now, MSNBC will run taped documentaries, such as "MSNBC Investigates," during Ventura's former 7 p.m. Saturday time slot.
In a memo to his staff, Erik Sorenson, MSNBC president, said, "I've decided to focus the majority of our resources on Monday-Friday prime time in 2004."
Ventura, whose show debuted in early October, opted to have the show taped in St. Paul, Minn., which resulted in higher production costs, the memo said.
Several industry sources have indicated that the network is considering "Inside Edition" anchor Deborah Norville to fill the 7 p.m. Saturday programming spot.
