Nobody likes watching stuff in the mushy middle. Rightwing wants Fox news, Leftwing wants MSNBC. Always better to specialize.
Doesn't sound like specialization is working well for MSNBC, to me.
Are you kidding? MSNBC is even more right wing than CNN. PBS is about it, as far as mainstream TV news goes. And even they are pretty much in the center, rather than on the left.
For some good left-wing media try Democracy Now!, Free Speech Radio News, and FAIR's Counterspin. Some college radio stations, WBAI in NYC, and Pacifica Radio afilliates are also good.
My problem with CNN and MSNBC is that both of them tried to follow Fox to the right once Fox became popular. A losing strategy if they were after Fox's right-wing audience, since they were clearly not as committed as Fox was to being further to the right than any other station on TV. They should have moved left instead, and provided a real alternative.
a) overt politics doesn't mix well with HN, and
b) left/right is a matter of perspective.
As an observer from a country where the most conservative Prime Minister since federation was still some way to the left of Obama, I'd characterise both MSNBC and CNN as occupying the centre left of the right. In contrast, my Republican father in law considers them pinko-commie bastards. Who is right?