MSNBC Brings ‘The Ed Show’ Back to Weekday Lineup

After a slide in its prime-time ratings in recent months, MSNBC made a move on Monday to shore up the hours leading into prime time. The network is bringing back Ed Schultz, once its 8 p.m. anchor, to take over the 5 p.m. weekday slot now occupied by “Hardball.”

At the same time, MSNBC will move an original version of “Hardball,” with its longtime host Chris Matthews, to 7 p.m. “Hardball” has been in that hour, but with a repeat version of its 5 p.m. show.

Mr. Schultz is bringing “The Ed Show” back to a daily slot on MSNBC only five months after he was switched to weekends. At the time, Mr. Schultz said he had requested the change, though other reports cited the network’s desire to move a younger host, Chris Hayes, into its prime-time lineup. But Mr. Schultz had stronger ratings in the 8 p.m. hour than Mr. Hayes has produced.