'They're in trouble': MSNBC begs host Rachel Maddow to return full-time amid 33% drop in viewership

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: MSNBC is desperately trying to get its most popular host, Rachel Maddow, to return full-time to boost ratings as the network is losing a ton of prime-time viewers.

The network is reportedly hoping that this move will "save them" in light of declining viewership.

'Viewers are dumping them at alarming rate': Source

A souce told, "Viewers are dumping them at an alarming rate — nearly a 33% drop off. They're in big trouble and pleading with Rachel to return full-time to save them," as reported by NationalEnquirer.

With a significant lead of half a million viewers, Rachel Maddow's weekly show continues to rule Monday nights and crush the competition, including Fox News heavyweight Sean Hannity's program.

A top TV insider told the outlet, "When Rachel's new deal with MSNBC was announced, no one could believe it, She got more to do less."

The source added, "Giving her $30 million a year for one show each week makes no sense at all.Their only solution, at least in the short term, is to bring her back five days a week and try to build a network around her."

50-year-old host is preoccupied with promoting her book

Although the TV insider stated that MSNBC needs to air more Maddow-centric content to raise its ratings, other reports indicated that the 50-year-old host is too preoccupied with promoting her most recent book, 'Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism', to return to the anchor desk on a full-time basis, as reported by RadarOnline.

It is reported that Maddow is more than happy with her new schedule and high salary. According to reports, the news host has no intentions to increase her workload at MSNBC or alter her new routine anytime soon.

Granted that Maddow's $30 million contract limits her work, it's difficult to hold her or anyone in her position accountable for not wanting to take on more. The contentious agreement shocked everyone on the network.

MSNBC has fired large number of employees

After MSNBC fired a large number of employees earlier this year—roughly seventy people—those who survived were not happy to hear that the star anchor was taking home a fat salary while lower-level and behind-the-scenes workers bore the brunt of the network's poor viewership.

The insider said, "Rachel has gone from being the hero of the network to the most hated. People in TV are not rich. The hosts are rich. Everyone else is struggling to pay their rents and raise their families."