MSNBC signed a new long-term contract with one of its most high-profile hosts, while announcing that it will wrap up one of his shows. TVNewser reports that the channel will wind down "The Chris Matthews Show," a syndicated public affairs show that’s produced from NBC News’ Washington bureau, this summer.

Meanwhile, Matthews and the channel inked a new long-term deal.

The final installment of "The Chris Matthews Show" will air July 21. The half-hour show has been produced by NBC since 2002. Matthews said the reason for ending the program was so that he could focus on "Hardball," writing books and working on long-form television documentaries.

"There are limits to what I can do in a week,” Matthews said a statement. “Henceforth, I intend to concentrate any time left over from ‘Hardball’ on writing books like the one I’m committed to now on the relationship between Tip O’Neill and Ronald Reagan, that and producing documentaries on history and politics.”

Chris Matthews