MSNBC has replaced, for now, its early morning newscast “First Look” with a re-air of “The Rachel Maddow Show.” A TVNewser tipster first made us aware of the change, which took effect Thursday morning.

“First Look,” which aired at 5amET, often re-purposed stories from NBC’s “Early Today” which airs at 4:30am in many markets, leading in to NBC affiliate morning shows. An insider tells TVNewser the goal is to give “Morning Joe” the best lead-in possible.

In November, 2005 CNN replaced its 5amET newscast “Daybreak” with a re-air of AC360 leading in to “American Morning.” Fox News re-airs “The O’Reilly Factor” at 5amET weekdays leading in to “Fox & Friends.”