MSNBC Rebrands to MS NOW Amid Comcast Spinoff and Streaming Shift

MSNBC Rebranding to MS NOW

• 💡 MSNBC, the cable news channel, is set to rebrand as MS NOW, which stands for My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
• 📌 This rebranding is detailed in internal memos seen by Reuters and signifies a strategic shift for the network.

Comcast Spinoff and Strategy Shift

• 🚀 Parent company Comcast is proceeding with a planned spin-off of many NBCUniversal cable networks, including CNBC and USA, into a new company named Versant.
• 🎯 This move is part of a larger strategy to focus more on streaming networks.
• 📺 The cable channels will also discontinue the use of the Peacock logo, which is associated with NBCUniversal.

Legacy and Partnerships

• 🧩 Comcast plans to retain the legacy NBC broadcast network and its film and television studios, which are intended to drive growth for the Peacock streaming service.
• 🤝 MSNBC, originally launched in 1996, was a joint venture between Microsoft and the National Broadcasting Company, a partnership that ended when Microsoft exited in 2012.

Industry Rebranding Trends

• 📰 MSNBC's rebranding follows a trend in the media industry, with other companies also undergoing name changes.
• 🎭 Examples include Warner Brothers Discovery changing HBO Max to Max (and then back to HBO Max), and IAC's dotdash Meredith rebranding as People Inc.