MSNBC to Rebrand as MS NOW Amid Corporate Restructuring

For the past twenty years, the cable news landscape has been shaped by the brand MSNBC. However, by the close of this year, the network will undergo a significant name change.

In the wake of Comcast’s corporate spin-off, MSNBC will rebrand as My Source News Opinion World, abbreviated as MS NOW. This new name is designed to embody the channel’s commitment to delivering "breaking news and best-in-class opinion journalism," according to a company memo.

Rebecca Kutler, the network’s president, acknowledged the emotional challenge of the change for longtime employees, emphasizing that the decision was reached after thorough deliberation.

The spin-off involves several cable networks formerly under Comcast’s NBCUniversal umbrella transitioning into a new entity named Versant. As part of this separation, Versant will discontinue using the NBC brand and its Peacock logo, both of which remain with Comcast, explained the new company’s CEO, Mark Lazarus.

Lazarus highlighted that this transition offers an opportunity to establish independent brand identities and foster a standalone news organization. While CNBC will maintain its acronym, it will launch a new logo that excludes the Peacock symbol following the completion of the spin-off, anticipated by year-end.

Adam Miller, NBCUniversal’s chief operating officer, noted that the rebranding will clarify distinctions between NBC News and MSNBC, which have often covered overlapping news stories, reducing viewer confusion.

Since the announcement of the corporate split, MSNBC has significantly expanded its newsroom, onboarding over thirty journalists as it prepares to operate independently from NBC News’ extensive reporting resources.

The MSNBC name originally derives from MSN, Microsoft’s internet service from the 1990s. Created in 1996 as a joint venture between Microsoft and NBC, MSNBC combined cable and online news. Despite NBC’s later separation from Microsoft, the name has endured.

Kutler emphasized that despite the rebranding, the network’s fundamental mission and editorial focus will remain consistent. A substantial marketing campaign will accompany the rollout to promote the new brand.

She concluded by reassuring staff and viewers alike that while the name is changing, the network’s dedication to its audience and its journalistic principles will remain steadfast after three decades.