MSNBC Rebrands as ‘MS NOW’ Following NBC Split

The television network known as MSNBC has announced its impending name shift to My Source News Opinion World, or MS NOW, for short.

This move aligns with Comcast’s plans to consolidate most of its NBCUniversal cable channels into a new company, Versant. This new entity will not bear the NBC brand or its recognisable Peacock logo.

Versant’s CEO Mark Lazarus issued a memo to employees stating, “This allows us to chart our path forward, create distinct brand identities, and establish an independent news organization.” The New York Times reported these details.

Rebecca Kutler, the president of MSNBC, addressed the magnitude of the transformation in a note to her staff. She acknowledged the challenge of envisioning the network under a different name, especially for those who have dedicated years, if not decades, of their careers to MSNBC. Yet, she assured that the network’s editorial mission will remain unaffected: “While our name will be changing, who we are and what we do will not,” she stated, as reported by the Times.

This development follows earlier reports of changes impacting other channels within the network’s family. CNBC plans to retain its initials, representing Consumer News and Business Channel, but will introduce a new logo once its separation from NBCUniversal is complete. Meanwhile, MSNBC has recently expanded its newsroom by recruiting over three dozen journalists in preparation for its separation from NBC News’ extensive reporting operation.

While change can often be daunting, this move may allow for greater autonomy and creativity. For their part, MS NOW executives argue that the new name better encapsulates the network’s commitment to delivering “breaking news and best-in-class opinion journalism.”

The facts indicate that this rebranding and corporate separation are anticipated to be finalized by the year’s end. The significance of this should not be overlooked. It raises important questions about the future of news broadcasting and the public’s right to information.