MSNBC to Rebrand as MS NOW Following NBC News Split
MSNBC is dropping the “NBC” from its name as part of a major corporate restructuring. Later this year, the cable news channel will become MS NOW, which stands for My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
New Branding and Mission
“This new branding underscores our mission: to serve as a destination for breaking news and best-in-class opinion journalism, all rooted in accurate and reported facts,” MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler said in an internal memo.
A Look Back at MSNBC’s Origins
MSNBC originally launched in 1996 as a joint venture between Microsoft (the “MS”) and NBC. Even after Microsoft sold its stake, the name remained the same. But now, the network is part of Comcast’s plan to spin off most of its cable channels into a new company called Versant, while NBCUniversal keeps the broadcast network and other assets, including the iconic peacock logo.
The Role of Versant and Logo Redesign
Versant CEO Mark Lazarus said the spin-off offers an opportunity to redesign logos that previously featured the peacock, citing other networks like Golf Channel and CNBC. CNBC will keep its name, which originally stood for Consumer News and Business Channel.
Resolving Brand Confusion
The rebrand also aims to resolve long-standing confusion between MSNBC and NBC News. The two outlets have relied on shared infrastructure and correspondents, but their editorial approaches often diverged. While NBC News has maintained a centrist stance, MSNBC’s programming has leaned left, particularly during the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations.
Commitment to Independence and Growth
Kutler emphasized that the rebrand reflects independence rather than a change in mission. “While our name will be changing, who we are and what we do will not,” she wrote. “Our commitment to our work and our audiences will not waiver from what the brand promise has been for three decades.”
The channel has recently expanded its newsroom, hiring dozens of journalists to strengthen its reporting and compete independently with NBC News and other outlets.
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