MSNBC Breaks Away from NBCUniversal and Announces a Big Rebrand

MSNBC is becoming more independent now that it has split from NBCUniversal and is getting ready to change its name. The popular cable news channel will soon be rebranded as MS NOW, which is one of the largest changes in its almost 30-year history.

The choice was made after NBCUniversal decided to preserve its well-known Peacock emblem only for its own media properties. The leaders of MSNBC thought it was time to create a new identity that shows how the network has grown, become more independent, and changed its role in American media.

What Is Going On with the Change

In late 2024, NBCUniversal said that certain of its cable networks, like MSNBC, will be relocated to a new publicly traded business called Versant. This spin-off also includes channels like USA Network, SyFy, E!, Oxygen, and CNBC, in addition to MSNBC.

Mark Lazarus, who will be the next CEO of Versant, wrote in an internal mail that maintaining the Peacock logo in NBCUniversal was a planned decision. This gave MSNBC the chance to develop its own brand orientation. Lazarus said it was “an opportunity to chart a new path forward and establish an independent news identity.”

The new moniker, MS NOW, is supposed to show that the company is taking a more modern, real-time approach to disseminating news and opinions.

Making Your Independent Identity Stronger

Rebecca Kutler, president of MSNBC, stressed that the network’s new name is more than just a new look; it represents the network’s future. She stated in her statement that the change “lets us set our own course and be independent from NBCUniversal.” She also told longstanding fans that even if the name is changing, “who we are and what we do will not.”

The station is changing its name at the same time that it is adding more newsrooms. MSNBC has hired more than 30 journalists from well-known news organizations like CNN, Bloomberg, Politico, The Washington Post, ABC News, NBC News, and PBS in the previous year. People perceive this influx of new talent as a way for the company to strengthen its image as a totally independent news organization that works around the clock.

What People Are Saying Inside and Outside the Network

Many well-known people inside MSNBC have backed the change. Rachel Maddow, one of the channel’s most well-known political analysts, was happy with the change. She said the time was perfect since MSNBC is now a competition with its own mission, not just a part of NBC’s news structure.

But people have had different reactions. Some social media users compared the new name to controversial corporate brand changes like HBO Max becoming “Max” or Twitter becoming “X.” Some participants thought “MS NOW” sounded old-fashioned, while others thought “MS” could make them think about multiple sclerosis without trying to.

Even while some have criticized the rebranding, MSNBC’s bosses believe it will boost long-term development.

What Will Happen in the Next Few Years

The channel will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2026, and MS NOW is slated to officially start then. Executives claim that the new name will help the network stand out as it competes more directly with other big news organizations, including NBC News, which used to be part of the same company.

Versant has also said that a few of its other cable channels, such CNBC and the Golf Channel, will be getting new logos soon. MSNBC is the sole network altering its name for now, but this is part of a bigger push to make these channels more modern in how they portray themselves to viewers.

People are saying that the change from MSNBC to MS NOW is more than just a new moniker. It is being called a turning point that shows independence, makes the newsroom stronger, and changes how the network gives news to the American public.

Sources

• Variety

• Official press releases from NBCUniversal and Versant