MSNBC Rebrands To MS NOW

MSNBC, the long-standing liberal-leaning cable news network launched in 1996 as a joint venture between Microsoft and NBC, is undergoing a significant rebranding to MS NOW (short for "My Source News Opinion World").

This change is part of a larger corporate restructuring by parent company Comcast, which is spinning off several cable assets—including MSNBC, CNBC, USA Network, E!, and others—into a new independent entity called Versant, led by executive Mark Lazarus. 

The move severs MSNBC's ties to NBCUniversal and NBC News, aiming to eliminate any potential brand confusion between the opinion-driven cable channel and the more neutral NBC News division.

The rebrand was first announced in August 2025, with promotional teasers rolling out in early November. However, the official switch happens on November 15, 2025—just a few days.

Programming, editorial direction, and key talent like Rachel Maddow, Joe Scarborough ("Morning Joe"), Chris Hayes, and Lawrence O'Donnell remain unchanged, but the iconic NBC peacock logo is being dropped, along with the "NBC" in the name.

Corporate Split: Comcast's decision to divide NBCUniversal into two companies (one focused on broadcast/streaming like NBC News and Peacock, the other on cable via Versant) required MSNBC to forge its own identity. Shared resources, like Washington D.C. correspondents, ended in October 2025, prompting MSNBC to build its own newsroom and secure deals (e.g., with Sky News for international coverage).

The rebrand has sparked widespread mockery, confusion, and debate, especially on social media and in media circles. Critics argue it risks alienating a loyal (but aging) audience—median viewer age: 72—by ditching a 29-year-old brand for something that sounds generic or punchy.