MSNBC is forging a brand new path on the small display screen.
On Monday, August 18, the community introduced that it’ll quickly change its title to My Supply Information Opinion World, MS NOW for brief, as part of their separation from Comcast. MSNBC is certainly one of a number of channels that may stay below the brand new firm Versant, headed by Mark Lazarus, together with CNBC, USA Community, E!, Oxygen, SYFY, Golf Channel, SportsEngine, and GolfNow.
Information of the title change comes seven months after Lazarus beforehand introduced that MSNBC’s title would stay the identical. “I do know there was some dialogue with the MSNBC title, so you possibly can take that off of your fear record on issues,” he advised staffers throughout a January assembly, per Deadline.
“The one factor I’ll say is the worst factor any chief can do is change one thing that’s working simply because they’ll,” Lazarus added. “So, if that is working, then there’s no cause to alter it.”
What does MSNBC’s title change imply for the way forward for the community? Right here’s what we all know thus far.
Why is MSNBC altering its title?
The community will rebrand as MS NOW on account of its transfer from Comcast to Versant. Consequently, MS NOW and different channels concerned within the transfer will lose their NBC peacock brand, as Comcast owns NBCUniversal.
“The peacock is synonymous with NBCUniversal, and it’s a image they’ve determined to maintain throughout the NBCU household,” Lazarus mentioned in a employees memo on Monday, per NBC Information. “This provides us the chance to cost our personal path ahead, create distinct model identities, and set up an unbiased information group following the spin.”
In line with NBC Information, CNBC will preserve its title, which stands for Shopper Information and Enterprise Channel, however may also obtain a brand new brand. Comcast will reportedly retain different NBCUniversal networks, together with NBC, NBC Information, NBC Sports activities, Bravo, and the streaming service Peacock.
Versant
When will MSNBC shut down?
The community’s title change will reportedly occur later this 12 months, although a precise date has not been introduced.
What reveals will stay on MSNBC?
MS NOW will doubtless preserve the identical reveals as MSNBC, as no main programming adjustments have been introduced. In a Monday memo to staffers, MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler acknowledged that the community is not going to change its information protection amid the separation.
“Whereas our title can be altering, who we’re and what we do is not going to,” Kutler mentioned, per NBC Information. “Our dedication to our work and our audiences is not going to waiver from what the model promise has been for 3 a long time.”
What have MSNBC personalities mentioned concerning the rebrand?
“If there was ever a time for us to alter our title, that is it — as a result of we’re not simply separating from NBC Information in company phrases, we’re competing with them now. So I feel the excellence goes to be good for us,” Rachel Maddow advised Selection in a press release on Monday. “What NBC [is] doing in its legacy timeslots — the At the moment present, [NBC] Nightly [News], Meet the Press — is only a world away from the 24/7 completely unbiased information operation that we’re capable of rise up now, because of the spin-off.”
Maddow added, “Whereas I’ll admit to having no concept the way to pronounce ‘MS NOW’ (and I’m nonetheless not all that positive about saying ‘Versant,’ both), we’re no less than dropping our syllable rely from 5 to a few! An effectivity acquire!”
Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann, in the meantime, slammed the community’s title change by way of X. “MSNBC to alter title to MS NOW no I’m not kidding,” he wrote on Monday, including in a comply with up put up, “They’ll change it to LES MS for all it issues they nonetheless screwed up what I constructed for them 🤦🏼♂️.”
What have followers mentioned concerning the rebrand?
Viewers expressed their blended emotions over the title change by way of social media, with one X person writing, “Attention-grabbing transfer by MSNBC. ‘My Supply (for) Information, Opinions (and the) World’ looks like a mouthful. Hope the content material’s as contemporary because the title! 📺.” One other individual added, “If I noticed MS NOW, I might assume it was a charity that wishes a remedy, efficient remedy or options to A number of Sclerosis (MS) – which I might actually like to see, however isn’t a information org.”
“That’s not a catchy community title in any respect,” a unique person shared by way of X, whereas another person wrote, “MS NOW’s new which means sounds intriguing, however will it shift their narrative? Fingers crossed for balanced ‘Opinions (and the) World’! 📰 #Rebrand.”