Blog Post: Goodbye MSNBC, Hello MS NOW — A Bold New Chapter in News
Meta Description:
MSNBC is rebranding MSNBC split from NBC News as MS NOW—“My Source for News, Opinion, and the World”—following its spinoff into the new media company Versant. Discover what this means for its identity, branding, editorial independence, and future strategy.
Heading Off the Peacock: What’s Changing?
MSNBC is officially dropping its longtime name and iconic peacock logo. By the end of 2025, the network will launch a fresh identity: MS NOW—short for “My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.” This follows its separation from NBCUniversal and the formation of a new media company, Versant.
The rebrand isn’t just aesthetic. It reflects a strategic shift aimed at building editorial and brand independence. The network’s new leaders are positioning MS NOW as a stand-alone player capable of shaping its own journalistic future
Why the Name Change Matters
- Freedom from the ‘NBC’ label. Though CNN and Fox News have long defined themselves, MSNBC depended on MSNBC’s ties to NBC. Now, MS NOW can define itself on its own terms.
- A bold new message. The name MS NOW – “My Source for News, Opinion, and the World” – speaks directly to its mission to deliver breaking news and thoughtful commentary, both domestic and global.
Breaking from the Peacock. The removal of the NBC peacock from the logo visually seals the separation. Versant-owned networks, including CNBC and USA Sports, are adopting new logos free of the iconic emblem
Voices from Within
- Mark Lazarus, CEO of Versant, emphasized that MS NOW’s new name reinforces “the brand’s mission to serve as the destination for domestic and international breaking news and the best-in-class opinion journalism.
- Rebecca Kutler, MSNBC’s president, called the name change a strategic move to assert independence. She assured staff that “while our name will be changing, who we are and what we do will not.” enthusiastic support, framing the rebrand as an opportunity to separate in spirit and structure from NBC News — and compete on an equal playing field
-
The Wider Context: Versant and the Corporate Split
In November 2024, Comcast announced the spin-off of many NBCUniversal cable networks into a new company under CEO Mark Lazarus. This new entity, named Versant, launched in mid-2025. It includes MSNBC (soon to be MS NOW), CNBC, USA Network, E!, Oxygen, the Golf Channel, and digital properties like Fandango Media.
This corporate shifting sends a message: the content division is ready to thrive and innovate independently, without the constraints of the NBC brand.
-
What to Expect from MS NOW
- High-profile departures. Some familiar faces, including Joy Reid, Andrea Mitchell, and Steve Kornacki, have left amidst the restructuring. Others remain, positioning MS NOW as both new and familiar.
- Expanding news infrastructure. The network is hiring across digital and political reporting. New bureaus, like one in Washington, D.C., are being planned.
- Marketing momentum. A major promotional push will accompany the rebrand—one “unlike anything we have done in recent memory,” in the words of network leadership.
- Raising the bar editorially. Despite the rebrand, MS NOW promises its and commitment to in-depth journalism remain deeply intact.
-
SEO Focus Words & Phrases
To optimize your blog post for search engines, weave in these terms naturally:
- MS NOW rebrand
- MSNBC name change
- Versant media company
- remove peacock logo
- editorial independence
- MSNBC vs NBC News
- MS NOW news network
-
Final Thoughts
The transition from MSNBC to MS NOW signals more than a new name—it reflects a bold step toward independence for one of cable news’s most recognizable brands. Its story will be closely watched as journalists, audiences, and competitors see whether the new identity matches the weight of its legacy.
Stay tuned for the launch. The future of progressive news is preparing to make itself known—now.
