MSNBC announces plans to rebrand as MS NOW as part of Versant spinoff
MSNBC announces plans to rebrand as MS NOW as part of Versant spinoff
The progressive news channel will also drop the NBC peacock from its brand imaging.
The TV pecking order, as you once knew, is changing dramatically. For the latest proof of this, one need look no further than the doings at NBCUniversal, which is in the midst of spinning off the majority of its cable channels into a new company called Versant. That will mean big changes for many of the networks involved, including the left-leaning news channel MSNBC, which announced it would be executing a major rebrand thanks to the spin-off.
Key Details:
- Watch now!:MSNBC is rebranding itself as MS NOW.
- Plucked peacock: The well-traveled NBC peacock logo has been removed from the channel.
- More questions: The rebrand begs the question of what other details will change in the Versant spin-off.
MSNBC announced on Monday that it was shifting its name to MS NOW. The name will be an acronym, which stands for My Source News Opinion World, and the removal of the NBC name from the equation is yet another piece of evidence that the split will result in Versant truly standing apart from NBCUniversal.
Another fact pointing to that conclusion is the dropping of the peacock that has become so synonymous with NBC from the MS NOW logo. Versant CEO Mark Lazarus said in a memo to staff on Monday morning that the changes would help Versant forge its own path in the future.
“The peacock is synonymous with NBCUniversal, and it is a symbol they have decided to keep within the NBCU family,” Lazarus said. “This gives us the opportunity to charge our own path forward, create distinct brand identities, and establish an independent news organization following the spin.”
There will be no changes in editorial direction for MSNBC as it becomes MS NOW, however. MSNBC president Rebecca Cutler said in a memo that the channel’s “commitment to our work and our audiences will not waiver” even after the spin-off and name change are completed.
The announcement is just the latest attempt by Versant to establish itself as an independent company, even though its separation from NBCUniversal isn’t fully complete. Versant officials also recently spoke about the company’s willingness to strike sports and streaming deals that don’t necessarily involve NBCU channels or streaming services, as well.
Peacock
Peacock is a subscription video streaming service from NBCUniversal that includes original shows, blockbuster movies, and classic television series. Peacock is home to “Yellowstone,” “The Office,” and original hits like “Poker Face” and “Bel-Air.” You can also watch live sports and NBC programming, including the NFL, MLB, WWE, the Olympics, the Premier League, NASCAR, the French Open, college football and basketball, and the PGA Tour. Premium Plus subscribers can stream their local NBC feed in all 210 markets.