The US's biggest liberal-leaning cable news network is changing its name from MSNBC to MS NOW – a move that comes as part of a broader corporate reorganization. The new acronym stands for My Source for News, Opinion, and the World, with "MS" tracing back to the network's original partnership with Microsoft in the 1990s.
The change was made by NBCUniversal, which is separating MSNBC from its sister network NBC News into a separate company called Versant. As part of this shift, the network has moved out of iconic 30 Rockefeller Center and relocated to a new office building in Times Square. The change marks a significant moment for the cable news network, which will now be independent of NBCUniversal's umbrella.
MSNBC/MS NOW is taking steps to rebrand itself as a source of patriotic, trustworthy news and analysis. The network has launched a national advertising campaign to promote its name change and highlight its commitment to journalism. This includes two 60-second ads featuring star hosts Rachel Maddow and Joe Scarborough reading from iconic US documents.
While some fans of the network have expressed skepticism about the new name, with Joy Reid citing concerns over branding and marketing. However, many others are embracing the change, including former MSNBC journalist Jacob Soboroff who decided to join Team MS NOW after being away from the network for a time.
For Soboroff, the move was driven by his desire to be part of an independent news organization that could focus on original journalism without corporate interference. He believes that MS NOW has a lot of "runway" for ambitious journalists like himself who want to tell authentic stories and connect with real people.
As the network looks to rebuild itself under this new branding, its parent company Comcast is likely to benefit from being free from NBCUniversal's regulatory purview. This could give Comcast an advantage in its ongoing negotiations with the Federal Communications Commission over issues related to media consolidation.
For MSNBC/MS NOW, the key challenge now will be to establish itself as a credible and trustworthy source of news and analysis without the backing of NBCUniversal's established reputation.
The change was made by NBCUniversal, which is separating MSNBC from its sister network NBC News into a separate company called Versant. As part of this shift, the network has moved out of iconic 30 Rockefeller Center and relocated to a new office building in Times Square. The change marks a significant moment for the cable news network, which will now be independent of NBCUniversal's umbrella.
MSNBC/MS NOW is taking steps to rebrand itself as a source of patriotic, trustworthy news and analysis. The network has launched a national advertising campaign to promote its name change and highlight its commitment to journalism. This includes two 60-second ads featuring star hosts Rachel Maddow and Joe Scarborough reading from iconic US documents.
While some fans of the network have expressed skepticism about the new name, with Joy Reid citing concerns over branding and marketing. However, many others are embracing the change, including former MSNBC journalist Jacob Soboroff who decided to join Team MS NOW after being away from the network for a time.
For Soboroff, the move was driven by his desire to be part of an independent news organization that could focus on original journalism without corporate interference. He believes that MS NOW has a lot of "runway" for ambitious journalists like himself who want to tell authentic stories and connect with real people.
As the network looks to rebuild itself under this new branding, its parent company Comcast is likely to benefit from being free from NBCUniversal's regulatory purview. This could give Comcast an advantage in its ongoing negotiations with the Federal Communications Commission over issues related to media consolidation.
For MSNBC/MS NOW, the key challenge now will be to establish itself as a credible and trustworthy source of news and analysis without the backing of NBCUniversal's established reputation.