MSNBC will be renamed as My Source News Opinion World – or MS NOW, for short – as it splits from parent company NBCUniversal.
The new title was announced to staffers at the progressive opinion network Monday, The Wall Street Journal reported.
MS NOW will first appear on screens in its new stylized form later this year.
The change, CEO Mark Lazarus said in an internal memo viewed by Daily Mail, represents the new company’s focus on ‘building our individual identity and vision for the future while laying a foundation for the continued growth and success of our businesses.’
It will also see the peacock logo long associated with NBC abandoned, he said – after C-suiters decided the logo would need to stay with NBCUniversal.
Lazarus – the boss of the spinoff company being called Versant – stressed to staffers that ‘while the name will be different, the brand’s commitment to its audience will not change.’
Longtime MSNBC host Joy Reid was ousted from the network this year. Rachel Maddow seems poised to stay the network’s top star.
However, in move was part of a broader programming overhaul brought by new MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler, Jen Psaki was recently installed as Maddow’s successor in the 9pm timeslot.
Rachel Maddow, pictured, whose network MSNBC will soon be renamed MS NOW
MS NOW will first appear on screens in its new stylized form later this year. Its new, Peacock-less logo is seen here
Kutler had words for her workers as well, in a company-wide memo also obtained by Daily Mail that appeared to hint at a fight to keep MSNBC’s old name.
‘This new branding underscores our mission: to serve as a destination for breaking news and best-in-class opinion journalism, all rooted in accurate and reported facts,’ Kutler – who along with Lazarus pulled the plug on Reid – wrote.
‘I know this announcement will be met with questions, and I want to acknowledge that for many of you who have spent years or decades here, it is hard to imagine the network by any other name.
‘This was not a decision that was made quickly or without significant debate,’ she continued.
‘Over the last eight months, we have worked to untether ourselves from NBC News and embrace our independence under Versant.
‘We’ve hired dozens of first-rate reporters and newsroom leaders and have been recruiting for nearly 100 roles across our new and nimble organization.
‘We continue to supercharge our non-linear products, achieving rapid success on YouTube, TikTok, audio, digital, live events, and more – all while aggressively developing a direct-to-consumer product.’
The new branding will debut as the network enters its 30th year.
MSNBC’s two top execs fired Joy Reid in February, reportedly after more than a year of pushback from its parent Comcast
New boss Rebecca Kutler and Versant CEO Mark Lazarus, the two execs who pulled the plug on Reid
Lazarus detailed more changes to other logos and brands in the cable-centered spinoff company’s portfolio as well.
He said sports programming from its USA Network and Golf Channel will be combined ‘under a new brand moniker’ being called USA Sports.
‘New logos for USA Sports and Golf Channel are well underway,’ he said.
CNBC, he revealed, ‘will retain its name and is working on a new logo.’
The finished product will ‘look back at its history and nod to the deep expertise of the network,’ he said.
‘Each of these changes will go into effect closer to our spin at the end of the year.’
Other assets in Versant’s largely linear arsenal include the GolfNow, SyFy, Oxygen, E! and SportsEngine.
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