MSNBC Shake Up

[MediaZone4K 2661]

 

On 9/11/2025 at 2:17 AM, Reweivvt88 said:

I disagree. There are lots of horrible hateful political figures all over the world, not being allowed to point out the fact that they spew hate or do hateful things when they die makes zero sense to me and I have not seen this applied to other horrible people who have been killed. All the comments I have read from actual MSNBC viewers are outraged that he was fired. Viewers are also upset at how much coverage MSNBC has given this compared to the horrific school shooting that happened on the same day. Under Rebecca Kutler MSNBC seems so disconnected from its audience. 

 

Agreed. He said nothing wrong. Why is MSNBC so quick to have standards of verbal censorship for people who have none? NOTE:, this is not an attack on conservative ideology or pro Democrat, this is just pointing out the current situation.

 

22 hours ago, MorningNews said:

Dowd was correct in what he said but the timing was undoubtedly bad. There’s still so much we don’t know about the situation even at this hour so speculation should be avoided in general and MSNBC was right to determine that the speculation in that manner violated their standards. 

I'd disagree. Let's remind ourselves that many followers on Kirk's side of the aisle were making fun of the Minnesota lawmakers who were assassinated moments after their killings. They also called the attack on Nancy Pelosi's husband a homosexual conspiracy moments after it happened. Any accusations of inappropriate timing on their part would be the pot calling the kettle black.

Edited September 12, 2025 by MediaZone4K

[carolinanews4 455]

So technically, the split starts on October 6, but MSNBC won't be its own company until January 1. However, editorially, MSNBC and CNBC will begin standing up their own news-gathering operations on October 6 for domestic and international news coverage. That's the date reporters will become exclusive to either NBC or MSNBC. DC-based reporters will continue to appear on both NBC and their cable cousins until October 20.

 

Meanwhile, MSNBC shows will decamp from 30 Rock in November and trek six blocks south to begin airing from temporary digs on 43rd Street.

 

https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/nbc-news-msnbc-split-starts-october-6-1236521887/

[Reweivvt88 173]

Sky News coverage to be featured on MSNBC as part of commercial agreement | Money News | Sky News

 

"Sky News has reached a multi-year deal with one of the most influential US news networks, MSNBC, which will pay for the use of its cross-platform coverage. 

 

The channel's live broadcasts, TV packages and online journalism are to be used by MSNBC as part of a commercial agreement, the details of which were not disclosed.

 

All Sky News' British and foreign TV coverage is included in the agreement, which will begin on 1 October, further bringing the reporting to a US audience.

 

MSNBC will have no role in the commissioning of Sky coverage, and no MSNBC programming will be taken by Sky News, as part of the arrangement.

 

MSNBC is building up its operations ahead of its planned spin-off from NBC News and parent company Comcast.

 

The new, separated entity will be named Versant and be a public company with shares traded on a stock exchange."

 

This is actually really smart. Sky News provides high quality international news coverage but at the same time is very unprofitable and given the fact that NBC News (and American media overall) puts almost no importance on international news (no other western country has more self obsessed news media than America) Comcast really hasn't been able utilize Sky News international coverage, now they are getting MS NOW to pay for this coverage, while at the same time, MS NOW benefits from having access to Sky News which puts it at a similar level to CNN and FOX for the rare times American media decides it needs to cover international news. 

 

Edited September 28, 2025 by Reweivvt88

[CraigViewer 107]

1 hour ago, Reweivvt88 said:

Sky News coverage to be featured on MSNBC as part of commercial agreement | Money News | Sky News

 

"Sky News has reached a multi-year deal with one of the most influential US news networks, MSNBC, which will pay for the use of its cross-platform coverage. 

 

The channel's live broadcasts, TV packages and online journalism are to be used by MSNBC as part of a commercial agreement, the details of which were not disclosed.

 

All Sky News' British and foreign TV coverage is included in the agreement, which will begin on 1 October, further bringing the reporting to a US audience.

 

MSNBC will have no role in the commissioning of Sky coverage, and no MSNBC programming will be taken by Sky News, as part of the arrangement.

 

MSNBC is building up its operations ahead of its planned spin-off from NBC News and parent company Comcast.

 

The new, separated entity will be named Versant and be a public company with shares traded on a stock exchange."

 

This is actually really smart. Sky News provides high quality international news coverage but at the same time is very unprofitable and given the fact that NBC News (and American media overall) puts almost no importance on international news (no other western country has more self obsessed news media than America) Comcast really hasn't been able utilize Sky News international coverage, now they are getting MS NOW to pay for this coverage, while at the same time, MS NOW benefits from having access to Sky News which puts it at a similar level to CNN and FOX for the rare times American media decides it needs to cover international news. 

 

It's unsurprising to me that MSNBC struck that agreement with Sky News for a couple of reasons: no international reporters/bureaus of their own of soon-to-be MSNOW had been named in their press releases, and also that it has been simulcasting Sky's coverage of select international events for the past few years now. 

[mre29 1967]

7 hours ago, Reweivvt88 said:

This is actually really smart. Sky News provides high quality international news coverage but at the same time is very unprofitable and given the fact that NBC News (and American media overall) puts almost no importance on international news (no other western country has more self obsessed news media than America)...

 

Exhibit A: Al Jazeera America.

 

Exhibit B: The increasingly US-centric BBC World News. Or, at least, the version we see here in the states. (I hope the rest of the world doesn't have to put up with that much coverage of Trump and US news on an international channel!)

 

[mouseboy33 137]

Corporations are so weird. According to the press Ive read. Versant will still be held by Comcast as a separate company. So one part of the company (Versant) is paying another part of the company (SkyNews) for a service. Its like robbing Peter to pay Paul. SkyNews hasnt been profitable. SkyNews needs to do something. Its a different channel than it use to be. Its BBC-lite in tone these days, whereas it used to be kinda punchy and lively. Its very sedate and dry these days. Which hasnt helped garner viewers. But i do prefer to watch it over the Beeb. They dont have the reach of CNN, AJE, or BBC but they do have a bigger global focus than most US networks. Its wild that NBC cant figure out how to leverage an asset that they already own. Now that Ms.NOW is gonna use SkyNews, what does that mean for NBC NEWS NOW simulcasting SkyNews?

[Reweivvt88 173]

Watching MSNBC the last few days without the resources of NBC News has been a positive change with no decrease in quality or resources. Coverage of international news has not decreased. Instead of the live reports from NBC News journalists we get live reports from Sky News, Bloomberg & AP journalists in addition to the journalists who have joined MSNBC. On top of that we get an increase in live reporting from MSNBC journalists like Jacob Soboroff. Overall the network is more enjoyable to watch. Besides the downside of losing Steve Kornacki the split has been nothing but positive. 

Edited October 9, 2025 by Reweivvt88

[obxwatcher 23]

I have noticed Joe and Mika have been doing MJ from NYC a lot this year (even though they use a DC illustration backdrop); probably the most since the pandemic. I wonder if Versant told them the Florida remote shows had to decrease after the ratings drop when they met Trump. Then again, the show is nowhere near as good like it was in the beginning. I’m sure they will still get the FL tax break like Hannity does and I am sure Brett Baier pretty soon. 

[NowBergen 924]

5 hours ago, obxwatcher said:

I have noticed Joe and Mika have been doing MJ from NYC a lot this year (even though they use a DC illustration backdrop); probably the most since the pandemic. I wonder if Versant told them the Florida remote shows had to decrease after the ratings drop when they met Trump. Then again, the show is nowhere near as good like it was in the beginning. I’m sure they will still get the FL tax break like Hannity does and I am sure Brett Baier pretty soon. 

 

I find the show better with Mika and Joe in NY (or alternatively in DC) rather than their Florida studio.  I think they may realize their meeting with trump was for naught, he is worse than his previous self and they aren't holding back anymore.  Nicolle Wallace also has returned to the studio and that aids her interaction with guests (not to mention the quality of the lighting).

[MD TV 389]

The name change to MS NOW will take effect on November 15th:

 

https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/msnbc-switches-name-ms-now-november-15-1236561512/

[AmericanErrorist 267]

On 9/29/2025 at 4:49 AM, mouseboy33 said:

Corporations are so weird. According to the press Ive read. Versant will still be held by Comcast as a separate company. So one part of the company (Versant) is paying another part of the company (SkyNews) for a service. Its like robbing Peter to pay Paul. SkyNews hasnt been profitable. SkyNews needs to do something. Its a different channel than it use to be. Its BBC-lite in tone these days, whereas it used to be kinda punchy and lively. Its very sedate and dry these days. Which hasnt helped garner viewers. But i do prefer to watch it over the Beeb. They dont have the reach of CNN, AJE, or BBC but they do have a bigger global focus than most US networks. Its wild that NBC cant figure out how to leverage an asset that they already own. Now that Ms.NOW is gonna use SkyNews, what does that mean for NBC NEWS NOW simulcasting SkyNews?

This will be true until Versant stock is distributed to Comcast shareholders (including the Roberts family who will still own about a third of both Comcast and Versant and don't intend to sell either) sometime either at the end of the year or in the next.

Edited October 27, 2025 by AmericanErrorist

[Georgie56 3661]

MS NOW and CNBC will use AccuWeather for weather coverage.

[nathannah 2792]

I can't even remember the last time outside of severe weather coverage and Way Too Early the last time I saw any forecasts on MSNBC to speak of. I'm shocked they even put out PR about this.

[mre29 1967]

6 hours ago, nathannah said:

I can't even remember the last time outside of severe weather coverage and Way Too Early the last time I saw any forecasts on MSNBC to speak of. I'm shocked they even put out PR about this.

 

Makes you wonder what other non-political news the channel will cover...

 

[susquvalleywgal 531]

7 hours ago, Georgie56 said:

MS NOW and CNBC will use AccuWeather for weather coverage.

 

Here's hoping AccuWeather gets a new look for those gfx.  They are lacking so much.

 

-- Matt

[Georgie56 3661]

MS NOW will start with The Weekend on Saturday.

 

 

[mre29 1967]

On 11/12/2025 at 12:06 PM, Georgie56 said:

MS NOW will start with The Weekend on Saturday.

 

Curiously, MSNBC.com's homepage has no mention of the impending change.

 

[Geoffrey 958]

First look at the new graphics as of 7 a.m.

 

I like the idea of a "bug bar"... reminds me of the one "msnbc" had, except that one was at the top of the screen, but there's a lot of wasted space there. Maybe they'll have stocks there during the week, but then I'd have expected weather there on a weekend. It's very low on the screen.

 

Otherwise, looks like they're keeping The Weekend's look and I imagine most shows will keep their designs as well. Maybe something new for the "[insert anchor name] Reports" shows since those were based around the MSNBC logo and peacock.

 

 

 

 

The lower-third text is centered when the box is centered, but left-aligned when it moves to the left to make room for the promo box. But the name/title is left-aligned even when the box is centered.

 

The name/title element is too far away when there's no "New This Morning" tab.

Edited November 15, 2025 by Geoffrey

[freelanceproducer 188]

1 hour ago, Geoffrey said:

First look at the new graphics as of 7 a.m.

 

I like the idea of a "bug bar"... reminds me of the one "msnbc" had, except that one was at the top of the screen, but there's a lot of wasted space there. Maybe they'll have stocks there during the week, but then I'd have expected weather there on a weekend. It's very low on the screen.

 

Otherwise, looks like they're keeping The Weekend's look and I imagine most shows will keep their designs as well. Maybe something new for the "[insert anchor name] Reports" shows since those were based around the MSNBC logo and peacock.

 

 

 

 

The lower-third text is centered when the box is centered, but left-aligned when it moves to the left to make room for the promo box. But the name/title is left-aligned even when the box is centered.

 

The name/title element is too far away when there's no "New This Morning" tab.

I bet most (if not all) of MS' shows will retain their looks, except (to your point) MS NOW Reports.

 

Here's a look at what we can expect when Alex Witt debuts the new graphics later today: 

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

Still no OTT app even now that MSNBC is officlally MS NOW.  You would have thought this would have been ready to launch by today.
It didn't help matters that NBC dropped all of the spinoff channels from their own app several days ago.

[JosiahCubed 301]

When Velshi started this morning, the alignment of the bottom bar got adjusted up a tiny bit.

[mre29 1967]

For some reason, I thought The Weekend was an evening show and that it seemed like an odd choice for when to have the switchover. 

 

Meanwhile, the website has switched over. It's visually similar to how it looked as msnbc.com except for the branding changes, but the URL has changed to www.ms.now.

 

More importantly, Taboola is gone!  Or maybe it just needs to be manually updated -- which I hope never happens. 

 

Suggestion for the moderators:  This seems like a really good time to split off these last several post (starting with Geoffrey's post about the new graphics) into a new thread and lock this one.

Edited November 15, 2025 by mre29
Hey mods!

[AKA 70]

12 minutes ago, mre29 said:

For some reason, I thought The Weekend was an evening show and that it seemed like an odd choice for when to have the switchover. 

You’re not wrong. There’s also an evening edition of The Weekend that starts at 6 pm ET. 

[Manny NYC 32]

10 hours ago, tyrannical bastard said:

Still no OTT app even now that MSNBC is officlally MS NOW.  You would have thought this would have been ready to launch by today.
It didn't help matters that NBC dropped all of the spinoff channels from their own app several days ago.

I ran into this on accident but the answer is the USA Network app. Like the old NBA app you can watch all of Versant's networks through that.

[Geoffrey 958]

10 hours ago, JosiahCubed said:

When Velshi started this morning, the alignment of the bottom bar got adjusted up a tiny bit.

 

I'm not sure it was adjusted up so much as the black bar below was removed, exposing a tiny bit of the picture below.

 

Alex Witt Reports had a new look, as expected. It looks like the newscasts (as opposed to opinion oriented shows) will use blue lower-thirds.

 

I don't like how most of the headline texts appear squished.