Comcast Considering Spinning Off Cable Networks

[MediaZone4K 2172]

2 minutes ago, MD TV said:

And even if they did have cable they’d be turned off by the numerous never-Trump Republicans the network has.

I was using leftist and liberal interchangeably but I suppose there is a difference.

[NowBergen 681]

8 minutes ago, MediaZone4K said:

I was using leftist and liberal interchangeably but I suppose there is a difference.

There is.  MSNBC has its audience, outperforms CNN and at times (not all the time) in the evening rivals Fox channel.   Back to topic, MSNBC and CNBC (each with distinctly different target audiences) are integrated into NBC News (management, resources, reporters, etc) that spinning them off would probably be problematic.  USA is the same now with NBC Sports.  As for the rest, probably no longer as important to the network and company as they were 10 years ago.  The problem becomes, if any of the owners of multiple (and ever more generic) cable stations are up for sale, would there even be a buyer today?  

[Hometown News 54]

On 11/7/2024 at 12:59 AM, MediaZone4K said:

Well looks like MSNBC's shelf life just got extended another four years.

 

Maybe not:

 

[TVLurker 198]

1 hour ago, Hometown News said:

 

Maybe not:

 

I believe the MSNBC audience just... gave up.

[tyrannical bastard 3948]

On one hand, it's like a TV show going into repeats.  They just don't want to watch it...again.

 

On the other hand, once Trump takes control and things go off the rails.....

[ABC 7 Denver 1714]

3 hours ago, Hometown News said:

 

Maybe not:

 

 

Well, if you bring on a myriad of consultants who do nothing but blame Democrats for embracing social issues, instead of faulting them for embracing our corrupted capitalist model and for Dems leaning too far to the right, then you're going to lose viewership. Social issues didn't lose the Democratic Party this election. Campaigning with Liz & Dick Cheney and refusing to acknowledge that the fundamental economic wealth distribution gap is more important than stock market growth when 93% of the market is controlled by the top 10% (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/wealthiest-10-americans-own-93-033623827.html and the average home-buyer age is 56-years old (https://www.nar.realtor/newsroom/first-time-home-buyers-shrink-to-historic-low-of-24-as-buyer-age-hits-record-high).


https://www.visualcapitalist.com/wealth-distribution-in-america/

[NowBergen 681]

5 minutes ago, ABC 7 Denver said:

 

Well, if you bring on a myriad of consultants who do nothing but blame Democrats for embracing social issues, instead of faulting them for embracing our corrupted capitalist model and for Dems leaning too far to the right, then you're going to lose viewership. Social issues didn't lose the Democratic Party this election. Campaigning with Liz & Dick Cheney and refusing to acknowledge that the fundamental economic wealth distribution gap is more important than stock market growth when 93% of the market is controlled by the top 10% (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/wealthiest-10-americans-own-93-033623827.html and the average home-buyer age is 56-years old (https://www.nar.realtor/newsroom/first-time-home-buyers-shrink-to-historic-low-of-24-as-buyer-age-hits-record-high).


https://www.visualcapitalist.com/wealth-distribution-in-america/

 

It's all temporary as they move on from the election.  I know many who just didn't want to watch any news, MSNBC, CNN, broadcast networks until they all moved past the election.  I wouldn't make wide conclusions only 8 days past the election.  

[Hometown News 54]

1 hour ago, TVLurker said:

I believe the MSNBC audience just... gave up.

 

I think people in general are just tired of the "all Trump, all the time" monomania on these networks. It's been almost a decade of the same topics on a loop. It makes it that much harder for them to compete with YouTube, Twitch, podcasts, social media, etc. where there's actual choices, not the same programming over and over again.

[MediaZone4K 2172]

This is temporary MSNBC will come back. If Trump is president, liberal audiences will crave a news network breaking down his actions.

 

But I think MSNBC is losing ratings because: 

1. people are tired of a 24/7 News Network airing non-stop coverage of one man for nine years.

 

2. People could be realizing the pundits on MSNBC live in an echo chamber. The commentators think they know everything then act shocked when the election proves them wrong. 

 

3. Exhaustion and defeat. Many Democrats are stunned by the outcome of this election and can't deal with it right now so they're turning off the news. They're not in the mood to hear a panel discussion of why Kamala lost be overanalyzed for the next few months.

Edited November 14, 2024 by MediaZone4K

[NowBergen 681]

7 hours ago, MediaZone4K said:

This is temporary MSNBC will come back. If Trump is president, liberal audiences will crave a news network breaking down his actions.

 

But I think MSNBC is losing ratings because: 

1. people are tired of a 24/7 News Network airing non-stop coverage of one man for nine years.

 

2. People could be realizing the pundits on MSNBC live in an echo chamber. The commentators think they know everything then act shocked when the election proves them wrong. 

 

3. Exhaustion and defeat. Many Democrats are stunned by the outcome of this election and can't deal with it right now so they're turning off the news. They're not in the mood to hear a panel discussion of why Kamala lost be overanalyzed for the next few months.

The first two are applicable to the fox channel as well.  As trump picks for his cabinet become more and more bizarre, enthusiastic viewers will return.  Net net, remember, the channels don't get the majority of tv eyes unless in times of a major disaster.  

[Hometown News 54]

5 hours ago, NowBergen said:

The first two are applicable to the fox channel as well.

 

FOX is only as dominant as it is because there's less competition in their niche. MSNBC and CNN cannibalizing each other's ratings is likely accelerating both networks' decline. Ultimately, though, 24/7 cable news is an outdated model and I'm sure we'll eventually see FOX start to decline as well. It's not like young people are watching them either.

Edited November 14, 2024 by Hometown News

[MediaZone4K 2172]

On 11/14/2024 at 11:34 AM, Hometown News said:

 

FOX is only as dominant as it is because there's less competition in their niche. MSNBC and CNN cannibalizing each other's ratings is likely accelerating both networks' decline. Ultimately, though, 24/7 cable news is an outdated model and I'm sure we'll eventually see FOX start to decline as well. It's not like young people are watching them either.

Yup. Although Fox is an echo chamber and obsesses over Trump just like MSNBC, Fox dominates because of little competition. They're the only *mainstream* big-budget and well well-produced right-wing TV outlet. 

Edited November 17, 2024 by MediaZone4K

[carolinanews4 376]

On 10/31/2024 at 2:18 PM, DENDude said:

CNBC Said on air early today, that most of the cable networks mentioned, especially MSNBC were loosing money.  And that according to comcast, MSNBC has been loosing money for quite some time.

 

I happen to come across this today from Pew Research: https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/cable-news/

It shows that MSNBC is posting a profit of over 450 million against almost a billion dollars in revenue. The data also shows that MSNBC has been profitable since 2006 (the earliest year of data displayed in the chart). So, it is highly unlikely that Comcast would say, and that CNBC would report, that MSNBC has been losing money for quite some time. 

[NowBergen 681]

1 hour ago, carolinanews4 said:

 

I happen to come across this today from Pew Research: https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/cable-news/

It shows that MSNBC is posting a profit of over 450 million against almost a billion dollars in revenue. The data also shows that MSNBC has been profitable since 2006 (the earliest year of data displayed in the chart). So, it is highly unlikely that Comcast would say, and that CNBC would report, that MSNBC has been losing money for quite some time. 

 

The comment, not sure it was a quote was not directed at MSNBC but all the many cable networks with low viewership that fill up our cable lineups.  I'm not sure why someone applied that directly to MSNBC, which is part of NBC News and plays a key role in news gathering, reporting and more.  If, and probably its a big if, since this is just floated as an idea for analysis,  it was to happen, MSNBC, CNBC, and USA, because of their tie in with the network and Peacock (news, business news, sports) may not be included.  Plus as you note MSNBC makes a lot of money, I expect  CNBC does and USA might.  What makes NBCU unique vs. WBD and Paramount, is they have not shied away from just shutting down cable networks.  

 

Edited November 14, 2024 by NowBergen

[Reweivvt88 46]

If Comcast does want to spin off MSNBC & CNBC along with the rest of the cable assets, I could see it working if Sky News was included in the new spun off company. Sky News could provide MSNBC with international news coverage and if Comcast doesn't think NBC News needs MSNBC, I can't see why they would want to keep Sky News which doesn't really collaborate much with NBC News. MSNBC could also use the Sky News branding since it's unlikely the NBC branding would remain. 

 

While I still think a sell off is extremely unlikely, I can see why they are considering it. The entertainment channels are a drain on growth for the company overall, and the cable group is worth a lot more when the profitable and highly rated MSNBC is included, and by selling them off Comcast doesn't have to worry about owning a news channel the President hates. 

Edited November 15, 2024 by Reweivvt88

[channel2 978]

5 hours ago, NowBergen said:

 

The comment, not sure it was a quote was not directed at MSNBC but all the many cable networks with low viewership that fill up our cable lineups.  I'm not sure why someone applied that directly to MSNBC, which is part of NBC News and plays a key role in news gathering, reporting and more.  If, and probably its a big if, since this is just floated as an idea for analysis,  it was to happen, MSNBC, CNBC, and USA, because of their tie in with the network and Peacock (news, business news, sports) may not be included.  Plus as you note MSNBC makes a lot of money, I expect  CNBC does and USA might.  What makes NBCU unique vs. WBD and Paramount, is they have not shied away from just shutting down cable networks.  

 

 

Comcast is an MVPD! Having channels that have no traction and no growth potential is an active drain on their business. The subscriber fees they were paying NBC Universal when they didn't yet own it stay within the company now, so those channels remain viable only as long as advertisers and other MVPDs want to pay for them. Other than NBCSN, most of the channels they axed suffered from low or declining distribution. WBD and Paramount don't have an MVPD's infrastructure to worry about, and channels that have no apparent reason to exist can just toddle along by soaking up sub fees until the MVPDs force the issue. I'm surprised they haven't already, Disney's shocking concession to Charter aside.

 

3 hours ago, Reweivvt88 said:

If Comcast does want to spin off MSNBC & CNBC along with the rest of the cable assets, I could see it working if Sky News was included in the new spun off company. Sky News could provide MSNBC with international news coverage and if Comcast doesn't think NBC News needs MSNBC, I can't see why they would want to keep Sky News which doesn't really collaborate much with NBC News. MSNBC could also use the Sky News branding since it's unlikely the NBC branding would remain. 

 

While I still think a sell off is extremely unlikely, I can see why they are considering it. The entertainment channels are a drain on growth for the company overall, and the cable group is worth a lot more when the profitable and highly rated MSNBC is included, and by selling them off Comcast doesn't have to worry about owning a news channel the President hates. 

 

Isn't Sky News bound up in the infrastructure of Sky? It sounds like something they'd prefer not to separate.

[Hometown News 54]

More dismal numbers for MSNBC:

 

 

They are basically getting no viewers under the age of 55 anymore. Comcast might actually have a hard time finding a buyer at this rate.

Edited November 16, 2024 by Hometown News

[MediaZone4K 2172]

40 minutes ago, Hometown News said:

More dismal numbers for MSNBC:

 

 

They are basically getting no viewers under the age of 55 anymore. Comcast might actually have a hard time finding a buyer at this rate.

Love that MSNBC isn't doing well, hate that Fox is still doing well. 

 

How are cable networks making a profit with demographic viewers that low?? How much are they charging advertisers?

[Hometown News 54]

1 hour ago, MediaZone4K said:

Love that MSNBC isn't doing well, hate that Fox is still doing well. 

 

How are cable networks making a profit with demographic viewers that low?? How much are they charging advertisers?

 

They've been propped up almost single-handedly by pharmaceutical advertising for years now. If RFK Jr. does get those ads banned like he wants to, I don't know how these cable networks will actually make money anymore.

[Reweivvt88 46]

It's normal for MSNBC's  ratings to go down for the first few months after an election. MSNBC's ratings always go down when political news dies down or is depressing for Democrats. In this situation it's both. Political news is less interesting because the election is over, nothing is happening. Yes Trump is making some extreme cabinet picks but they aren't going to actually do anything over the next 2 months. So the political news is not just boring and unimportant, it's also depressing for Democrats because Trump won. It's really not surprising Democrats have no interest in watching cable news for the next few months. Ratings also crashed this summer when someone tried to shoot Trump and they switched to a pro-Trump NBC News feed for a day. Ratings even fall when there is big non-political news happening like a hurricane. It was different when Biden won because Trump didn't concede which was an unprecedented major political event.  

 

When Trump takes power and actually starts doing things, ratings will go back up. During the first Trump administration, viewers turned to MSNBC for all the chaos Trump caused. Remember when he separated families and children from their parents at the border? They had almost wall to wall coverage, multiple MSNBC shows including the primetime shows where anchored live on location outside Trump's child prison camps near the border. They spent hours and hours covering all the indictments and criminal trials of Trump campaign officials. They extensively covered his ties to Russia. From almost starting a war with the dictator of Iran to visiting the dictator of North Korea, Trump gave MSNBC endless hours of special coverage. After Biden won, the times when MSNBC had the most viewers was covering the troubles of Republicans & Donald Trump. The January 6th investigations, the 2nd Trump impeachment, the Trump indictments, the Trump trials, etc.. etc.. 

 

I'm sure they are already working on special graphics and theme music for all the things that are going to happen. Democrats might not be tuning in now, but they will be tuning in when MSNBC has wall to wall coverage of mass deportations and all the other chaos that a 2nd Trump term will bring.

 

As for advertising, subscription fees are a huge part of the revenue for cable news networks. 

Edited November 17, 2024 by Reweivvt88

[tyrannical bastard 3948]

Once MSNBC and Fox News go (away from cable & satellite), along with ESPN, you can stick a fork in that industry. 

Fox has Fox Nation, and all MSNBC (and CNBC) have to do is add their linear streams to Peacock.

CNN is already a lost cause, even after adding a feed to Max.

 

And Uncle Perry is going to battle it out until the very end with NewsNation, thinking that delayed streaming on a website is going to be their end-all-be-all to digital delivery.  Maybe in the next wave of deregulation, their stations will be put up for auction to the highest bidder(s).

[Jase 1047]

From Yahoo! News/New York Post...

 

"The cable news channel [ MSNBC ] saw similar declines after the 2016 election, but then went on to have its four most-watched years yet between 2017 and 2020, the insider said."

 

Unless these declines continue long-term (a year or more), then there's no reason to sound the alarms about MSNBC.

 

Back on topic... I could see Comcast shuttering Syfy, Universal Kids and Universo, keeping MSNBC (news), CNBC (business) and USA (sports) and spinning off the rest of the cable network portfolio into a new company with the intent to sell said company.

Edited November 17, 2024 by Jase

[JTT 111]

1 hour ago, Jase said:

From Yahoo! News/New York Post...

 

"The cable news channel [ MSNBC ] saw similar declines after the 2016 election, but then went on to have its four most-watched years yet between 2017 and 2020, the insider said."

 

Unless these declines continue long-term (a year or more), then there's no reason to sound the alarms about MSNBC.

 

Back on topic... I could see Comcast shuttering Syfy, Universal Kids and Universo, keeping MSNBC (news), CNBC (business) and USA (sports) and spinning off the rest of the cable network portfolio into a new company with the intent to sell said company.

I agree in keeping msnbc. Cnbc, & USA network.   If they can't sell the other cable channels, why not fold them into peacock itself creating brand themes in the streaming service with the cable channels names.  The channels already built an identity for themselves,  just  continue with it online instead.  By doing this, they don't have to program the chanels 24/7 with mostly rerun.   Just focus on original programming with old episodes of the programs on the channels available for streamers to watch.

Edited November 17, 2024 by JTT

[Jase 1047]

8 hours ago, JTT said:

I agree in keeping msnbc. Cnbc, & USA network.   If they can't sell the other cable channels, why not fold them into peacock itself creating brand themes in the streaming service with the cable channels names.  The channels already built an identity for themselves,  just  continue with it online instead.  By doing this, they don't have to program the chanels 24/7 with mostly rerun.   Just focus on original programming with old episodes of the programs on the channels available for streamers to watch.

 

I don't think they would have a problem selling the other cable networks (Bravo, E!, Oxygen and True Crime) or at the very least, hanging onto a minority stake in the new company. Folding the channels into Peacock wouldn't be financially beneficial.

[channel2 978]

Syfy really seems like a hidden gem to me, even though its audience was among the first to ditch linear TV. The name change being a perceived middle finger to the audience didn't help!