Comcast Considering Spinning Off Cable Networks

[AKA 70]

8 minutes ago, SDHIll1980 said:

 

That's cute /sarcasm

 

Nice little snide-ass comment you made 

Are you okay, boss? This is just a message board. Take a deep breath; you’re gonna be okay. 

[Hometown News 127]

2 hours ago, T.L. Hughes said:

This doesn’t work either. The international feed of Sky News UK is already available to livestream here in the States on Peacock, the NBC News website, YouTube and selected AVOD streaming platforms (like Pluto and Samsung TV Plus), plus Sky Group isn’t one of the properties Comcast is spinning off to Versant.

 

I don't think either of these are insurmountable obstacles. Theoretically, they could either refer to the FAST channel as Sky News UK or rename MSNBC to Sky News America. They could also license the Sky brand to the network after Versant is spun off like they've already been doing with Sky News Australia, which is still owned by News Corp.

Edited August 19, 2025 by Hometown News

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

By the time the USA Network was scoring hits of its own, it was already under the control of NBCUniversal and benefited from some of their castoffs.

Frankly, nothing has really led me to watch them for any reason in recent years/decades. 

The only thing was back in the 90s when they ran all of those old game shows in the afternoons 

Edited August 19, 2025 by tyrannical bastard

[Rusty Muck 4688]

3 hours ago, SDHIll1980 said:

 

Figures you would say something stupid...so tell me, genius, what's a better name than "USA News" or "MS Now"?

You tell me since apparently with that hostile attitude you must know all and see all.

3 hours ago, SDHIll1980 said:

And yes, USA Network is the flagship brand of Versant.

Versant is screwed if a nondescript rerun farm is allegedly their "flagship brand".

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

When even a network like Ion is making more of a name for itself by landing a lot of women's sports.  It's basically been a rerun farm for most of it's existence after the Paxson era.

[Weeters 2173]

2 hours ago, nathannah said:

I'm more interested in how CNBC rebrands, considering they burned money on a complete rebrand just last year and now will lose a lot of NBC News's and the O&O's gruntwork for a lot of New York, Los Angeles, and the Valley's companies and have to strike out on their own. I assume a lot of stuff is out of KNTV for instance and they may have to move their bureau there and in SFO.

For what it's worth, CNBC's San Francisco bureau is in its own space.

[SDHIll1980 150]

1 hour ago, Rusty Muck said:

You tell me since apparently with that hostile attitude you must know all and see all.

Versant is screwed if a nondescript rerun farm is allegedly their "flagship brand".

Good lord, you're a condescending know-it-all.

 

I honestly wouldn't give a rat's ass what they call MSNBC once Versant is officially its own company...it can be the Furry Network for all I care.  I just merely offered an idea, and that's it.  Save your hostile attitude for someone else.

 

 

[Rusty Muck 4688]

16 minutes ago, SDHIll1980 said:

Good lord, you're a condescending know-it-all.

 

I honestly wouldn't give a rat's ass what they call MSNBC once Versant is officially its own company...it can be the Furry Network for all I care.  I just merely offered an idea, and that's it.  Save your hostile attitude for someone else.

Bold of you to say that when you've managed to yeet yourself from multiple platforms over the past four years with inflammatory language and threats against others, Shawn.

[MediaZone4K 2661]

12 hours ago, Hometown News said:

 

It's weird that they're still keeping "MS" in the name even though Microsoft sold its share of the network 20 years ago. I know they're trying to make it a backronym for "My Source," but it's just very clunky.

 

I'm not sure why they weren't willing to make an 100% clean break from the MSNBC brand. They've always been the third-place also-ran in cable news, there's nothing there worth clinging on to.

 

The logo is also bad. It looks like the logo of a third-rate presidential candidate who gets 3% of the vote in the Iowa caucus and drops out before New Hampshire.

3rd? Don't they outperform CNN?

 

They kept the MS in MSNBC after Microsoft left due to brand recognition. MSNBC was so ingrained in the media lexicon that it would've been like Twitter rebranding to X. 

 

In that same vein I understand Versant keeping "MSN" is their name. They want the public to immediately recognize MSNOW as the successor of MSNBC. I was initially skeptical of the name, but I can tolerate it.

 

Agreed, the logo is . Versant probably paid consultants and this is the best they could've done!

 

I'm all for NBC distancing itself from that toxic partisan cable network, but if CNBC is keeping it's name, MSNBC might as well. We're already supposed to ignore that MS originally means Microsoft so they can keep that up for the NBC part. CNBC is already covered with Consumer News & Business Channel.

 

I'm surprised the star of their network coverage didn't suggest "MSDNC" as a rebrand.

Edited August 19, 2025 by MediaZone4K

[SDHIll1980 150]

16 minutes ago, Rusty Muck said:

Bold of you to say that when you've managed to yeet yourself from multiple platforms over the past four years with inflammatory language and threats against others, Shawn.

 

LMAO 

 

I'm not going to take the bait...you'll would love for me to flip-out on you again.  You're only talking high-and-mighty because you have your moderator buddies here to protect you. Trust me, I was a member on this board for a number of years before I rejoined more recently, and way before you came along.

 

This is my last response to you...you can put me on ignore or whatever, but keep my name out of your mouth.

 

Just watch yourself, Rusty...Myron...Nathan, or whatever your name is.

[24994J 5888]

1 hour ago, Rusty Muck said:

Bold of you to say that when you've managed to yeet yourself from multiple platforms over the past four years with inflammatory language and threats against others, Shawn.

 

1 hour ago, SDHIll1980 said:

I'm not going to take the bait...you'll would love for me to flip-out on you again.  You're only talking high-and-mighty because you have your moderator buddies here to protect you. Trust me, I was a member on this board for a number of years before I rejoined more recently, and way before you came along.

 

As a moderator "buddy," I'll tell BOTH of you to cool it. You gave your POVs, I'll trust you both to leave it at that. Feel free to continue contributing to the larger discussion, but no need to address each other, beyond this.

[Reweivvt88 173]

4 hours ago, MediaZone4K said:

3rd? Don't they outperform CNN?

 

They kept the MS in MSNBC after Microsoft left due to brand recognition. MSNBC was so ingrained in the media lexicon that it would've been like Twitter rebranding to X. 

 

In that same vein I understand Versant keeping "MSN" is their name. They want the public to immediately recognize MSNOW as the successor of MSNBC. I was initially skeptical of the name, but I can tolerate it.

 

Agreed, the logo is . Versant probably paid consultants and this is the best they could've done!

 

I'm all for NBC distancing itself from that toxic partisan cable network, but if CNBC is keeping it's name, MSNBC might as well. We're already supposed to ignore that MS originally means Microsoft so they can keep that up for the NBC part. CNBC is already covered with Consumer News & Business Channel.

 

I'm surprised the star of their network coverage didn't suggest "MSDNC" as a rebrand.

 

I think the final logo will change, it's currently used by the network in some of their graphics and it looks like they threw it together at the last minute.

 

As a loyal MSNBC viewer, I'm thrilled that MSNBC is distancing itself from the toxic disgrace known as NBC News, and I know many others who feel the same way. Yes MSNBC is partisan,  but there are a lot of people out there who want and need a partisan network right now. We can't trust any mainstream TV news to cover Trump fairly because their owners are worried Trump is going to come after their theme parks or internet business or whatever. By removing all associations with NBC News, this new network can highlight the fact that they are independent and the only television news outlet not scared of death of upsetting the president. NBC News is actually hurting MSNBC's credibility with its audience right now. 

[ColtFromGulfcoast 869]

12 hours ago, tyrannical bastard said:

By the time the USA Network was scoring hits of its own, it was already under the control of NBCUniversal and benefited from some of their castoffs.

Frankly, nothing has really led me to watch them for any reason in recent years/decades. 

The only thing was back in the 90s when they ran all of those old game shows in the afternoons 

I remember when USA was basically a superstation competitor or may as well have been. 

[mre29 1967]

14 hours ago, ColtFromGulfcoast said:

I remember when USA was basically a superstation competitor or may as well have been. 

 

I remember when TBS was a superstation.

 

[ColtFromGulfcoast 869]

27 minutes ago, mre29 said:

 

I remember when TBS was a superstation.

 

I miss it. 

[mre29 1967]

8 minutes ago, ColtFromGulfcoast said:

I miss it. 

 

I miss Superstation WGN. We had that one for about a year after we moved to NH from the Chicago area, only for it to be replaced with VH-1.

 

[J.W. Rodriguez 28]

56 minutes ago, mre29 said:

 

I remember when TBS was a superstation.

 

 

17 minutes ago, mre29 said:

 

I miss Superstation WGN. We had that one for about a year after we moved to NH from the Chicago area, only for it to be replaced with VH-1.

 

I actually miss both. I even miss the days when TBS had Braves games as well as WCW Wrestling. As for WGN, fans of Chicago teams out of market could get some Cubs, White Sox, and Bulls games without having to pay out the ass for a league subscription package to follow them, while the same could not be said for Braves games on TBS. It's sad that those days are long gone.

[jjj 26]

On 8/19/2025 at 2:22 AM, Reweivvt88 said:

As a loyal MSNBC viewer, I'm thrilled that MSNBC is distancing itself from the toxic disgrace known as NBC News, and I know many others who feel the same way.

 

What's the issue with NBC News?

[Reweivvt88 173]

On 9/4/2025 at 10:52 PM, jjj said:

 

What's the issue with NBC News?

Just to be clear, i'm not trying to debate whether or not Trump and the Republican party is good or bad, but my point is, people who think Trump is bad, aka the core MSNBC audience, think the way NBC News, ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Nexstar, Sinclair, etc.. are covering Trump and the Republican party is a disgrace. We feel their coverage is biased towards him, they are normalizing evil and fascist behavior.  We feel they are terrified of upsetting him because they are worried he is going to come after their other assets. The fact that Trump is constantly doing interviews with NBC News speaks for itself. If you are a "journalist" and Trump keeps agreeing to do sit down interviews with you, you are a disgrace to journalism. We know MSNBC is biased, but they are biased for good instead of evil and we would much rather have that than a "news" outlet trying to make it seem like both sides are equal when we believe one side has slid into an evil far right fascist dictatorship. The way Trump is covered by MSNBC is unrivaled on U.S. television news. If Comcast wants to do what they feel they need to do for their business that's their choice, but that means any association with NBC News is going to be harmful to a left wing news channel covering Trump in a critical way. NBC News has never really been any help to MSNBC from a ratings standpoint, it's always the left wing opinion programming that brings in the largest audiences, but it has reached the point where the NBC News brand has become so toxic it's a turn off to MSNBC's core audience. As bad as the "MS NOW" name and logo is, being independent from the conglomerate that is terrified of upsetting Trump will help the channel more than the "resources" and "brand" of NBC News ever did. 

[MediaZone4K 2661]

1 hour ago, Reweivvt88 said:

Just to be clear, i'm not trying to debate whether or not Trump and the Republican party is good or bad, but my point is, people who think Trump is bad, aka the core MSNBC audience, think the way NBC News, ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Nexstar, Sinclair, etc.. are covering Trump and the Republican party is a disgrace. We feel their coverage is biased towards him, they are normalizing evil and fascist behavior.  We feel they are terrified of upsetting him because they are worried he is going to come after their other assets. The fact that Trump is constantly doing interviews with NBC News speaks for itself. If you are a "journalist" and Trump keeps agreeing to do sit down interviews with you, you are a disgrace to journalism. We know MSNBC is biased, but they are biased for good instead of evil and we would much rather have that than a "news" outlet trying to make it seem like both sides are equal when we believe one side has slid into an evil far right fascist dictatorship. The way Trump is covered by MSNBC is unrivaled on U.S. television news. If Comcast wants to do what they feel they need to do for their business that's their choice, but that means any association with NBC News is going to be harmful to a left wing news channel covering Trump in a critical way. NBC News has never really been any help to MSNBC from a ratings standpoint, it's always the left wing opinion programming that brings in the largest audiences, but it has reached the point where the NBC News brand has become so toxic it's a turn off to MSNBC's core audience. As bad as the "MS NOW" name and logo is, being independent from the conglomerate that is terrified of upsetting Trump will help the channel more than the "resources" and "brand" of NBC News ever did. 

Yes, the networks need to be more fearless and stop worrying about Trump messing with their assets. The assertion however that networks, Fox & Sinclair aside, are biased in favor of Trump is not true. 

 

The majority of network news coverage of Trump is (rightfully) negative. There's not a day you don't turn on an evening newscast with red breaking news graphics, ominous theme music, a picture of Trump frowning, and some sort of protest going on.

 

Even if NBC News doesn't go as blowhard as MSNBC you don't walk away with a positive impression of Trump after watching any NBC newscast.

 

I don't think any mainstream news network is trying to paint both sides as equal. Those accusations came up when networks rightfully questioned the previous president's mental agility for office, and held democrats to account for pretending he was okay.

 

Yes one side may be lesser of two evils but EVERY side is subject to media scrutiny.

Edited September 8, 2025 by MediaZone4K

[Reweivvt88 173]

On 9/7/2025 at 9:36 PM, MediaZone4K said:

Yes, the networks need to be more fearless and stop worrying about Trump messing with their assets. The assertion however that networks, Fox & Sinclair aside, are biased in favor of Trump is not true. 

 

The majority of network news coverage of Trump is (rightfully) negative. There's not a day you don't turn on an evening newscast with red breaking news graphics, ominous theme music, a picture of Trump frowning, and some sort of protest going on.

 

Even if NBC News doesn't go as blowhard as MSNBC you don't walk away with a positive impression of Trump after watching any NBC newscast.

 

I don't think any mainstream news network is trying to paint both sides as equal. Those accusations came up when networks rightfully questioned the previous president's mental agility for office, and held democrats to account for pretending he was okay.

 

Yes one side may be lesser of two evils but EVERY side is subject to media scrutiny.

My point is, if you think trump is an evil fascist dictator and you turn on NBC News and see Kristin Welker doing another one of her softball interviews with the evil fascist dictator, what does that say about the credibility of NBC News to anti trump viewers? He refuses to do interviews with anyone from MSNBC because he knows the type of questions he would get from MSNBC are different than that he would get from NBC News. The fact that trump sees NBC News as a desirable platform to do interviews speaks for itself in my opinion, he's rage tweeting against MSNBC hosts and trying to get Comcast to fire them, yet he's NOT doing that to anyone from NBC News, he's texting and sitting for interviews with NBC News. They may not be at FOX News level in terms of trying to ridiculously spin everything he is doing into a positive, but they are not even remotely hostile to him, his administration, or ICE the way MSNBC is. People are not watching MSNBC to see the type of news programming NBC puts out and with the way things have gone the association with NBC News is hurting the network with its core audience a lot more than it's helping. If you talk to people who are regular viewers of MSNBC, one of the biggest complaints about the network is it is not hostile enough towards trump and the republican party, but everyone agrees it's at least better than the total garbage every other American news source is putting out. 

 

 

[Action Newsroom 1376]

USA SPORTS is coming.

https://deadline.com/2025/11/versant-usa-sports-brand-golf-channel-nbcuniversal-1236615024/

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

I noticed that all of the soon-to-be Versant channels are now gone from NBC's OTT app. (I checked mine on Roku and Google/Android TV).

Hopefully Versant re-launches OTT versions of what used to be available, primarily MSNB...er...MS NOW....

[nathannah 2792]

3 hours ago, tyrannical bastard said:

I noticed that all of the soon-to-be Versant channels are now gone from NBC's OTT app. (I checked mine on Roku and Google/Android TV).

Hopefully Versant re-launches OTT versions of what used to be available, primarily MSNB...er...MS NOW....

I just tried the USA and Oxygen apps on Apple TV (now developed by Versant) thinking they would get redesigned, and it gave a 'this app is no longer available' message. I hope they have something planned.

[MD TV 389]

As Versant is just about ready to go, the revived NBCSN starts Monday (gift link):

 

https://www.wsj.com/business/media/nbcu-new-sports-channel-76ece6e7?st=BEJeQf&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink