When did MSNBC change its name
Executive summary
MSNBC officially changed its name to MS NOW on November 15, 2025, a rebrand timed to coincide with the cable network’s spinoff into a new parent company, Versant [1] [2] [3]. Executives framed the move as a cosmetic shift — “Same mission. New name.” — accompanied by a national marketing push and assurances that programming and channel placement would remain largely the same [4] [3].
1. The date and the declaration
The network’s president Rebecca Kutler announced that “on the morning of Nov. 15” the switch from MSNBC to MS NOW would be made official, a date confirmed across trade outlets including TheWrap, Variety and Deadline [2] [4] [3]. People magazine likewise reported Kutler’s memo setting Saturday, November 15, 2025, as the effective date for the new moniker and internal rollout [1].
2. Why the name change happened
The rebrand was driven by corporate restructuring tied to Comcast’s decision to spin off several cable assets into a new publicly traded company called Versant; executives and industry reporting said the change follows that split and the end of the network’s formal ties to NBCUniversal [4] [2] [3]. Reporting also notes that NBCUniversal preferred the spun‑out cable network not carry “NBC” markings as it would now be a separate competitive entity [5] [6].
3. What “MS NOW” stands for and how it was sold to viewers
MS NOW was presented as shorthand for “My Source for News, Opinion and the World,” with on‑air promos led by marquee personalities reassuring audiences that formats and airtimes would not change; the campaign adopted the slogan “Same mission. New name” to stress continuity [1] [4] [3]. Trade and local reporting described a coordinated marketing rollout and on‑air teases ahead of the November date [4] [3] [7].
4. Operational and visual changes tied to the relaunch
Coverage reported that the legal and operational separation included moves out of NBC News’ Rockefeller Center facilities and the adoption of new studio spaces and graphics as part of the rebrand, details summarized in contemporaneous entries such as Wikipedia’s MS NOW page and industry dispatches [8] [2]. Multiple outlets stressed that morning and primetime programming would remain largely intact despite the visual and corporate changes [8] [3].
5. Public reaction and alternate takes
Reaction ranged from pragmatic industry analysis to jokes on social media — for example, early commentary quipped that “MS NOW” could be confused with multiple sclerosis charities — and columnists framed the shift alternately as inevitable housekeeping and a risky play for brand continuity [9] [4]. Some reporting highlighted internal resistance and reports that the network initially sought to keep the MSNBC name before NBCUniversal objected, offering an alternative framing that the change was less voluntary than presented [6] [5].
6. Limits of the available reporting
All factual claims here are drawn from the cited contemporaneous coverage and the network’s own staff memo as reported in the trades; primary documents such as the full Kutler memo or internal Versant filings were summarized by outlets but are not reproduced in the materials provided, so finer details about contractual licensing of the “NBC” mark or internal personnel decisions are beyond the scope of these sources [1] [2] [4].