Share and Follow
MSNBC is about to get a major makeover, and viewers will notice the changes on screen soon.
The political cable network will drop its iconic Peacock logo and rebrand under a new name later this year.
Joe Scarborough confirmed the news live on Morning Joe, announcing that MSNBC will become MS Now once the network completes its split from NBCUniversal.
CNBC also reported that the network will be called My Source News Opinion World, or MS Now.
The announcement comes from Versant CEO Mark Lazarus in an internal memo to employees, seen by CNBC.
This marks a reversal from January, when Lazarus told staff the MSNBC name would stay the same.
The change is part of NBCUniversal’s plan to separate MSNBC from its parent news organization.
MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler assured staff that the network’s focus will remain unchanged despite the rebrand.
“While our name will be changing, who we are and what we do will not. Our commitment to our work and our audiences will not waiver from what the brand promise has been for three decades,” Kutler wrote.
The network has been ramping up hiring for its first independent newsroom.
About 100 new positions are being added, with 40 journalists already hired from CNN, Bloomberg, and Politico.
MSNBC is also establishing its first Washington, DC, bureau.
The aim is to create a modern newsgathering operation separate from NBC News.
Kutler noted that some coverage will overlap with NBC News, especially in politics, but the network will operate independently.
Executives decided CNBC does not need a name change despite also being part of NBCUniversal.
Technically, CNBC never stood for National Broadcasting Co., but for Consumer News and Business Channel.
MSNBC hosts
Meet the hosts who appear on MSNBC: