The long-standing partnership between MSNBC and NBC News is officially coming to an end. After nearly three decades of sharing editorial staff and resources, the two news giants will complete their operational split next month. The move will see MSNBC rebranded with a new name—MS NOW—as it establishes a fully independent newsgathering operation.
This monumental shift marks the end of an era in cable news and is a key step in a larger corporate restructuring by parent company NBCUniversal. Here are the key details of the separation.
The Timeline for the Big Split
The separation will occur in two main phases in October, creating a clear operational divide between the two networks.
By the end of October, the editorial separation will be effectively complete, with MS NOW operating as a fully independent news entity.
A New Name and a New Look: Introducing ‘MS NOW’
As part of the split, MSNBC will undergo a significant rebranding. The channel will be renamed MS NOW, which stands for “My Source for News, Opinion and the World.”
In a major visual change, the network will no longer feature NBC’s iconic peacock logo in its branding. Sister channel CNBC will also lose the peacock but is expected to keep its name. The exact timing of the MS NOW name change is still to be determined.
Staffing Up for Independence
In preparation for the split, MSNBC has been on a hiring spree, building out its own roster of dedicated talent. High-profile hires include former NBC News correspondents like Vaughn Hillyard, as well as Laura Barrón-López, David Noriega, and Jacob Soboroff.
Meanwhile, NBC News will retain most of the talent that previously worked across both platforms, most notably political data guru Steve Kornacki.
The Bigger Picture: The Versant Spinoff
This editorial separation is a precursor to a larger corporate move. The changes are being made in preparation for the long-planned spinoff of a new company called Versant from NBCUniversal. This new entity will include the assets of the rebranded MS NOW and CNBC. The corporate spinoff is currently expected to be finalized in January 2026.
