It's not the most exciting brand name but "MS" helps keep it sounding familiar, and "Now" directly goes after former stablemate-turned-competitor, "NBC News Now," by using the same naming structure.
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MSNBC gets a new name
- Thread starter Mediafrog+
- Start date
It's not the most exciting brand name but "MS" helps keep it sounding familiar, and "Now" directly goes after former stablemate-turned-competitor, "NBC News Now," by using the same naming structure.
MSNOW. I think it stands for MS No One Watches
One would think Versant News would have been considered.
Yeah, I guess they're watching $787M worth of defamation and lies on FOX News and $67M worth or defamation and lies on Newsmax instead, believing the propaganda they're being fed is "news." U.S.A., U.S.A....
Versant has zero name recognition to the average layperson.
What is Versant referencing?
Short for “conversant”.
As opposed to Audacy, Cumulus, and iHeart, compared to CBS, ABC, and ClearChannel, respectively?
That’s a dumb name.
Not to get off topic, but you could do a whole thread on dumb names, Both in and out of the broadcasting business.
That being said, how do you pronounce it? Ver-SANT, with the accent on the last syllable?
iHeartRadio was built up as a brand name for five years before Clear Channel renamed itself after the app.
The new name is pretty bad but it's pretty hard to come up with a new name without stepping on somebody else's trademark or brand.
A few names that popped into my head and why they're not good: PRO (for progressive) sounds like either for business professionals or construction professionals. Blue (Democrat party color) bland and doesn't sound good (Tonight at 10 on Blue). Left (Left leaning) again same as Blue. Can't do anything like Patriot, America, USA News, National News and similar names all sound too right wingy.
I wonder if this could be a two step progress. MSNBC -> MSNow -> Now. Now would actually be a good brand but I can't help but think of "National Organization of Women."
A few names that popped into my head and why they're not good: PRO (for progressive) sounds like either for business professionals or construction professionals. Blue (Democrat party color) bland and doesn't sound good (Tonight at 10 on Blue). Left (Left leaning) again same as Blue. Can't do anything like Patriot, America, USA News, National News and similar names all sound too right wingy.
I wonder if this could be a two step progress. MSNBC -> MSNow -> Now. Now would actually be a good brand but I can't help but think of "National Organization of Women."
Remember when their slogan was "lean forward" for a moment?
Forward suggests progress, and the channel has appeal to progressives. Forward News. *shrugs*
Forward suggests progress, and the channel has appeal to progressives. Forward News. *shrugs*
That would likely run into a conflict with The Forward.
Home
forward.com
Honestly, MSNow isn't bad. But trying to claim that MS now stands for "My Source" is an awkward kludge; it sounds too much like MySpace. I, too, predict they'll eventually drop the MS and just call it Now: News Opinion World.
Viewpoint: MS NOW is a confusing cable news brand (by Kirk Varner)
In his latest column, Kirk Varner questions why brand consultants weren't advised, and notes this isn't the first time an NBC property went through a troublesome brand identity refresh.
thedesk.net
Here is an Op Ed on the transition from MSNBC to MSNOW.
Here's the original link as Kirk Varner's blog deserves proper attentionViewpoint: MS NOW is a confusing cable news brand (by Kirk Varner)
In his latest column, Kirk Varner questions why brand consultants weren't advised, and notes this isn't the first time an NBC property went through a troublesome brand identity refresh.
Here is an Op Ed on the transition from MSNBC to MSNOW.
The Topline - What’s (Not) In A Name?
With apologies to Shakespeare, we had to borrow his line from “Romeo & Juliet.” In this case, it is what the folks at the “spinning-up-quick-co” known as Versant have taken out of the name of their flagship cable channel that matters. Faced with the need to drop the initials of the National...
tvnd.micro.blog
Only a problem if they decided to write it in Yiddish...
In French, "versant" means mountainside, or mountain slope. It can also be used in a figurative sense to mean "side", as in the side taken in an argument.
Thus the name Versant may have landed on the wrong entity, though something like "Versant Gauche" presents its own set of problems....
MSNBC to lose NBC News resources, reporters in October
MSNBC will lose access to most NBC News correspondents and analysts in early October, employees were told this week.
thedesk.net
MSNBC and NBC News Set for Editorial Split Next Month
After nearly 30 years of sharing resources and editorial staff, the soon-to-be-renamed MS NOW will begin operating its own news operation Oct. 6.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
NBC News staff to stop appearing on MSNBC in October due to the Verant Spinoff and as part of the renaming of MSNBC to MS Now.
MSNBC, Sky News Strike Deal to Bring Global Reporting to U.S. Audiences
MSNBC and Sky struck a deal that will have the cable network carry Sky News international coverage
variety.com
MSNBC and Sky News ink multi-year deal to bring award-winning international coverage to U.S. viewers
Distribution Deal to Bring Global Reporting to Network as MSNBC Is Set to Rebrand as MS NOWVeteran Journalist Ian Sherwood Named MSNBC Director of International Newsgathering(NEW YORK AND LONDON - Sept. 24 2025) - MSNBC, one of the nation’s most influential news organizations, has signed a...
www.skygroup.sky
In response to NBC News leaving MSNBC/MSNow due to the Versant spinoff, The Soon to be MS Now has an agreement to use Sky News as part of its news gathering services for Versant Media.