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MSNBC gets a new name

Not my favorite source, but some noteworthy details here:

cordcuttersnews.com

MSNBC, CNBC, & More Now Have $2 Billion in Debt As Comcast Gets Ready to Get Rid of Its Cable Networks | Cord Cutters News

Comcast Corporation’s long-anticipated spin-off of its cable television assets is barreling toward completion, saddled with a staggering $2 billion in fresh debt that could reshape the fortunes of iconic networks like MSNBC, CNBC, and others. According to a report from Bloomberg, the newly...
cordcuttersnews.com cordcuttersnews.com
 
TheBigA said:
That means subscription fees, and right now that doesn't seem to work for news. People want news for free.
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I would argue that the MSNBC (MS Now) audience is passionate enough about the channel that Versant could attract a similar number of streaming subscribers as Fox Nation on the other side of the political spectrum, especially if it bundles its other "cable" channels like CNBC into such an offering.

variety.com

Fox CEO Puts Fox Nation Subscriber Totals at 2 Million to 2.5 Million

Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch estimated the Fox Nation streaming service has signed 2 million to 2.5 million subscribers since its 2018 launch
variety.com variety.com
 
Theater of My Mind said:
If they stay cable-only hoping to chase those fees, they're sunk. They need to be streaming, like, yesterday.
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It's a double-edged sword. The contracts they have with cable providers—including their soon-to-be former corporate parent—handcuffs them from converting MSNOW into a FAST. But if they break those contracts, a lot of existing revenue goes away completely.

The debt is icing on the cake. Effectively Versant is a company built to fail.
 
epmarkr said:
CNBC fit so well as the acronym for the (soon forgotten) Consumer News and Business Channel.
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I always thought the first C was for Cable, but sonofagun, you're right. Did CNBC actually use that multisyllabic mouthful on-air in its early days? I can't recall it ever being said on the few occasions I've watched the channel.
 
Announced today that Ali Velshi will take on the role previously handled by Steve Kornaki at MSNBC. Kornaki chose to stay with NBC News.
 
thedesk.net

Comcast's Sky News to use AI platform developed by Washington Post

Sky News partnered with the Washington Post's Arc XP to power its five-year digital transformation initiative, Sky News 2030.
thedesk.net thedesk.net

Here is more as Sky News gears up for its content agreement with the soon to be MS Now by Versant. Now this content agreement also includes using the AI System by Washington Post.

Comcast’s Sky News has announced a new partnership with the Washington Post that will see the global television news channel use an artificial intelligence-driven content platform developed by the digital media company.

Specifically, the partnership will see Sky News integrate the Washington Post’s Arc XP into its newsroom workflows and editorial output, including its apps and website.

The arrangement is part of a broader strategy at the channel called Sky News 2030, a five-year program that is intended to redevelop the channel into an omniplatform global news powerhouse using new forms of technology, including artificial intelligence. Under the Sky News 2030 banner, the company aims to create a faster, smarter and more flexible platform that adapts to how audiences now discover and consume news.
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thedesk.net

AccuWeather to provide forecasting, reporting for MS NOW, CNBC

The partnership comes as MS NOW and CNBC are in the process of being spun out of Comcast.
thedesk.net thedesk.net


Versant has a deal with Accuweather for MS Now and CNBC. This is a part of the spinoff plans as Versant separates from NBC.

The new deal makes AccuWeather the Preferred Weather Source for VERSANT, reinforcing AccuWeather as having the most accurate weather forecasts and warnings. MS NOW will now be able to tap into AccuWeather's expert meteorologists during breaking news weather events.

This comes as MSNBC, soon-to-be MS NOW, continues to build a new, modern, and independent news operation under VERSANT, as it separates from NBC's news operation.

"At such a groundbreaking moment for soon-to-be MS NOW, we are proud to continue to expand our reporting capabilities and offerings alongside AccuWeather. Our network's mission – embodied through our new name MS NOW, My Source for News, Opinion, and the World – is to bring our viewers the most-trusted news that they care about.
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i wonder if Nexstar already has Versant primed to be it's next big acquisition after it either completes or withdraws it's planned merger with TEGNA, cause i could see Nexstar buying this out and merging USA Sports into The CW Sports and get the NASCAR Cup Series and WWE SmackDown rights since they already own TV rights deals with NASCAR for the Xfinity Series and WWE for NXT. and if Nexstar buys Versant out, i wouldn't be surprised if the NBC NASCAR races move to the CW.
 
It will be interesting to see the new CNBC logo too when it’s released given that they have to comply the same trademark requirements as MS Now had to do like remove Peacock because Comcast owns those trademarks. Also how long does Versant keep the CNBC name until they are required to change it to Versant Business is going to be another one. Yes when they started it was Consumer News and Business Channel but the NBC part in CNBC is a Comcast owned trademark.
 
TheBigA said:
Announced today that Ali Velshi will take on the role previously handled by Steve Kornaki at MSNBC. Kornaki chose to stay with NBC News.
Click to expand...
Bad decision hed get way more airtime on msnow. Im wondering if this is the same with Willie Geist. He does the today show on nbc and also morening joe which is a msnow show so is he done with morning joe?
 
It's interesting (and surprising) that MS NOW has retained the vast majority of the staff from MSNBC. That rarely happens when networks change their name.

At least they were smart to retain Ana Cabrera and Alicia Menendez. In my opinion, they're the star anchors on MS NOW. Love 'em both... madly! 😍😘
 


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