Duck and cover time.
In news to me this morning, MSNBC is ‘rebranding.’
As the network known for its lineup of radical shrieking eels with no viewers prepares to bid adieu to its peacock parent forever, leaving that feathered…well, okay. The network’s being unceremoniously shoved out of that once-feathered and endlessly plush NBCUniversal nest into the cruel, ugly world of having to survive on its own in the Comcast to Versant spin-off world.
Such a cleaving of mammoth, formerly related media products requires sincere restructuring of both the products themselves and their public face – logos, etc, that were once intimately tied to their former parent company, which now wants nothing more to do with them.
It’s a delicate balancing act, for sure. How to take a known entity, repackage it as something different, but familiar enough to woo the few ardent viewers to come along to the new home.
Agencies make big money on this very thing even when they fail miserably.
Sometimes it’s a complete rejection of a new version of an old product – NEW Coke springs to mind.
In others, rebranding something that’s essentially staying the same, just losing an iconic connection, like the ‘NBC’ affiliation and the network’s peacock is a good deal tricksier.
Versant is rebranding MSNBC and changing the logos of other networks in its portfolio as it looks to distinguish itself from NBCUniversal ahead of its separation from Comcast by the end of this year.
“The peacock is synonymous with NBCUniversal, and it is a symbol they have decided to keep within the NBCU family,” Versant CEO Mark Lazarus said in a Monday memo to staff outlining the changes. “This gives us the opportunity to chart our own path forward, create distinct brand identities and establish an independent news organization following the spin.”
Literally fraught with…
Since, as the Versant CEO said, NBC isn’t letting go of the bird, it is forcing the spin-off MSNBC to ‘chart their own course.’
MSNBC is rebranding as MS NOW. Good lord. MSNBC’s brand is so toxic that they won’t even let them use the NBC brand any more.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) August 18, 2025
While his memo this morning was upbeat, the release at the same time of what the advertising gurus and consultants had whipped up hit like Steve Irwin falling out of that tree.
With a decided thud.
MSNBC will be renaming itself to this. And this isn’t a joke. pic.twitter.com/3TRxvrIXlA
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) August 18, 2025
Yes, it’s ‘for reals‘ as a little Ebola used to say.
Once people got over the shock…oh, dear.
Left-wing cable network MSNBC is getting a new name, MS NOW, and a new logo that drops the peacock symbolism. The rebranding announcement left some scratching their heads while it triggered snarky sniping from others.
“Later this year, MSNBC will take on a new name: My Source News Opinion World (MS NOW),” the cable net said in “A message to our community” posted Monday. “This name further underscores our mission: to serve as your destination for breaking news and thoughtful analysis and remain the home for the perspectives that you’ve relied on for nearly 30 years.” MSNBC is being forced to change its name because it’s splitting off from NBCUniversal into the newly formed company called Versant, and NBCU has decided that it doesn’t want MSNBC to retain the “NBC” name or peacock branding.
Truly baffling decision here that cost someone a whale of a check.
…After news of the rebranding broke Monday, some people were confused because the new name retains the “MS” of MSNBC — originally a reference to Microsoft, which hasn’t been involved with it in more than 13 years. MSNBC originally debuted in 1996 as a joint venture of NBC and Microsoft; the software giant divested its interest in the MSNBC TV network in 2005 and sold its 50% stake in the digital news operation to NBC in 2012. “MS NOW sounds like a short-lived Windows operating system from the early 2000s that needlessly redesigned too much and failed to be adopted by a critical mass of users,” Semafor’s Josh Billinson commented.
Self-described “political junkie” Russell Drew took issue with the MS Now logo, which he said “looks like it belongs on a discount computer from 1998, not a serious news network. Absurd.”
Honestly, I think it’s completely reflective of their out-of-touch, lacklustre network filled with hysterical, terminal TDS-suffering, race-baiting fabulists. Still, it’s a lot of fun watching them blow even more money as they slip into that good night.
Here was Joe Scarborough announcing on ‘Morning Joe’ that MSNBC will be changing its name to MS NOW once the network completes its split from NBCUniversal.
Watch these clowns try and spin this as fan-freak-tastic. pic.twitter.com/1rKWa3Rr7z
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) August 18, 2025
You can see in ScrewYourBorough’s face that he is sweating life. Probably wondering if he has what it takes to text Mika to tell her not to spend another *¢!•ing dime because they’re sure to be jobless by November (Well, he knows he doesn’t – she keeps them in her purse). Acosta already snatched up all the leftover suckers for his Substack subscriptions, so income stream options are limited.
The logo is an absolute hilarity. What even is that?
I just want to meet the absolute bandit who got MSNBC execs to fork over tons of $$$ for this logo and a name that reminds you of multiple sclerosis. I bet he hates them and can’t believe they used it. pic.twitter.com/WACo5A8fdW
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) August 18, 2025
Opinions vary, but all are uniformly brutally critical. It looks like a third grader’s first shot at MS Paint, and why, when AI could have whipped up a Van Gogh of a logo in three seconds flat to use as a starting point if they didn’t have a decent idea between them.
Because this doesn’t come close to decent.
The ‘MS’ part is also having unintended consequences that aren’t particularly felicitous for the network, but maybe great for fundraising for someone else.
The MSNBC rebrand got multiple sclerosis trending. In case you’re wondering how it’s going.
— Varad Mehta (@varadmehta) August 18, 2025
Some of the folks on X are already posting MSNBC in memoriams.
Remembering MSNBC.pic.twitter.com/JDF4fZmUlj
— MAZE (@mazemoore) August 18, 2025
And some folks who have had a rough go of it thanks to MSNBC’s collusive efforts with the forces of darkness are breathing huge victory sighs.
I love that 538 kicked us out and is now dead.
And MSNBC is the only news net that tried to say we were colluding with the Trump campaign… also now dead.
And most of the WaPo writers who slandered us – buyouts.
— Mark Mitchell, Rasmussen Reports (@honestpollster) August 18, 2025
Under normal circumstances, I’d say this entire sorry episode was pretty sad.
Considering who we’re talking about, I’m leaning forward so I don’t miss a single minute that’s left of the slow-motion trainwreck.
At HotAir, our terrific VIP members are so important with their support of our daily mission to bring you the best in conservative commentary, on all things political and just dang interesting. Ed, David, John, and I pride ourselves on the work we do every day to bring you breaking stories not only here at home, but from all over the world.
But we can’t fight the good fight without your help.
We would love to invite you join our tremendous VIP community. You can use the code FIGHT right now to join during the 60% off special – it’s a terrific opportunity to look into the VIP Gold and Platinum memberships.
And again, thank you ever so much for being here with us at HotAir!
