MSNBC President Reveals Date for Network’s Official Name Change to MS NOW

MSNBC is about to undergo its major rebrand after months of teasing a change.

The news network announced in August that it would be switching its name to MS NOW — which stands for My Source for News, Opinion and the World — once it officially splits from NBCUniversal. On Monday, Oct. 27, network president Rebecca Kutler revealed that the new moniker is now scheduled to go into effect on Saturday, Nov. 15.

“This moment comes after months of meticulous planning and thoughtful collaboration across every corner of our organization,” Kutler, 46, wrote in a memo to MSNBC staffers. “We are facing it head-on, and our success in the months and years ahead will depend on our innovation and entrepreneurial approach.”

The network is now beginning its “first phase in introducing the new brand to its loyal audience,” according to a press release, by having some of its most popular journalists tease the upcoming change in on-air spots, reassuring that MS NOW will have the “same mission” as MSNBC.

MS NOW will air across all major cable providers, select streaming platforms, and online. Those viewing MS NOW’s programs on their television can find them at their regular channel numbers, or by using their provider’s channel finder or guide. Air times for MS NOW shows will not change, per the release.

The network announced that the new name reflects the brand’s shift from NBCUniversal to its new parent company, Versant.

Versant CEO Mark Lazarus said at the time that the change “underscores the brand’s mission to serve as the destination for domestic and international breaking news and the best-in-class opinion journalism.” Following Lazarus’s announcement, Kutler added that the shift is to “untether ourselves from NBC News and embrace our independence under Versant.”

Amid the transition, MS NOW has hired more than three dozen respected journalists from other outlets — including CNN, Bloomberg, Politico and The Washington Post. The brand has also established its own independent Washington Bureau, and signed a multi-year deal with Sky News to bring international reporting to MS NOW viewers, per the Oct. 27 release.

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With the name change also comes a logo shift: MS NOW will not bear the “peacock” rainbow logo associated with NBC News. MS NOW’s new logo features a waving banner with two red strips, in line with the brand’s name in bold letters.

“If there was ever a time for us to change our name, this is it — because we’re not just separating from NBC News in corporate terms, we’re competing with them now,” Rachel Maddow told Variety in August. “So I think the distinction is going to be good for us.”