MSNBC officially began cutting ties with NBC News on Monday, marking a major step in its long-anticipated separation from the network it once depended on.
For decades, MSNBC leaned on NBC’s newsroom, correspondents, and crews for content and coverage. But after Comcast’s decision last year to spin off its cable networks into a new company—now called Versant—the relationship is ending. Versant will include MSNBC, CNBC, USA Network, Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and the Golf Channel, while NBCUniversal will retain NBC News, Telemundo, Bravo, and other assets.
Starting this week, NBC staffers who took new positions at MSNBC have officially transitioned to their new roles, no longer reporting for NBC News platforms. The network also began following its own editorial standards, independent from NBC’s guidelines.
Operationally, MSNBC will continue sharing resources with NBC in Washington, D.C. until October 20. After that date, the two will fully part ways, ending MSNBC’s participation in NBC-led editorial calls and marking the first time in its 30-year history that MSNBC operates completely on its own.
The network also plans to rebrand. It will eventually adopt the new name “My Source News Opinion World,” or MS NOW, in an effort to further distance itself from the NBC identity. A launch date for the rebrand hasn’t been announced.
In preparation for the split, MSNBC has been on a hiring spree, posting dozens of new job openings to fill roles that were previously shared with NBC.
The separation comes at a challenging time. MSNBC just closed out a tough third quarter, losing 45% of its total day audience and 59% of viewers in the advertiser-coveted demographic compared to last year—the worst showing in the key demo since 1997.
Still, the network’s current lineup will remain intact through the transition. Rachel Maddow, Jen Psaki, Chris Hayes, Nicolle Wallace, Ari Melber, Lawrence O’Donnell, Stephanie Ruhle, Joe Scarborough, and Mika Brzezinski will all stay on board.
NBC, however, is holding onto several key figures. Election data expert Steve Kornacki will remain with the Peacock network, as will veteran journalist Andrea Mitchell, who now serves solely as NBC’s chief Washington and foreign affairs correspondent.
Other NBC personalities—like José Díaz-Balart—have already shifted focus, continuing their roles with NBC and Telemundo. Meanwhile, justice reporters Ken Dilanian and Ryan Reilly, national correspondent Jacob Soboroff, White House correspondent Vaughn Hillyard, and internet reporter Brandy Zadrozny are among those joining MS NOW.
Former “NBC Nightly News” executive producer Meghan Rafferty will also join the new team, taking on the role of vice president of News Standards as MSNBC begins this next chapter.