MSNBC announced this week that it will rebrand to “My Source News Opinion World,” or MS NOW, as part of its separation from NBCUniversal. The cable news network will drop the NBC peacock logo and become part of a new company called Versant, which will also include other cable channels like CNBC, USA Network, and E! Entertainment.
The name change comes as MSNBC builds its own news operation separate from NBC News. The network has hired dozens of journalists from outlets including the Washington Post, Politico, and CNN to create an independent newsroom. MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler said the rebrand “underscores our mission to serve as a destination for breaking news and best-in-class opinion journalism.”
President Donald Trump responded to the news with a harsh attack on Truth Social early Thursday morning. Trump wrote that MSNBC was “doing so poorly in the ratings that they are looking to change their name in order to get away from the stench of their fake news product.” He called the network “a failure by any name” and mocked parent company Comcast and CEO Brian Roberts for what he described as “hopelessly and aimlessly flailing in the wind.”
Trump’s history of rebranding and name changes
The president’s criticism of MSNBC’s rebrand is notable given his own history of changing names for business and marketing reasons. Trump University, which operated from 2005 to 2010, faced multiple fraud lawsuits from former students who paid thousands of dollars for real estate seminars. After the New York Department of Education warned in 2005 that using “university” in the name violated state education laws, the company continued operating under that name for five years.
In June 2010, facing mounting legal pressure, Trump University changed its name to “The Trump Entrepreneur Initiative.” The rebrand came as the company largely ceased operations amid allegations that it engaged in deceptive business practices. Trump eventually agreed to pay $25 million in 2016 to settle three lawsuits related to the program, though he maintained he would have won if the cases had gone to trial.
The MS NOW rebrand has drawn widespread mockery on social media, with critics comparing the name to failed computer software products and multiple sclerosis fundraising campaigns. The new logo, which removes the peacock symbol, has also been criticized as looking outdated. Some pointed out potential website issues, as the domain “msnow.com” currently redirects to a Korean snowmobile company. Trump has a history of targeting political opponents and media critics on social media, often using his Truth Social platform to launch personal attacks.
The network change reflects the broader challenges facing cable news networks as they try to maintain relevance in a changing media landscape. MSNBC has seen declining ratings since the 2024 election, leading to speculation about the future of some of its programs. The rebrand to MS NOW represents a significant shift for a network that has been a fixture in American cable news for nearly three decades since its 1996 launch as a partnership between Microsoft and NBC.
Published: Aug 21, 2025 11:09 am