MSNBC Rebrands as MS NOW, Drops Peacock Logo Amid Spin-Off

MSNBC is rebranding as MS NOW, short for My Source News Opinion World, as part of its spin-off from NBCUniversal into a new media company called Versant. This change involves dropping the iconic NBC peacock logo and severing formal ties with NBC News, aiming to establish MS NOW as an independent progressive news outlet focused on domestic and international breaking news and opinion journalism. The rebrand has sparked widespread criticism and skepticism within the media industry and among viewers, with concerns that the new name is generic, forgettable, and risks losing the network's core audience and brand trust. Critics have compared the new branding unfavorably to outdated or low-quality signage and questioned the network's relevance and strategic direction amid declining ratings. Social media reactions have been largely negative, with some calling it one of the worst branding disasters in media history and vowing not to adopt the new name. Despite these reactions, Versant leadership emphasizes the rebrand as a step toward independence and a renewed mission for the network.