MS NOW is the new name of MSNBC. The American cable news channel officially rebranded on November 15, 2025, after leaving NBCUniversal for Versant, the new company Comcast spun off. Same channel, same anchors, same channel number; only the name and logo changed.
If you are still searching for “MS NBC” or MSNBC and landing on MS NOW, this is why. Here is what the new name means, why it changed, the current show lineup and how to watch MS NOW live.
MSNBC vs MS NOW: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Old name | MSNBC (1996–2025) |
| New name | MS NOW |
| Full form | My Source for News, Opinion and the World |
| Rebrand date | November 15, 2025 |
| Owner | Versant (spun off from Comcast) |
| President | Rebecca Kutler |
| Headquarters | 229 West 43rd Street, New York City |
| Website | ms.now |
| Ranking | No. 2 cable news network, behind Fox News |
What Does MS NOW Stand For?
MS NOW stands for “My Source for News, Opinion and the World.” The name is a backronym: it keeps the familiar “MS” from MSNBC so long-time viewers still recognise it, while dropping “NBC.”
The old name came from its founders. MSNBC launched on July 15, 1996, as a joint venture between Microsoft and NBC, joining “MSN” and “NBC.” Microsoft sold its TV stake in 2005 and was fully out by 2007.
Why Did MSNBC Change Its Name to MS NOW?
Comcast spun off most of its cable channels, including MSNBC, CNBC, USA Network and Golf Channel, into a separate company called Versant. Comcast kept NBC, NBC News and the peacock logo, so MSNBC could no longer use the NBC name.
Versant CEO Mark Lazarus said the new name lets the network “chart our own path forward.” President Rebecca Kutler promised viewers that “while our name will be changing, who we are and what we do will not” (TV Insider).
MS NOW Split From NBC News
The rebrand also meant building a news operation of its own. MS NOW separated its editorial team from NBC News, built new studios in Manhattan in about three months, and signed deals with Sky News for international coverage and AccuWeather for weather.
MS NOW Shows and Anchors
The big MSNBC names stayed through the rebrand. The current MS NOW lineup includes:
- The Rachel Maddow Show: Rachel Maddow
- Morning Joe: Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski
- The 11th Hour: Stephanie Ruhle
- The Briefing: Jen Psaki
- The Weeknight: Luke Russert
- On the Line: Alicia Menendez
- State of Play: Peter Alexander (since August 2026)
- The Assignment: Antonia Hylton (since September 2026)
- Connect: Jacob Soboroff
- Crooked on MS NOW: weekly show with Crooked Media (since February 2026)
The Rachel Maddow Show remains the network’s flagship and ranked as the 7th most-watched news programme in July 2026, behind six Fox News shows.
MS NOW Ratings in 2026
MS NOW is the second most-watched cable news network in the US, behind Fox News and ahead of CNN. In the week of September 28, 2026, it averaged these Nielsen numbers (Adweek):
| Network | Primetime viewers | Total day viewers |
|---|---|---|
| Fox News | 1,631,000 | 1,075,000 |
| MS NOW | 917,000 | 577,000 |
| CNN | 554,000 | 369,000 |
How to Watch MS NOW Live
MS NOW sits on the same channel number MSNBC used with your cable or satellite provider, so you do not need to retune. You can also watch it on:
- ms.now: the official website
- YouTube: the MS NOW channel
- YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV: live streaming bundles
- MS NOW membership: a paid digital plan launched on September 9, 2026, with live streaming, digital-only shows and a partnership with Calm
MS NOW shows are no longer on Peacock, since the channel no longer belongs to NBCUniversal.
MSNBC to MS NOW Timeline
- July 15, 1996: MSNBC launches as a Microsoft–NBC joint venture
- 2005–2007: Microsoft exits the TV channel
- November 2024: Comcast announces the cable network spin-off
- February 2025: Rebecca Kutler becomes president
- August 2025: MS NOW name announced
- November 15, 2025: MSNBC officially becomes MS NOW
- February 2026: Crooked Media partnership announced
- September 9, 2026: MS NOW membership launches
For more on TV news and politics, read our Trump vs Bill Maher feud timeline.
FAQs
Is MSNBC now called MS NOW?
Yes. MSNBC rebranded as MS NOW on November 15, 2025.
What does MS NOW stand for?
MS NOW stands for “My Source for News, Opinion and the World.”
Why did MSNBC change its name?
MSNBC moved from Comcast’s NBCUniversal to Versant, and Comcast kept the NBC name and peacock logo.
Is Rachel Maddow still on MS NOW?
Yes. The Rachel Maddow Show continues on MS NOW and remains its top-rated programme.
Is MS NOW on the same channel as MSNBC?
Yes. MS NOW uses the same channel number MSNBC had with cable and satellite providers.
Who owns MS NOW?
MS NOW is owned by Versant, a media company spun off from Comcast that also owns CNBC, USA Network and Golf Channel.
Featured image: 229 West 43rd Street, New York. Photo: Epicgenius / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
