If you’ve spent any time lately trying to figure out who is the owner of MSNBC, you’ve probably run into a bit of a corporate maze. For years, the answer was simple: Comcast. But things just got a whole lot weirder. As of early 2026, the channel you’ve known for decades isn’t technically under the same roof as the NBC peacock anymore.
In a move that caught a lot of casual viewers off guard, the network underwent a massive structural divorce. Honestly, it’s the kind of business drama that usually stays buried in SEC filings, but it’s changed everything about how the channel operates.
The Big Shift: Meet Versant Media Group
So, let's get straight to it. Versant Media Group is the official owner of the channel formerly known as MSNBC. If that name sounds unfamiliar, don't worry—it didn't even exist a couple of years ago.
In January 2026, Comcast officially completed a spin-off of its most famous cable assets. They basically took a giant pair of scissors to NBCUniversal and snipped off the "legacy" cable channels. This includes not just the news side, but also CNBC, USA Network, E!, Syfy, Oxygen, and the Golf Channel.
Why did they do it? It’s all about the "pivot." Comcast wanted to keep the high-growth stuff—like the Peacock streaming service and the Universal theme parks—under its direct wing, while letting the traditional cable channels swim on their own.
What happened to the "NBC" in the name?
You might have noticed the branding looks different lately. As part of this split, the network actually rebranded to MS NOW (an acronym for My Source for News, Opinion, and the World). They had to drop the iconic peacock logo because, well, they don't own it anymore.
Who actually runs this new company?
Even though it's a standalone public company trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker VSNT, the power structure still feels a bit familiar.
- Mark Lazarus: He’s the Chairman and CEO of Versant. You might remember him as the guy who used to run NBCUniversal’s television and streaming division.
- Rebecca Kutler: She’s the President of MS NOW (the network itself). She took the reins permanently in early 2025 and has been the one tasked with building a totally independent newsgathering operation.
- Brian L. Roberts: Here’s where it gets "kinda" complicated. Roberts is the CEO of Comcast, but through the way the spin-off was structured, he still holds a massive amount of voting power (about 33%) in Versant.
So, while Comcast and Versant are legally separate entities, the same hands are often still on the steering wheel.
A Brief History: From Microsoft to "MS NOW"
To really understand who is the owner of MSNBC, you have to look at its DNA. The "MS" in the original name actually stood for Microsoft. Back in 1996, Bill Gates and the folks at NBC decided to team up. Microsoft put up over $200 million for a 50% stake, thinking they’d revolutionize how news and the internet mixed.
It didn't quite work out as a 50/50 marriage. By 2005, NBC (then owned by General Electric) bought out most of Microsoft's share. Eventually, Microsoft exited entirely in 2012.
The Comcast Era
Comcast entered the picture in 2011 when it bought a majority stake in NBCUniversal from GE. By 2013, they owned the whole thing. For over a decade, MSNBC was the progressive counterweight to Fox News, tucked neatly inside the same corporate family as The Tonight Show and Jurassic Park.
The 2026 Reality: Independence or Just Paperwork?
The biggest misconception about the owner of MSNBC today is that it's still "just a department at NBC." It isn't.
Since the Versant spin-off, the network has had to hire its own reporters, build its own bureaus, and stop relying on the NBC News mothership for every single piece of footage. They even had to move out of some shared spaces. While they still lease some room at 400 North Capitol in D.C., the umbilical cord has been cut.
- Autonomy: MS NOW has its own budget and its own board of directors.
- Strategy: They are leaning harder into "unfiltered" opinion and digital-first content because they aren't tethered to a broadcast network's stricter rules.
- Streaming: While NBC kept Peacock, MS NOW is now free to make its own deals with other streaming platforms or build its own standalone app.
What this means for you (the viewer)
Honestly, if you just watch for the primetime hosts, you might not care who signs the checks. But the ownership change matters for the long-term survival of the channel. As a standalone company, Versant has to prove it can make money without the safety net of Comcast’s billions.
If you want to stay informed about how your news is funded and controlled, keep an eye on Versant's quarterly earnings reports. The "owner" isn't just one person anymore—it's a collection of shareholders and a leadership team trying to prove that cable news still has a heartbeat in a TikTok world.
Next Steps for Savvy News Consumers:
- Check the Logo: If you see the peacock, you're watching an NBC News production. If you see the MS NOW branding, you're watching the standalone Versant entity.
- Follow the Ticker: Watch the VSNT stock. If the stock drops, expect more budget cuts or a potential sale to another media giant.
- Diversify Your Feed: Now that the network is independent, it's more important than ever to compare its reporting with traditional broadcast outlets like the actual NBC News to see where the editorial lines are being drawn.