The name change comes amid a series of shake-ups in the channel’s slate of anchors

Chris Hayes, Joy Reid, Rachel Maddow, Nicolle Wallace, Ari Melber host MSNBC’s 2022 Midterm Elections coverage.Credit : Virginia Sherwood/MSNBC/Getty

On Monday, Aug. 18, the cable news channel revealed it has rebranded amid its exit from NBCUniversal. MSNBC will now be called My Source for News, Opinion and the World, or MS NOW.

The news was shared in a company-wide memo on Monday morning. Versant CEO Mark Lazarus said that the name change “underscores the brand’s mission to serve as the destination for domestic and international breaking news and the best-in-class opinion journalism.”

It marks the first of several shifts to separate the network from NBC before the end of the year.

The network is making strides to “untether ourselves from NBC News and embrace our independence under Versant,” as MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler wrote in a company-wide memo that went out following Lazarus’ announcement.

“During this time of transition, NBCUniversal decided that our brand requires a new, separate identity,” Kutler revealed. “This decision now allows us to set our own course and assert our independence as we continue to build our own modern newsgathering operation.”

“While our name will be changing, who we are and what we do will not. Our commitment to our work and our audiences will not waiver from what the brand promise has been for three decades,” she continued.

The new logo of MS NOW.MS NOW

In preparation for its split from NBC News, the network has hired more than three dozen journalists from outlets including CNN, Bloomberg, Politico and The Washington Post. In addition, it’s developing its own independent newsgathering process and also stood up its first-ever Washington Bureau.

Several other channels will see changes as a result of the NBCUniversal exit, too.  

Per Lazarus’ memo, MS Now and other channels will see changes to their “brand designs,” given that the “peacock is synonymous with NBCUniversal and is a symbol they have decided to keep within the NBCU family.”

CNBC “will retain its name and is working on a new logo,” he wrote, while “sports programming on USA Network and Golf Channel will come together under a new brand moniker of USA Sports.”

USA Spots and Golf Channel will both be getting new logos. The entertainment brands under Versant will “remain unchanged,” Lazarus said.

Rachel Maddow and Jen Psaki on MSNBC.MSNBC

Rachel Maddow told Variety of the rebrand news: “If there was ever a time for us to change our name, this is it — because we’re not just separating from NBC News in corporate terms, we’re competing with them now. So I think the distinction is going to be good for us.”

“What NBC is doing in its legacy timeslots — the Today Show, Nightly, Meet the Press — is just a world away from the 24/7 totally independent news operation that we’re able to stand up now, thanks to the spin-off,” she continued.

The rebrand of MSNBC comes amid continued shake-ups across the network.

Andrea Mitchell was the first of many MSNBC faces to depart the network at the beginning of the year.

She made her final appearance as anchor on Feb. 7 after nearly 17 years at the desk, months after she revealed that Andrea Mitchell Reports would end after the presidential inauguration.

Mitchell remains NBC News’ chief Washington correspondent and chief foreign affairs correspondent, PEOPLE confirmed at the time.

Days later, Joy Reid’s exit from MSNBC was announced, which Maddow said it was “very, very, very hard to take.”

“Personally, I think it is a bad mistake to let her walk out the door,” Maddow said during The Rachel Maddow Show hours after Reid’s exit was announced.

Rachel Maddow and Joy Reid.Jamie McCarthy/Getty; John Lamparski/Getty

Data journalist Steve Kornacki also left his position at MSNBC and signed a deal at NBCUniversal, PEOPLE confirmed in April. Under his new contract, Kornacki expanded his role across NBC News’ broadcasts.