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highplainsdem

(59,639 posts)
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 01:17 PM Dec 4

MS NOW to Launch Direct-to-Consumer Offering Next Summer

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Fear not, MS NOW super-fans: A direct-to-consumer platform is coming soon.

Versant, MS NOW’s parent company, says that it is planning to launch the new DTC offering next summer. Details remain scarce, but the company says that it will be “centered around community, membership, and democracy and as a digital hub for progressives,” rather than a traditional streaming platform.

Versant says that it is still in the research phase of the product, but that it is pouring “significant investment” into it. In a meeting with reporters last month, MS NOW president Rebecca Kutler underscored that Versant is giving her brand more freedom to pursue digital business lines, and are encouraging experimentation and a flatter corporate culture, including work on a DTC offering.

MS NOW says that since its rebrand, its ratings have seen a 25 percent increase in primetime viewership compared to October norms, though election day, which was very good for Democrats and progressives, certainly played a role in that.

-snip-




Read more: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/ms-now-streaming-service-summer-2026-1236442438/

35 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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MS NOW to Launch Direct-to-Consumer Offering Next Summer (Original Post) highplainsdem Dec 4 OP
Everyone's gotta get in on the game. moreland01 Dec 4 #1
a lot of them have kept a linear cable TV package because they're techphobic pstokely Dec 5 #20
You're not wrong! moreland01 Dec 5 #30
So would somebody PLEASE get Joy Reid back on there?????? BComplex Dec 4 #2
it wont go anywhere if they dont make moves like that. mopinko Dec 4 #3
True that! BComplex Dec 4 #8
Until they put Kyle Kulinzki is on national tv, the true message is never going to get out. BComplex Dec 4 #17
I might consider it if it was more than just talking heads regurgitating the same six or seven stories all day long. progressoid Dec 4 #4
I could live with the regurgitation factor if ... Bluetus Dec 4 #11
The "panels of experts" PatSeg Dec 4 #16
Especially when their panel of "experts" is made up of RW pundits, former Repubs, and centrists. FSogol Dec 5 #32
And most of the members of the panels PatSeg Dec 5 #34
"membership" Qutzupalotl Dec 4 #5
There are a lot of people who do not have cable or satellite service LiberalArkie Dec 4 #7
Fair point, thanks. Qutzupalotl Dec 4 #10
I am one of those that no longer uses cable/streaming mdbl Dec 5 #25
I already pay for cable TV...won't be paying for this DTC offering. I'll stick with MSNOW that's on cable. n/t iluvtennis Dec 4 #6
Finally! I use Firestick, Netflix and for txwhitedove Dec 4 #9
💯 Blue Dotty Dec 4 #13
Dropped YouTube TV and went back to Sling... IthinkThereforeIAM Dec 5 #28
"MS NOW says that since its rebrand, its ratings have seen a 25 percent increase"..? ToxMarz Dec 4 #12
About time ! MSNBC has been almost the only reason we kept cable for a long time now. eppur_se_muova Dec 4 #14
Jmho, but MSNOW has been Deminpenn Dec 4 #15
You can listen to MS NOW free on the IHeart Radio app mdbl Dec 5 #26
I'm getting old, I thought MS stood for Microsoft. CaptainTruth Dec 4 #18
Originally it did Deminpenn Dec 5 #22
How much will they charge? iemanja Dec 4 #19
I currently listen to MS Now for free on the Tune In app through my Roku device. sueh Dec 5 #21
You have to impacttheir bottom line. Trust me I Know! MalcolmNance Dec 5 #23
I haven't watched or listened to it LPBBEAR Dec 5 #24
Offering? Mike Nelson Dec 5 #27
lol!!! Oneironaut Dec 5 #29
What news sources do you like? mahina Dec 5 #31
AP and Reuters are good, imo. Oneironaut Dec 5 #33
I will pay JPK Dec 5 #35

pstokely

(10,847 posts)
20. a lot of them have kept a linear cable TV package because they're techphobic
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 12:18 AM
Dec 5

Last edited Fri Dec 5, 2025, 12:12 PM - Edit history (2)

it's easier for them to overpay for a cable package for only a few channels they watch than to figure out streaming, meanwhile those young whippersnappers think OTA TV with an antenna is some kind of illegal hack, many think OTA TV ended 15 years ago during the analog/digital transition

moreland01

(864 posts)
30. You're not wrong!
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 11:34 AM
Dec 5

My mom has been convinced by Cox Cable to pay over $150/month. She's 88 years old and can't see or hear. Luckily she has a Conservatorship and they put the kibosh on that!

mopinko

(73,248 posts)
3. it wont go anywhere if they dont make moves like that.
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 02:33 PM
Dec 4

if they dont bring in ppl who nbc thought were too loud, it’ll just be more hours of the same shit.

BComplex

(9,734 posts)
8. True that!
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 03:44 PM
Dec 4

I hope the new MS Now management gets with the new more progressive, holistic vibe that the younger leaders are bringing in, too.

BComplex

(9,734 posts)
17. Until they put Kyle Kulinzki is on national tv, the true message is never going to get out.
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 05:21 PM
Dec 4

He's the BEST news on the internet. "Secular talk" (the name of his YouTube site) is straight talk. The TRUTH on the internet.

progressoid

(52,502 posts)
4. I might consider it if it was more than just talking heads regurgitating the same six or seven stories all day long.
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 02:56 PM
Dec 4

It would be nice to have actual news and actual reporters rather than panels of "experts" blather on and on about (insert latest Trump lie here).

Bluetus

(2,194 posts)
11. I could live with the regurgitation factor if ...
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 03:57 PM
Dec 4

that would simply say the obvious stuff out loud. The Comcast family still owns just as much of MSNOW as they did of MSNBC because it was a simple stock swap transaction. I don't give a F about their distribution methods if what they are distributing is the same corporate-filtered crap we have been getting for years, placed inside a pretty wrapper to make it look like it is progressive.

Now, if they will actually have the editorial freedom to speak the truth and not have to wrap everything in both-siderism and euphemisms, then I'd say a direct-to-consumer model may have good merit. It all begs the question of what good the cable networks are today, other than to provide Internet service.

I already give the Comcast family way too much money each month and I really should be cutting the cable. So they SHOULD be thinking about ways to serve the progressive-minded MAJORITY in this country. Surely the Comcast family has more money than they could ever spend now. They don't need to force their product to tow the corporate line. They have a chance to do a good thing for this country.

PatSeg

(51,974 posts)
16. The "panels of experts"
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 05:20 PM
Dec 4

have gotten awfully tedious. The best part of most of the programs is the opening segment, but after that, they bring on the "experts" or other journalists who basically regurgitate the same stories in their own words for the remainder of show.

There are times when additional information and insight can be helpful, but much of the time it is just space-fillers. I would prefer more news and less redundant opinions. I often watch just the opening segment and fast-forward through the rest.

FSogol

(47,518 posts)
32. Especially when their panel of "experts" is made up of RW pundits, former Repubs, and centrists.
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 02:00 PM
Dec 5

PatSeg

(51,974 posts)
34. And most of the members of the panels
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 03:51 PM
Dec 5

are paid contributors with rather predictable input, though I do appreciate the legal expertise from some of the lawyers. However, too often we just get more of the same and this can go on all day long.

There are days when I am surprised and disappointed as to how many stories don't get covered, especially considering that this is 24 hour news.

Of course, if there is a major "Breaking News" story, almost everything else gets swept aside. When Michael Jackson died, that was all they covered for days. Apparently nothing else was happening in the world!

mdbl

(8,020 posts)
25. I am one of those that no longer uses cable/streaming
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 06:46 AM
Dec 5

Not because I can't afford it, but because all my money was doing was supporting Fux Nooze, Noozsmax and One Asshole Network. I would love to just be able to subscribe to a channel I want to watch once in a while. I am looking forward to seeing what they have to offer.

iluvtennis

(21,453 posts)
6. I already pay for cable TV...won't be paying for this DTC offering. I'll stick with MSNOW that's on cable. n/t
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 03:23 PM
Dec 4

txwhitedove

(4,317 posts)
9. Finally! I use Firestick, Netflix and for
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 03:46 PM
Dec 4

awhile Sling just to access MSNBC. To save money, ditched Sling for LiveNewsPro. I'll gladly pay for MS Now alone. They are NOT like the other news stations and presume would benefit us all by going independent. Yay!


Blue Dotty

(163 posts)
13. 💯
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 04:12 PM
Dec 4

Been saying that since we dropped cable. The minute that happens, Sling is gone for us. We only get Sling for that one station.

IthinkThereforeIAM

(3,272 posts)
28. Dropped YouTube TV and went back to Sling...
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 08:05 AM
Dec 5

... save me about $40 a month on my Roku. As long as I get ESPN (Peyton and Eli is a great show while watching MNF), news channels and documentaries. Going back to Sling, I found they have much more documentary channels and I am a junkie. History major at Augustana University.

I have Netflix practically since it went, "on the air". At first they had some snags with closed captioning all of their programming. The Deaf and hard of hearing community flooded the Netflix CEO with complaints. He got right back to us within days and said, "Hold on! I am working with Microsoft to get this technology to work"! And no problems with captioning at Netflix since.

I am also curious if Netflix is going to be the "broadcaster", for the Maddow/Colbert and others show that has been mentioned. I had seen reference that Netflix is/was going to "host" them.

ToxMarz

(2,727 posts)
12. "MS NOW says that since its rebrand, its ratings have seen a 25 percent increase"..?
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 04:09 PM
Dec 4

"MS NOW says that since its rebrand, its ratings have seen a 25 percent increase in primetime viewership compared to October norms, though election day, which was very good for Democrats and progressives, certainly played a role in that."

MSNBC launched its rebrand as MS NOW on November 15, 2025, barely 3 weeks ago. And there was no October in that time period.

What are they talking about?!

eppur_se_muova

(40,865 posts)
14. About time ! MSNBC has been almost the only reason we kept cable for a long time now.
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 04:18 PM
Dec 4

We recently dropped WOW! cable just because it had gotten so outrageously expensive. I've been trying to get *reliable* access to streaming video of MSNOW and having very temporary successes, followed by the same old error messages.

Peacock won't carry Rachel Maddow, but only some MSNBC shows -- some available only after delay ?? I had been thinking of trying Peacock but finally decided it was more trash than treasure.

Deminpenn

(17,277 posts)
15. Jmho, but MSNOW has been
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 05:00 PM
Dec 4

better since being separated from NBC. To me, it's definitely taken more of a turn to the left.

FYI, MSNOW is also carried on SiriusXM and the SiriusXM app that comes with your subscription.

Deminpenn

(17,277 posts)
22. Originally it did
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 04:14 AM
Dec 5

I read somewhere after the spin-off was announced that Microsoft had disassociated with the network years ago.

MS in the re-branded network stands for "My Source", so the name is "My Source (for) News, Opinion, World (news)"

sueh

(1,932 posts)
21. I currently listen to MS Now for free on the Tune In app through my Roku device.
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 03:50 AM
Dec 5

There is no video, but listening this way works for me.

MalcolmNance

(17 posts)
23. You have to impacttheir bottom line. Trust me I Know!
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 05:47 AM
Dec 5

First we have to increase the boycott on the whole project. They will not change their ways if they cannot see financial spikes when we choose to watch and lose massive amounts of money when we choose to block them. MSNBC went semiconservative in 2022 and only kept up the progressive image until the election. So if they don't change, don't watch. I worked there, and I haven't watched a minute in a year. I've listened to Rachel and Lawrence but only when they is not on air., but on YouTube or social media.

So if you want a progressive channel, you need to plan: Target all programs that are not progressive and reward programs like Rachel-Lawrence that are good. If they don't change, then they don't get my money.

LPBBEAR

(626 posts)
24. I haven't watched or listened to it
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 05:47 AM
Dec 5

since the last election.

Moving to a streaming option is long overdue. Sadly I expect they will screw it up by charging too much for it AND expecting viewers to pay for ads.

The early streaming options caught the traditional cable TV companies by surprise. We moved to streaming around 2010. At the time it was a breath of fresh air compared to the high cost and bundled crap channels cable/sat tv forced viewers to pay for. Early streaming was no ads, watch what you want when you want at a much lower cost compared to cable tv.
Lately I see the old cable type greed trying to subvert streaming by turning it into a clone of everything that is wrong with cable tv. Now they want to charge us for ads on streaming services, force auto-play on some streaming services, tons of useless "free" channels that try to imitate the shitty cable tv experience.

Sadly streaming is showing signs of becoming the same shit show that cable tv became years ago.

I'll be surprised if MS NOW gets it right.

When we last watched MSNBC it did not offer an official streaming option. Despite that it was available in a web browser via third party websites that are probably considered "illegal" by their corporate bosses. I just checked. Those sites are still up.
I fully expect the MS NOW streaming option to screw it up. I'll check it out when its offered but if it goes the way I expect it to I'll just use the hinky website freebie version if I want to get sick of hearing Steve Kornacki's drivel.

Mike Nelson

(10,894 posts)
27. Offering?
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 07:30 AM
Dec 5

... I smell money. I'll just watch Lawrence's opening 15 minutes on YouTube. They show a lot of reruns, especially on the weekend. The first segment of a few shows is good. I won't anything for "Dateline" rerun #1,888 or reruns of reruns of Mika & Joe.

JPK

(917 posts)
35. I will pay
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 06:39 PM
Dec 5

I will pay for MS Now's streaming service when comes available. I pretty much have my TV on MS Now all day long now. I know it can be repetitive, but what news isn't? Rachael, Hayes, McDonald and others is worth having streaming and a cable bill. I would love to be able to choose what channels I spend my money on. Until then I have MS Now on my streaming on Direct tv. Democratic Underground and a few other sources of info I get. If MS Now moves to Netflix I will get a subscription there an then maybe dump my Direct Tv streaming. It is getting pretty expensive just to get the few channels I watch on the service.

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