[HarleyD]

In the last 10 days or so NBC news has taken ownership and control of the MSNBC.com web site and has changed the name to NBCnews.com.

I'm wondering if we will see a similar takeover and rebranding of the Cable presence, the MSNBC channel currently on DirecTV channel 356.

<SOAPBOX>
And before I get pilloried by someone for having liberal leaning values because I watch MSNBC, I also watch CNN, FOX News, Bloomberg, BBCA News, CSPAN and any number of other news outlets. I firmly believe that you have to get everyone's editorial slant and try to distill the truth out of the overlap. If you get your news from just one source you're not getting everything you should.

I also believe that if everyone got all the unvarnished facts, we'd all agree on a lot more as the best solutions become self-evident in the cold light of reality.
</SOAPBOX>

 

[bflora]

In the last 10 days or so NBC news has taken ownership and control of the MSNBC.com web site and has changed the name to NBCnews.com.

I'm wondering if we will see a similar takeover and rebranding of the Cable presence, the MSNBC channel currently on DirecTV channel 356.

<SOAPBOX>
And before I get pilloried by someone for having liberal leaning values because I watch MSNBC, I also watch CNN, FOX News, Bloomberg, BBCA News, CSPAN and any number of other news outlets. I firmly believe that you have to get everyone's editorial slant and try to distill the truth out of the overlap. If you get your news from just one source you're not getting everything you should.

I also believe that if everyone got all the unvarnished facts, we'd all agree on a lot more as the best solutions become self-evident in the cold light of reality.
</SOAPBOX>

Amen brother!

 

[Hoosier205]

In the last 10 days or so NBC news has taken ownership and control of the MSNBC.com web site and has changed the name to NBCnews.com.

I'm wondering if we will see a similar takeover and rebranding of the Cable presence, the MSNBC channel currently on DirecTV channel 356.

...how is this a DirecTV issue? Post it here: Programming and Reception

 

[maartena]

In the last 10 days or so NBC news has taken ownership and control of the MSNBC.com web site and has changed the name to NBCnews.com.

I'm wondering if we will see a similar takeover and rebranding of the Cable presence, the MSNBC channel currently on DirecTV channel 356.

You will probably see a logo change, maybe a channel name change in the guide, etc, nothing to worry about. Channels change names and logos all the time.

 

[HarleyD]

...how is this a DirecTV issue? Post it here: Programming and Reception

Rebranding of channels routinely gets discussed here. HD Theater/Velocity, HDNet/AXS...it's not precedent setting.

 

[Hoosier205]

Rebranding of channels routinely gets discussed here. HD Theater/Velocity, HDNet/AXS...it's not precedent setting.

That doesn't mean it is correct. It's just sloppy. Channel rebranding is not specific to DirecTV unless it is a DirecTV owned channel. Title changes in the guide or logo updates are entirely different. This topic does not belong here.

 

[maartena]

That doesn't mean it is correct. It's just sloppy. Channel rebranding is not specific to DirecTV unless it is a DirecTV owned channel. Title changes in the guide or logo updates are entirely different. This topic does not belong here.

This is a no whining zone, so please stop your whining.

 

[phatmatt1215]

This is a no whining zone, so please stop your whining.

+1

 

[bcampbell]

+10

I thought they should have rebranded as NBC News Channel (or whatever) when they ended the microsoft relationship for MSNBC a year or two back. They could've blown up MSNBC and do a restart. We'll see.

 

[Hoosier205]

Once again, this has nothing to do with DirecTV. It's a general topic, not service provider specific.

 

[maartena]

Once again, this has nothing to do with DirecTV. It's a general topic, not service provider specific.

I see you apparently have a exception-permit for the "no whining zone".

 

[Stuart Sweet]

OK, let's scale it back and be polite about things.For now the thread can stay where it is pending further discussion.

Please comment on the topic, not on each other. Let me be clear, next post that is attacking in nature will result in an infraction.

 

[TomK]

HarleyD, thanks for the thread. I can't wait to see if the channel gets rebranded.

 

[HarleyD]

With the advent of a dedicated NBC News channel, I'd have to wonder if the remaining two broadcast networks (ABC and CBS) might eventually stand up dedicated news channels as well.

 

[davidatl14]

Nothing is going to change on the TV front.

Will still be MSNBC with the same programs and focus they have now according to Phil Griffin President of MSNBC TV

All changes are going to be going(Website) from MSNBC.com To NBC.com.

 

[mreposter]

With the advent of a dedicated NBC News channel, I'd have to wonder if the remaining two broadcast networks (ABC and CBS) might eventually stand up dedicated news channels as well.

ABC has looked at the idea several times over the years using the late night World News Now as a testbed, but I don't think they could ever make the financials of a stand alone news channel work.

Both ABC and CBS were rumored at one time or another to be interested in buying the CNN channels from Time Warner, but ultimately nothing much came of it.

Part of the problem with starting another 24-hour news channel is that the market is fairly well served with the current mix of Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, CSPAN, CNBC, Current, etc. The cable and sat companies probably have zero interest in one more me-too news network.

 

[JoeTheDragon]

ABC has looked at the idea several times over the years using the late night World News Now as a testbed, but I don't think they could ever make the financials of a stand alone news channel work.

Both ABC and CBS were rumored at one time or another to be interested in buying the CNN channels from Time Warner, but ultimately nothing much came of it.

Part of the problem with starting another 24-hour news channel is that the market is fairly well served with the current mix of Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, CSPAN, CNBC, Current, etc. The cable and sat companies probably have zero interest in one more me-too news network.

CNBC and MSNBC is also used for some comcast / NBC sports needs.

What is needed is for the sat companies to pick up the local news channels.

 

[snappjay]

I would love to see a HLN rival pop up one of these days.

 

[maartena]

With the advent of a dedicated NBC News channel, I'd have to wonder if the remaining two broadcast networks (ABC and CBS) might eventually stand up dedicated news channels as well.

ABC has a 24/7 News channel already. It's called "ABC News Now" and is currently only carried by U-Verse and FIOS. I don't think it is really taking off though... it was launched in 2004 as online only and no carrier was interested. They finally got U-Verse and FIOS on board when their services launched in 2007 or so, but still no other carriers.

The channel still exists and broadcasts programming, but ABC seems to no longer promote it in any way, and isn't visibly advertising for it on their website.

They started big in 2004 with coverage of the Democratic convention, maybe hoping to get leverage and carriers to pick them up.

I don't think CBS is going to even try, and the ABC effort will probably slide away to the land of forgetfulness at some point.

 

[tenpins]

I know that the MSNBC website is now called NBCNews, so it may just be a matter of time before the channel # 356 is rebranded.

http://www.nbcnews.com