Openai/69486775-45a4-8009-8cd1-c5cd3e355c65

This conversation was exported from ChatGPT

gpt-5-2

User: why did they rename it to "ms now"?

why did they rename it to "ms now"?

Assistant: They renamed MSNBC to MS NOW primarily because the channel is being spun off from NBCUniversal into a new independent c…

They renamed MSNBC to MS NOW primarily because the channel is being spun off from NBCUniversal into a new independent company (Versant), and the old name no longer fit the corporate structure. Los Angeles Times

- The network will no longer be part of NBCUniversal after the spin-off of several cable channels (including itself) into a new company called Versant. Los Angeles Times

• Because of that, the “NBC” part of the name and the peacock logo were dropped — NBCUniversal wanted to keep its branding and trademarks. Reuters

- The new name is officially a backronym for “My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.” Wikipedia

• The “MS” was kept partly for brand recognition (people already used it as shorthand) and as a nod to the channel’s original identity (MSNBC started in 1996 in part as a partnership with Microsoft). Wikipedia

- Leadership says the move doesn’t change the programming or personalities people know — it’s mainly a corporate and branding shift as the channel defines its own identity outside NBC. MS NOW

In short, the renaming to MS NOW reflects a corporate restructuring and desire for a standalone brand while trying to retain some audience familiarity, even though it’s drawn confusion and criticism from some observers. variety.com

User: "MSNBC started in 1996 in part as a partnership with Microsoft" what?

"MSNBC started in 1996 in part as a partnership with Microsoft" what? really?

Assistant: Yes — really!

Yes — really! When MSNBC first launched in July 1996, it was created as a joint venture between NBC (National Broadcasting Company) and Microsoft*. That’s exactly how the name MSNBC came about: **“MS” from Microsoft’s MSN online service + “NBC” from the broadcast network.Wikipedia

Here’s the gist of it:

• Microsoft and NBC teamed up to build a 24-hour news channel and a companion website in the early days of the commercial internet. Wikipedia
• At launch, each partner owned roughly 50 % of the network, and the name MSNBC literally reflected that partnership (MSN + NBC). Wikipedia
• Microsoft’s involvement ended over time — it sold its stake in the TV channel back to NBC in 2005 and later exited the msnbc.com website in 2012. Wikipedia

So yes: that historic Microsoft connection isn’t just a rumor — it’s how the network was originally formed and named, though Microsoft hasn’t been involved for well over a decade.

gpt-5-2-thinking

User: "Microsoft’s involvement ended over time — it sold its stake in the TV channel back to NBC in 2005 and later exited the…

"Microsoft’s involvement ended over time — it sold its stake in the TV channel back to NBC in 2005 and later exited the msnbc.com website in 2012. " did microsoft make money? was it a good venture/investment for them? and why did they exit?

Assistant: We can say some money was made, but the exact ROI is hard to pin down publicly because a the 2005 TV-channel buyout ter…

We can say some money was made, but the exact ROI is hard to pin down publicly because (a) the 2005 TV-channel buyout terms weren’t fully disclosed, and (b) Microsoft’s investment spanned two different joint ventures (the cable channel and the website/digital network).

Did Microsoft make money?

On the digital side (msnbc.com / “Msnbc Digital Network”): very likely yes, at least on paper.

• In 2012, Comcast/NBCUniversal bought Microsoft’s 50% stake in msnbc.com for a reported ~$300M. Reuters
• Microsoft’s own annual report later notes it recognized a gain on divestiture related to selling its 50% share in the MSNBC joint venture. Microsoft
• One trade press breakdown put the total purchase price at $195M net (after backing out ~$100M cash held at the JV), which suggests the headline “$300M” number may include cash/value adjustments—either way, Microsoft booked a gain. Adweek

On the TV-channel side (MSNBC cable network): unclear.

• Microsoft sold most of its stake in the cable channel to NBC Universal in 2005, but financial terms weren’t disclosed in the main announcements. Los Angeles Times
• Some contemporaneous coverage speculated the stake could have been worth a lot based on per-subscriber valuations, but that’s not the same as confirmed sale proceeds. Next TV

So: digital exit = we have numbers + a documented “gain”; TV exit = details are murkier.

Why did Microsoft exit?

It looks like a mix of strategy + brand/fit issues + control:

1. Strategic focus shift: By the mid-2000s Microsoft was increasingly prioritizing its core businesses (Windows/Office at the time, later cloud/services). Exiting a media JV fit that “focus on core” direction reported at the time. Forbes
2. The TV and the website drifted apart editorially: The cable channel evolved toward a stronger opinion/identity, while the website functioned more like a broad NBC News-style portal—NBC executives worried about confusion. Wikipedia
3. NBCUniversal wanted full control of the news brand: By 2012, NBC moved to consolidate its digital news properties under NBCNews.com and take full ownership of the joint venture assets. Reuters

If you want, I can try to reconstruct an approximate ROI range using (1) Microsoft’s disclosed original investments (where available) and (2) the sale-price reporting—just note it will still be an estimate because the 2005 TV terms aren’t cleanly public.

User: and what's the story with cnn?

and what's the story with cnn? that's also relatively new, isnt it? if all the big ones now (MS, CNN, Fox) were made quite recently, what were the big channels before then? and what happened to them?

Assistant: Ja, men her skal man skelne mellem hårde tal og sandsynlige motiver.

Ja, men her skal man skelne mellem hårde tal og sandsynlige motiver.

Gjorde Microsoft penge på MSNBC/MSNBC.com?

Hvad vi kan sige med tal:

• Microsoft gik ind i 1996-joint venturet med ca. $220 mio. for 50%. Reuters
• I 2012 købte NBCUniversal/Comcast Microsoft ud af MSNBC.com-JV’et for ca. $300 mio. (for Microsofts 50%). AP News

Det peger på, at Microsoft i hvert fald fik en positiv gevinst på web-delen (groft sagt +~$80m før man indregner drift, investeringer undervejs, evt. udbytter osv.).

Men: Salget af Microsofts ejerandel i selve tv-kanalen i 2005 blev omtalt som uden offentliggjorte vilkår, så vi kan ikke “bevise” om de tjente eller tabte på tv-delen. AP News

Hvorfor exit’ede Microsoft?

Det, der er bedst dokumenteret i samtiden, er:

• Partnerskabet begyndte at unwinde i 2005, hvor Microsoft solgte tv-andelen tilbage til NBC. AP News
• I 2012 blev bruddet på web-JV’et forklaret som, at Microsoft ville stå friere til at bygge sin egen online news-satsning (dvs. ikke være låst til NBC-joint venturet). CBS News

Min læsning (inference): Det var en kombi af strategisk fokusskifte (Microsoft ville styre sin egen portal/nyhedsoplevelse) og at NBC ville have fuld kontrol over nyhedsbrandet og integrationen. (Det er en slutning baseret på ovenstående kilder, ikke et enkelt citat.)

“Hvad er historien med CNN – den er også ny, ikke?”

CNN er faktisk ikke ny:

• CNN blev lanceret 1. juni 1980 som den første 24-timers kabelnyhedskanal. Wikipedia
• CNN fik især stor status via breaking news og bl.a. Gulfkrigen 1991 (ofte nævnt som et gennembrud for 24/7-nyheder). Wikipedia

MSNBC og Fox News er de “nyere” i den trio:

• MSNBC og Fox News blev begge lanceret i 1996 i høj grad som konkurrenter til CNN. Wikipedia

Hvis de store kabel-nyheder er relativt nye, hvad var “de store” før?

Før 1980 var “de store” nyheder på TV primært:

• ABC, CBS og NBC’s faste nyhedsudsendelser (aften-nyhederne) + lokal-tv. EBSCO
• Offentlig service/in-depth som PBS NewsHour-traditionen (MacNeil/Lehrer osv.) voksede frem som et mere dybdegående alternativ til kommercielle nyheder. AP News

Hvad skete der med dem?

• De forsvandt ikke. Aften-nyhederne på broadcast-netværk findes stadig, men kabel og senere digital/streaming fragmenterede publikum og skabte en 24/7 “news cycle”. Encyclopedia Britannica

Hvis du vil, kan jeg lave en super kort tidslinje (årstal + “hvad ændrede sig”) for hele skiftet fra Big Three → CNN → Fox/MSNBC → streaming/digital.