Overview

• Versant said the channel will drop the NBC name and peacock and roll out a new logo and on-air look later this year.
• President Rebecca Kutler told staff the editorial approach will remain the same as MS NOW expands its own newsroom, with dozens of recent hires and a new Washington bureau.
• CNBC will keep its acronym but will debut a new logo without the peacock, and USA Network, E!, SYFY, Oxygen and Golf Channel will also move under the Versant banner.
• Executives said NBCUniversal is keeping the peacock to reduce brand confusion, necessitating separate identities for the spun-off cable networks.
• Reaction to the MS NOW name and logo has been mixed across social platforms and industry commentary, while a national marketing campaign is planned to introduce the brand.