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% 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.
The brand is anchored by talent like Rachel Maddow, Jen Psaki, Lawrence O’Donnell, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. That talent will presumably be reflected in the DTC offering, whatever final form it takes.
Versant announced the MS NOW DTC plans at an investor day Thursday, held in the Nasdaq building in Times Square. In addition to the MS NOW news, the company also announced a deal with the prediction market Kalshi to incorporate its data into programming.
CNBC will also evolve its CNBC Pro product, and launch a new offering for retail traders that will “feature stock recommendations, tools and data, real time info and smart, actionable analysis, among other new features.”