When MS NOW completed its spinoff from NBCUniversal under Versant, Jen Psaki wasn’t bracing for a dramatic transformation. But a rebrand from MSNBC to MS NOW did allow the network to refocus, she believes.
Speaking at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, Psaki described the transition as far smoother than some may have expected.
“In advance of the transition, there was a bit of anticipation of what this would mean and what would be and how things would change,” Psaki said. “And then we transitioned, and I got off the elevator and just turned right instead of left, because we have a different set of office suites.”
That physical shift, though minor, represented something bigger. The rebrand gave the network an opportunity to define itself on its own terms.
“We were able to, because we’re more of a startup mentality, really decide as a network who we wanted to continue to grow into being,” the Inside with Jen Psaki host shared, “and what we wanted to invest in, and how that was going to help journalism and the journalists that were hired.”
She added that the smaller footprint has become a competitive advantage.
“Now we’re small. We’re smaller, but we’re mightier in a lot of ways,” Psaki said, “and that’s enabled us to be a bit more agile, too.”
Psaki has been with MS NOW since 2022. Her show debuted in March 2023. She appeared on the NAB Show panel with colleague Ari Melber.
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