It’s long been known that MSNBC and NBC News would be separating, with the cable channel taking on the MS NOW brand. Now, we know when it will officially take shape.
On Monday, October 6th, MSNBC will no longer rely on NBC News for domestic or international coverage from its correspondents and production crews. The two companies will continue joint operations in Washington, D.C. until Sunday, October 19th.
Beginning on Monday, October 20th, MSNBC will be completely independent and separated from NBC News, according to a memo from MSNBC’s Senior Vice President of Newsgathering, Scott Matthews.
The October 6th date is also when the network will begin operating under its own standards and practices policies.
In the weeks following the transition, MSNBC will become MS NOW, with a November date in mind for when the peacock-related branding will shift to the My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
The new name and logo were unveiled last month, which Versant — the new parent company of the cable networks — CEO Mark Lazarus saying that the “new name underscores the brand’s mission to serve as the destination for domestic and international breaking news and the best-in-class opinion journalism.”
Versant and its full complement of cable channels — which includes CNBC — expects to be officially independent from Comcast and NBCUniversal on January 1st.
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Former FOX Sports commentator Jason Whitlock believes traditional television executives often overestimate the value of internet fame when translating digital stars to mainstream TV. Referencing the recent Barstool Sports partnership with FOX Sports on his Fearless with Jason Whitlock podcast, the former FOX host attempted to explain why television companies are making mistakes by trusting brands that work well with a digital audience first.
“I’m not saying this as a diss of FOX Sports or Dave Portnoy,” Whitlock said. “I’m saying it as the reality. What a lot of these television executives are going to have to wrap their brains around is that the internet and YouTube… it’s not the same as mainstream TV. Just because something works on the internet doesn’t mean it’s going to work on mainstream TV.”
Whitlock mentioned the reported audience figures for the new Wake Up Barstool show on FS1. While the program remains less than a month old, Whitlock said the numbers should show proof that there are simple expectations for a traditional television product.
“There’s a level of professionalism. There’s a level of conversation that people expect when you go to mainstream TV,” he said. “On the internet, profanity and ignorance rule. It’s literally people telling me all the time, ‘Man, I wish you cursed more often.’ That’s what people want from the internet. The analogy I use: the internet prefers pornography. Mainstream television prefers R-rated content.”
Whitlock highlighted the contrast between digital stars like Dave Portnoy and Pat McAfee, whose internet appeal far exceeds their television traction in viewership.
“Dave Portnoy is a pornographer—and I say that not to disparage him,” said Whitlock. “Pat McAfee, there’s a reason why he’s having incredible internet success, but his television ratings are pretty flat and stale. There’s a difference between the two disciplines.”
According to Whitlock, Portnoy’s persona is a poor fit for traditional sports broadcasting.
“I’m going to say he’s Ron Jeremy, and a lot of people know that name, but they don’t want to see him on mainstream TV,” Whitlock said. “From the gambling to the profanity, his whole persona—it’s a bit trashy in a way that’s too trashy for mainstream TV. Fox Sports has made a mistake here, and their bet is—and the bet of a lot of mainstream TV—and they’re all wrong. This is why many of them are losing traction.”
Portnoy to his credit called the early viewership numbers for Wake Up Barstool “awful” on a recent episode of The Unnamed Show podcast. Despite the figures, Portnoy added that expectations for a quick breakthrough may be unrealistic. Given the program’s limited promotion ahead of the show’s launch.
“I don’t know what to expect. I think they want a lot of online, and I don’t know what they were before. It wasn’t like we had some gigantic promo. We just kind of did it,” he said, highlighting the show’s reliance on organic growth rather than traditional marketing efforts.
Portnoy has not responded to Whitlock’s criticism of the program or his persona.
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ESPN is taking time to experiment with potential replacements for Molly Qerim, the longtime host of its morning show First Take, after she announced her departure following a decade with the network.
Burke Magnus, ESPN president of content, toldThe Athletic that the network plans to test a variety of in-house talent over the next 30 to 45 days before making a final decision. Magnus praised Qerim as “an awesome person” and said her exit was not a reflection of any conflict or controversy.
“I don’t know if it’ll be someone in-house or not,” Magnus said. “We’re not locked into anything in particular. The one thing that was unexpected was the timing of all this. She put out a statement because there was a report on it. So it kind of got out of our respective controls once that happened. While we knew we were going to make a change. Her deal ran through the end of the year—we were more focused on that timeline.”
As for a timeline on how long the tryouts will be, Magnus said they could do into October or potentially as late as early November.
“We’re going to take probably about 30 to 45 days to try a variety of in-house people because we can do that on the show,” said Magnus. “Then we’ll make a decision shortly after that.”
The timeline accelerated after a Sports Business Journalreport on Monday indicated Qerim would be leaving ESPN by the end of the year and would not appear on the show moving forward. Qerim, 41, has been with ESPN since 2006. Initially working on digital and mobile platforms before taking over as First Take host in 2015.
“After much reflection, I’ve decided it’s time to close this incredible chapter and step away from First Take,” Qerim wrote on her Instagram story Tuesday. “Hosting this show has been one of the greatest honors of my career. Every morning, I had the privilege of sharing the desk with some of the most brilliant, passionate, and entertaining voices in sports—and with all of you, the best fans in the world. I’m so grateful for what this journey has given me. Lifelong friendships, unforgettable memories, and the chance to be part of something truly special.”
Qerim reportedly received a contract extension offer from ESPN but chose to move on, according to Sports Business Journal. While Magnus confirmed the network engaged Qerim in discussions about new roles beyond First Take. She ultimately opted for a clean break.
“Molly Qerim is a wonderful person and an unbelievable teammate and colleague,” Magnus said in a separate interview that will be published on the Sports Media Podcast in the coming days per The Athletic. “We were in a renewal conversation and exploring other opportunities for her. Ten years on a show like that is a long time. I think she felt it was time to explore other things. We tried to create a broader role for her. Ultimately it became more about her wanting to turn the page. There’s no controversy here—she’s an awesome person, and it’s just business.”
Qerim declined to comment through her agent when contacted by The Athletic.
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The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! is proving to be about more than late-night controversy. What initially looked like a straightforward case of cancel culture has unraveled into a story involving media consolidation, FCC policy, and accusations of hypocrisy according to Kevin ‘KFC’ Clancy of Barstool Sports.
In a commentary shared on Instagram, Clancy pointed out that FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr praised Nexstar for taking action against Jimmy Kimmel, stating that the company was “serving the public interest.” However, those remarks suggest a reversal by Carr. In 2019, he tweeted that the FCC does not have a roving mandate to police speech, and the government should not censor what it doesn’t like.
Adding to the skepticism, Nexstar is currently pursuing a $6.2 billion merger that would create one of the largest media conglomerates in television. Such a deal would ordinarily bump against FCC ownership caps. Yet Carr recently signaled to Benny Johnson an openness to loosening those restrictions, raising questions about whether Nexstar’s move against Kimmel was more about currying favor with regulators than serving the public’s interest.
Clancy admitted not being a fan of Kimmel’s, but having gone through cancel culture situations himself, he tends to side with those who land in hot water for controversial remarks. He says Kimmel was an easy target for those frustrated by today’s political media climate. However, what appeared to be a case of accountability for poor rhetoric may instead be a calculated corporate maneuver.
KFC believes Kimmel’s suspension leaves many questions about free speech, the influence of regulators, and the outsized role of money in shaping what audiences see on television. He finished his commentary by adding, ‘it’s never about free speech, it’s never about protecting rights, it’s always about the money and how to get it’.
Spotify and Sony Music Group have announced a multi-year extension of their partnership, with an updated expansion to their agreement.
With the expansion, Sony Music Publishing will feature a new direct licensing arrangement in the United States, allowing songwriters to earn more directly from the growth of the streaming platform.
“Our partnership with Sony is built on a shared drive to shape the future of music. Together, we’re accelerating the pace of innovation to create powerful new opportunities and increasing revenue for artists and songwriters,” saidSpotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek. “These agreements aren’t just a milestone; they’re a catalyst for building a more dynamic and prosperous music ecosystem for everyone.”
“Sony Music Group and Spotify have long been mutually committed to advancing music streaming and growing the marketplace for all,” added Sony Music Group chairman Rob Stringer. “This is further reflected in our new agreements, where we’re working to develop futuristic approaches that ensure our artists and songwriters remain appropriately compensated for their work, and audiences are getting a high-quality experience that’s ever evolving.”
Spotify and Sony will work in conjunction with one another to create more opportunities for artists and songwriters to feature new product offerings like enhanced audio and visual formats, according to a statement from the companies.
“These deals with Sony Music Group are built to better support artists and songwriters by unlocking new formats and forging deeper connections with fans,” said Spotify Co-President and Chief Business Officer Alex Norström. “This alignment creates space for new opportunities and long-term growth for everyone involved.”
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Triton Digital has released its podcast rankings for the month of August, and Vince Coglianese has risen another two positions during the month.
During the month, the top four positions in the Top Podcasts By Weekly Average Downloads ranker were unchanged, with NPR News Now, Up First from NPR, Stuff You Should Know, and 48 Hours remaining in place.
The Charlie Kirk Show dropped one position to sixth in what will ultimately be his final full month as host of the program. Kirk was shot and killed by an assassin at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, September 10th.
The Shawn Ryan Show also dropped one position to finish seventh. My Favorite Murder leapt both shows to end the month in fifth place.
VINCE — the podcast from Vince Coglianese — climbed two positions to finish the month as the 11th podcast on the ranker. The show grew past The NPR Politics Podcast and the Global News Podcast from the BBC.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show finished 14th, while Consider This From NPR was 15th, and The Bulwark Podcast rose seven positions to earn 16th place.
In the Top Podcasts by Listeners/Viewers category, The Joe Rogan Experience, The Daily, Crime Junkie, Call Her Daddy, and SmartLess earned the top five positions in the first month of that new survey ranking system.
In the Top Sales Networks By Weekly Average Downloads, the top eight spots remain unchanged. iHeart Audience Network remained on top, followed by NPR, Audacy, Audioboom, Cumulus, Paramount, Salem, and Soundrise, in order.
The first change in that category comes as the BBC makes its first appearance on the chart. It finished the month as the ninth largest publisher, according to the Triton Digital rankings.
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ESPN’s return to the traditional Monday Night Football doubleheader in Week 2 produced the network’s best ratings in years, highlighted by record-breaking numbers for the early matchup between Tampa Bay and Houston.
The Buccaneers’ 20-19 win over the Texans averaged 17.4 million viewers across ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and NFL+, according to Nielsen fast national data. That figure makes it ESPN’s most-watched Week 2 game since 2008, representing a 16% jump from last season’s lone Week 2 telecast between Atlanta and Philadelphia.
The performance also set a high-water mark for ESPN on nights featuring multiple Monday games. The network has aired 24 such weeks since 2006, including 16 doubleheaders from 2006 through 2020 and again in 2025. In addition, ESPN featured eight weeks of staggered start times between 2022 and 2024.
Meanwhile, the nightcap between the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders delivered 9.7 million viewers on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and NFL+. That total stands as the most-watched individual telecast during the league’s recent “two games, one night” format, which spans eight contests dating back to 2022.
Across both games, ESPN averaged 13.5 million viewers from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. The combined performance represents the company’s best audience for a doubleheader night since 2015. It also easily surpassed results from the past three seasons of staggered starts, as well as historical Week 1 doubleheaders previously featured under the NFL’s television contracts.
The results demonstrate the continued pull of Monday Night Football, particularly when the schedule creates national intrigue. For ESPN, the record-setting Week 2 sends a clear message: the traditional doubleheader still resonates.
The return of ESPN's Monday Night Football doubleheader brought a great finish, great drama & strong viewership for 6+ hours🏈
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FOX Sports is adding Drew Brees to its NFL studio coverage this weekend. The former Super Bowl MVP quarterback will serve as a guest analyst on Fox NFL Kickoff and Fox NFL Sunday during Week 3 of the season.
For now, the move is temporary. Brees will be filling in for Julian Edelman on Fox NFL Kickoff as the former New England Patriots receiver is inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame on Sunday. That puts Brees at the desk with Charissa Thompson, Charles Woodson and Jay Glazer.
Later in the day, Brees will also appear on Fox NFL Sunday, where he will work alongside with the program’s established crew.
The appearance marks a return to NFL studio television for the former quarterback. After retiring from the New Orleans Saints, Brees joined NBC Sports in 2021. He contributed to Football Night in America and worked select Notre Dame and NFL games in the booth. His stint was short-lived, however, as he stepped away from NBC before the 2022 season.
During that period, there had been speculation that FOX might pursue Brees for a more permanent role, but the move never materialized. His guest spot this weekend revives some of that conversation, even if FOX is only labeling it as a one-week commitment.
Brees has been making several guest appearances on sports talk programs across the country. Most notably last month where he joinedThe Dan Patrick Show, and discussed getting another shot in the broadcast booth.
“I have so much respect for the guys doing it right now,” Brees said last month. “But I’d step in the booth right now and be a top-three guy—without question. And give me a few years, I could be the best.”
Brees addressed parting ways with NBC after just one season in the interview with Patrick. A decision he says was entirely his, based largely on family and coaching commitments that conflicted with the network’s travel demands.
“I departed because I wanted to spend more time with my kids on weekends, coaching ball,” he said. “It didn’t work flying to Connecticut every week while also doing Notre Dame games. It was my decision to step away from NBC, it was not theirs.”
Though he emphasized his appreciation for NBC and named several executives and producers who supported him during his time with the company, Brees made it clear the narrative that he was pushed out is false.
“They wanted me back,” Brees said. “I think it got reported a little bit differently, and now that’s somehow become the narrative. It could not be further from the truth.”
Brees remains involved in broadcasting on a limited basis. He will serve as a game analyst on Netflix’s Christmas Day NFL broadcast. He’ll be paired with play-by-play announcer Noah Eagle for that presentation, marking another high-profile appearance outside of traditional network television.
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Late Wednesday evening, ABC announced it was pulling Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the late-night timeslot “indefinitely” after comments the host made about the shooter of Charlie Kirk.
On Monday’s program, Kimmel said that supporters of President Donald Trump were attempting to paint Tyler Robinson — Kirk’s assassin — as “anything other than one of them.”
ABC’s decision came after two large television ownership groups — Sinclair and Nexstar Media Group — announced plans to not air the late-night show on their stations after the comments.
It also came after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened to take action against the broadcast licenses held by the company, stating, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel, or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
After the news of Kimmel’s suspension was announced, many took to social media to champion the move. Others, meanwhile, argued that it’s another authoritarian step made by the Trump administration.
This is the most straightforward attack on free speech from state actors I've ever seen in my life and it's not even close. https://t.co/uMjEZkIpat
Molly Qerim's abrupt departure from First Take now makes sense. Prepare yourself for fraudulent, middle-of-the-road guy Stephen A Smith to replace Jimmy Kimmel. MAGA influencers will celebrate this as a huge win because they'll now be invited on late-night TV to continue the… https://t.co/W2RgyqRPQc
I think @BrendanCarrFCC is just the bogeyman the left is blaming. In reality, Nexstar has 37 affiliates, most of them in conservative areas, and they can't sell late night because Kimmel has alienated Nextstar's audience. His needless cruelty on Monday gave Nexstar an opening.
Oliver Darcy pins this correctly on Bob Iger who – as I mentioned before – is a whore, protecting his own job instead of his country. I've known him since 1979. I'm ashamed that I do. pic.twitter.com/ZhHgwYmcQU
ABC source says "no plans" to pull Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. At least not until @BrendanCarrFCC sees this tweet and asks that it be pulled.
NEW: Jimmy Kimmel was planning to address his Charlie Kirk remarks on tonight’s broadcast, and Disney/ABC leadership elected to hit pause amid Nexstar/FCC pressure. Disney/ABC leadership hopes to have matter resolved and have the show return, per sources familiar.@PuckNews
Jimmy Kimmel punished for blatantly and unapologetically lying to his audience about a brutal and public political assassination… Not even a half hearted apology or retraction issued…
3…2…1… The Left claims HE is the victim, the hero, the martyr.
Jimmy Kimmel went on air and told the ABC audience that Charlie Kirk’s assassin was a MAGA conservative, effectively blaming Charlie Kirk for his own assassination.
Jimmy Kimmel deserves better than this. He’s a class act. Case in point – after my first appearance on his show back in 2018, he very thoughtfully asked whether I was receiving adequate security at that time, as Trump was repeatedly smearing journalists as “the enemy of the… pic.twitter.com/s44423s3H6
Oh please, these networks know who they hired. And they were fine with getting trashy before President Trump began holding them accountable.They’ve been excoriating Conservatives for years. Now they’re afraid of being canceled further from their falling ratings. Jimmy Kimmel is… pic.twitter.com/7judCqUr2q
Jimmy Kimmel lied about Charlie’s assassination and used the opportunity to defame Charlie’s own friends and allies. He deserves to be fired for it. These are the repercussions that conservatives have been experiencing for years for infractions not nearly as egregious. Good…
Wake up America! If you think ABC capitulating to Trump to suspend Jimmy Kimmel’s show is no big deal … just wait for what could be next. This won’t be the country you grew up in & I’m pretty sure it’s a lot more serious than just being worried about the economy or immigration.
The First Amendment does not protect performers like Jimmy Kimmel from being cancelled by their private sector employers. But I would have liked the outcome a lot better if the chairman of the FCC had not involved himself in it.
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However, not everyone is sold on “On The Bench” concept coming this fall from NBC Sports. ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson, who played 17 seasons in the NBA and has been a visible presence on ESPN’s studio shows, shared a candid reaction on the Road Trippin’ podcast when asked about NBC’s move.
“Terrible,” Jefferson said flatly when first hearing the description of “On The Bench.”
NBC Sports announced the new wrinkle to its NBA coverage this fall with the launch of “On The Bench,” a feature that will put select analysts courtside on Peacock for a handful of games. The idea is to enhance the viewing experience by bringing fans closer to the action and creating new avenues of storytelling.
But Jefferson’s initial criticism came with important clarification. While he doesn’t have an issue with giving fans a peek inside certain elements of game action, he is skeptical about how far the networks should go.
“Access to huddle and sit on the bench … the access to huddle that stuff is fine, right? I’m not saying you can’t come and listen to the huddle,” Jefferson explained.
What NBC Sports termed an industry first. “On the Bench” will be used exclusively for the 23 Peacock NBA Monday games this season. Rather than sitting next to the play-by-play voice. The analysts will be positioned near the assistant coaches of their assigned team during the action. Listening in on huddles and timeouts, and delivering information straight from the bench. Each analyst will also be immersed with their team leading up to the game. Spending time at shootarounds, and speaking with players and coaches during pregame locker room availability.
As networks like ESPN and NBC Sports continue to push for more behind-the-scenes access, hoping to give fans unique insights that differentiate live broadcasts from social media clips or league-produced content. Analysts like Jefferson believe there’s a balance between information and intrusion.
As the conversation continued, Jefferson admitted there was upside to NBC’s approach — particularly when it comes to helping broadcasters share insights in real time.
“Sitting on the bench, that’s a great idea. I think that’s a great idea, yes,” he said. “There’s always going to be a push and pull, but the goal is to inform the viewer. And the more information that you’re able to get … you can convey us information that we get to convey to the viewer. So it’s beneficial.”
Still, Jefferson cautioned that adding cameras and microphones to previously private spaces risks crossing a line. He pointed out that the league and its media partners have to consider how much access is too much.
“We have to make sure in an effort of trying to give more access, keep the integrity of the two sides, right? We don’t need to bring the viewer in too much,” Jefferson said. “It’s like now you have access to the showers. No. There is a space where you can stop access. I like innovation … but as players, you might not always want someone right there basically to gather information.”
This is the first year of an 11-year media rights deal between the NBA and NBCUniversal. Networks like NBC are eager to stand out in a crowded media landscape, while analysts who once wore the jersey are quick to remind everyone that athletes are still human beings navigating pressure, frustration, and mental battles in real time.
“On the Bench” will debut on Peacock NBA Monday beginning October 27.
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