The new parent company of a large chunk of Comcast’s cable output has settled on a new name as MSNBC and other channels are being spun off.
Versant, which previously went by the temporary name SpinCo, will serve as the new house for a plethora of cable networks, including MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and the Golf Channel. Versant CEO Mark Lazarus argued that the company’s new name is meant to highlight its versatility with the intended purpose of being viewed as a house of different brands.
“We’re going to focus on the individual brands that we have, not the corporate name,” Lazarus said. “This is a holding company name. It’s going to be used for business-to-business purposes.”
In regards to the company’s plans for MSNBC, Lazarus said he has engaged in some discussions on buying several podcasts that appeal to Democrats. If the company were to make such an acquisition, he said these programs would not be put on broadcast television, and instead operate separately.
Lazarus also stated that there are no plans for Versant to launch its own streaming service.
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The company is set to complete its spinoff from Comcast by the end of 2025. NBCUniversal brands to be kept by Comcast include its broadcast network, the streaming service Peacock Universal Studios, Bravo, and its theme parks.
Last month, MSNBC announced that it would be expanding Jen Psaki’s presence on the network, with her new show The Briefing with Jen Psaki airing four nights a week from Tuesday through Friday. Earlier this year, MSNBC fired anchor Joy Reid, canceling her show TheReidout.