Microsoft And NBC Finally Got Their Ways, With MSNBC.com Now NBCNews.com (Updated)

Posted on Jul 16 2012 - 4:44am by Editorial Staff

It’s being a long-routed discussion that finally seems getting its final colors: For being 16 years running together in a row, MSNBC.com will be now NBCNews.com as Comcast has acquired Microsoft’s 50 percent stake for $300 million in the online news site, and will see now the URL redirecting to NBCNews.com, reports The New York Times citing “people with knowledge of transaction.” The site will make its entry back in 2013.

Bob Visse, general manager for MSN at Microsoft, told The Associated Press, “Being limited to MSNBC.com content was problematic to us because we couldn’t have the multiple news sources and the multiple perspectives that our users were telling us that they wanted.”

While, NBC News president Steve Capus told The New York Times, “we think we have a much better opportunity to shape [our digital properties], and frankly grow the news division over all, if we have direct control over all of it.” Former NPR CEO and recent NBC hire Vivian Schiller will lead NBCNews.com as part of her role as NBC News’ chief digital officer.

Update:

Here is an official letter by NBC Editor-In-Chief Jennifer Sizemore for all of its readers over the move:

Dear readers, fans and friends,

For 16 years, it has been our privilege at msnbc.com to bring you one of America’s favorite sources for insightful and compelling news and information. We’ve been your source for breaking news, one-of-a-kind stories, segments from NBC News and MSNBC shows, and live video coverage of the most important news events of our time. Our team has never stopped working to satisfy your curiosity, whenever and wherever you are.

Today we’re taking on a new name — NBCNews.com. While our name is changing, our commitment is not. In fact, in the weeks and months ahead, we’ll be bringing you more of what you love today, and NBCNews.com will stay true to its mandate of delivering the news you need with the innovative spirit you’ve come to expect across all of our digital platforms. Over the years, we’ve won dozens of awards for our digital coverage, but the real reward has been serving you, our audience.

So while you’ll notice some changes to our logos and navigation, nothing’s going away.

In fact, there’s more to come: MSNBC TV will launch a new digital home in 2013, as an extension of the MSNBC TV on-air brand, creating in-depth content and a community for the passionate audiences of MSNBC programs. Until then, MSNBC TV’s digital content will continue to be available on this site, right where you’ve always found it.

We’re more excited than ever for the future of digital news and look forward to many more years of keeping you on the cutting edge. In the meantime, if you have questions or comments, we’d love to hear from you on Facebook and Twitter or email us .

Keep on keeping curious,

Jennifer Sizemore 

Editor-in-Chief

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