NBC and Microsoft went their separate ways over the weekend, ending the MSNBC.com joint venture that had run its course since its mutually beneficial beginning 16 years ago.
The site is now NBCNews.com, complete with a new logo. Its old name will rise again in 2013 as the MSNBC cable news channel’s website.
Comcast, which is now NBC’s parent company, bought out Microsoft’s half. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the New York Times reported Microsoft is receiving about $300 million with a portion of the total price coming from the joint venture’s past profits.
Now in control of its own digital destiny, NBC is turning its Redmond, Washington facility into NBC News Innovation Center, which will house teams developing and managing technology for NBC news and entertainment. The news operation is relocating to join the rest of that business in its New York headquarters.
“We’ve had great success combining TV, desktop, mobile and iTV (Internet TV) where the value is greater than the sum of the parts,” said Charlie Tillinghast, MSNBC.com’s president and publisher. “That requires both the brand alignment and product integration that is possible only with a wholly owned unit.”
NBC News President Steve Capus said MSNBC.com will become part of NBC News Digital, a new division led by Vivian Schiller, the former president and chief executive of National Public Radio.
Related links:
MSNBC – Welcome to NBCNews.com
NBCNews.com – Msnbc.com becomes NBCNews.com
New York Times – Microsoft and NBC Complete Web Divorce
Seattle Times – MSNBC.com breakup gives Microsoft more freedom online
The Verge – Comcast buys Microsoft’s share in MSNBC.com, site now redirects to NBCNews.com
PaidContent – Microsoft-NBC JV ends after 16 years, making way for NBCNews.com
