If you’re looking for an MSNBC live stream, the channel now goes by a new name: MS NOW. MSNBC officially became MS NOW on November 15, 2025, and its website moved from msnbc.com to ms.now. To watch the live channel online, you have two official routes. One is a live TV streaming service such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling Blue, Fubo or DirecTV. The other is the MS NOW membership, which launched on September 9, 2026, for $7.99 a month. This guide covers both, plus the current schedule and options abroad.
Key facts (as of October 2026)
- MSNBC became MS NOW on November 15, 2025, and its website moved to ms.now.
- The MS NOW membership launched on September 9, 2026, for $7.99 a month.
- Live-TV services such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling Blue, Fubo and DirecTV carry the channel.
MSNBC is now MS NOW: what changed
MSNBC launched on July 15, 1996, as a joint venture between NBC News and Microsoft. That partnership explains the original name: “MS” for Microsoft and “NBC” for the broadcaster. Microsoft left the venture years ago, and the channel spent most of its life under NBCUniversal and its parent, Comcast.
Searches for an MSNBC live stream now lead to MS NOW, which carries the same channel position.
In 2025, Comcast moved most of its cable networks into a new company called Versant. MSNBC officially separated from NBC News on October 6, 2025, as part of that move. Versant announced the new name in August 2025, and the switch to MS NOW took effect on November 15, 2025. Versant says the letters stand for “My Source for News, Opinion and the World.”
The spin-off was completed in January 2026. Versant shares started trading on Nasdaq under the ticker VSNT on January 5, 2026. Its networks include MS NOW, CNBC, USA Network, E!, Syfy, Oxygen and Golf Channel. Mark Lazarus is Versant’s CEO, and Rebecca Kutler is president of MS NOW.
What stayed the same
For viewers, the rebrand changed the logo, the name and the web address. The channel still sits in the same slot on most TV and streaming services. Its main hosts and shows carried over too, including Morning Joe, Deadline: White House and The Rachel Maddow Show. If your provider’s guide still shows “MSNBC,” it’s the same channel.
One practical point: NBC News content no longer flows through MS NOW as it once did. To cover international stories, MS NOW agreed in September 2025 to draw on reporting from Sky News, which Comcast owns.
How to watch MS NOW live online
Here is a quick comparison of the official choices. Prices and line-ups change, so treat the figures as a guide and check each provider before signing up.
Each of these options gives you the same MSNBC live stream content under the MS NOW name.
| Option | Live MS NOW channel? | Price (as of October 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS NOW membership | Yes, a 24/7 live feed | $7.99/month or $79.99/year | People who mainly want MS NOW |
| YouTube TV | Yes | Check provider | A full cable-style bundle |
| Hulu + Live TV | Yes | Check provider | Live TV plus Hulu’s library |
| Sling TV (Blue) | Yes | Check provider | A cheaper live TV bundle |
| Fubo or DirecTV | Yes | Check provider | Sports-heavy households |
| MS NOW app or ms.now with TV login | Yes | Included with eligible pay-TV plans | Existing cable or satellite customers |
| MS NOW YouTube channel | Clips and segments | Free | Catching highlights |
The MS NOW membership
MS NOW launched its own subscription on September 9, 2026. It is the network’s first paid direct-to-consumer product. The standard price is $7.99 a month or $79.99 a year, plus tax. A launch offer of $39.99 for the first year ended on September 30, 2026.
The membership includes the network’s 24-hour live feed, so you can watch the channel without a cable package. It also adds extras that aren’t on TV. These include daily live Q&A sessions at noon ET, an “On the Ground With…” session at 6 p.m. ET, member-only programs such as a monthly Rachel Maddow interview series, and personalized news briefings. Guided meditations from Calm are included too.
At launch, the membership worked on the ms.now website and on apps for Apple and Android devices. MS NOW said more platforms would follow. If you want to watch on a TV, check whether your Roku, Fire TV or smart TV now has the app. Otherwise, use AirPlay or casting from your phone.
Live TV streaming services
MS NOW is carried by the major live TV streaming services, which work like a cable package over the internet. Cord Cutters News confirmed at the rebrand that YouTube TV, Sling TV’s Blue line-up, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV all carry the channel. The name change did not affect that access.
These services cost several times more than the membership. But you also get dozens of other channels, often including CNN, Fox News, CNBC and local broadcast stations. Many offer free trials for new customers, and all of them let you cancel monthly.
Signing in with a TV provider
If you already pay for cable, satellite or one of the services above, you can watch MS NOW live in its own app or on ms.now. Choose your provider, sign in with your account details, and the live stream unlocks. The app works on phones, tablets and streaming players such as Roku, Fire TV and Apple TV.
Free options
There’s no official free 24/7 stream of the full MS NOW channel. The network does post segments and interviews from its shows on YouTube, which is a handy way to catch key moments after they air. For live audio, the channel is also simulcast on SiriusXM and TuneIn.
Coming soon: the NewsLive streaming app. We’re building one subscription for live international news on Android, Roku, Fire TV and desktop. The service is under development — follow NewsLive for launch updates.
MS NOW weekday schedule
MS NOW reshuffled its daytime and evening line-up in spring 2026, with changes taking effect in June. The table shows the weekday schedule from Adweek’s report and the network’s program list, in Eastern Time. Schedules change, especially during big news events, so check the guide on your service.
The schedule below applies whichever MSNBC live stream route you use.
| Time (ET) | Show | Host(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 5:00 am | Way Too Early | Ali Vitali |
| 6:00 am | Morning Joe | Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, Willie Geist |
| 9:00 am | Money, Power, Politics | Stephanie Ruhle |
| 11:00 am | State of Play | Peter Alexander |
| 12:00 pm | On the Line | Alicia Menendez |
| 2:00 pm | The Moment | Katy Tur |
| 4:00 pm | Deadline: White House | Nicolle Wallace |
| 6:00 pm | The Beat | Ari Melber |
| 7:00 pm | The Weeknight | Luke Russert, Symone Sanders-Townsend, Michael Steele |
| 8:00 pm | All In | Chris Hayes |
| 9:00 pm | The Rachel Maddow Show (Mon) / The Briefing (Tue–Fri) | Rachel Maddow / Jen Psaki |
| 10:00 pm | The Last Word | Lawrence O’Donnell |
| 11:00 pm | The 11th Hour | Ali Velshi |
Note that Rachel Maddow hosts only on Mondays. If you’re watching from Europe, 9:00 pm ET usually falls at 2:00 am in London, so the YouTube clips the next morning may suit you better.
Watching MS NOW outside the US
MS NOW is mainly a US channel. Its broadcast area covers the US and Canada, and Canadian cable providers carry the US feed. Australia also has distribution, with the channel reported on Foxtel, Fetch TV and Binge. There’s no dedicated MS NOW channel in Europe or Asia.
Viewers abroad have fewer options for an MSNBC live stream, so check local providers first.
The live TV streaming services listed above only work inside the US. Versant hasn’t said whether the new membership can be bought from other countries. If you live abroad, try signing up at ms.now or downloading the app from your local app store. If it isn’t offered in your country, the free YouTube clips are the official fallback.
For a wider look at your choices, see our guide to watching US news channels outside the US. If you also follow markets, our CNBC live stream guide covers MS NOW’s sister network.
Which route makes sense for you?
If MS NOW is the only cable channel you care about, the membership is the cheapest legal way to watch it live. You also get the member-only extras. If your household wants sports, local channels and several news networks, a live TV streaming service gives more for the money.
If you only follow one network, a direct plan is usually the cheapest MSNBC live stream.
Comparing networks before you pay? Our breakdown of CNN vs Fox News vs MS NOW explains how their schedules and streaming options differ. You can also read about the official ways to watch Fox News or our general guide to watching news without cable.
Frequently asked questions
Is MSNBC still on TV?
Yes, under a new name. MSNBC became MS NOW on November 15, 2025, and it stayed on the same TV and streaming services. The shows and most of the hosts carried over.
What does MS NOW stand for?
Versant says MS NOW stands for “My Source for News, Opinion and the World.” The original “MS” in MSNBC came from Microsoft, which co-founded the channel with NBC in 1996.
Can I watch MS NOW without cable?
Yes. You can subscribe to the MS NOW membership for $7.99 a month, which includes the live feed. You can also use a live TV streaming service such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling Blue, Fubo or DirecTV. Check current prices with each provider.
Is there a free MSNBC live stream?
There’s no official free stream of the full channel. MS NOW posts free clips and segments on YouTube. The channel’s audio is also simulcast on SiriusXM and TuneIn.
Why did MSNBC change its name?
Comcast spun its cable networks off into a new company, Versant, and MSNBC split from NBC News in the process. A new name and logo, without the NBC peacock, gave the channel its own identity outside NBC.
What happened to msnbc.com?
Since November 15, 2025, msnbc.com redirects to the new address, ms.now. The site carries the network’s articles, video and membership sign-up.
Sources
- NewscastStudio: What happened to MSNBC?
- NewscastStudio: MS NOW becomes high-profile user of ‘.now’ domain
- NewscastStudio: Comcast completes Versant spinoff
- NewscastStudio: MS NOW launches membership offering
- TV Tech: MS Now to launch $7.99 DTC service
- Nieman Lab: MS NOW will launch a paid membership program
- Cord Cutters News: How to watch MS NOW on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and more
- Adweek: Programming reshuffle at MS NOW
- Wikipedia: List of programs broadcast by MS NOW
- Wikipedia: MS NOW
