In addition to gaining full ownership and changing the name, NBC News president Steve Capus is making a commitment that the new NBCNews.com will “provide users with the highest quality news and information from the network’s trusted on-air and online journalists, editors and producers.”
In an email to NBC staffers as the deal was announced, Capus writes,
As we work toward fully integrating the digital assets from the joint venture into NBC’s news gathering and reporting processes, we are redefining NBC News as more than a just television news organization—we are now a MULTI-PLATFORM news organization in the truest sense, with a unified vision for development and commitment to excellence.
Early next year there will be a new msnbc.com which will be the online home of the cable networks’ programs.
Alex was on a conference call about the deal. He’ll have more on the news that came out of that later this afternoon.
Capus’ full note after the jump…
When msnbc.com launched 16 years ago, this business pioneered the way users consume news online and forever changed the marketplace. Since then, our colleagues from the joint venture have done a great job in establishing industry-leading properties such as Msnbc.com, TODAY.com, NightlyNews.com, BreakingNews.com, Newsvine.com, EveryBlock.com, and the existing apps and digital extensions of these respective brands, all under the umbrella of Msnbc Digital Network.
Today, NBC News enters a new age as the full owner of Msnbc Digital Network. NBCUniversal and Microsoft have signed an agreement under which NBCUniversal has acquired Microsoft’s share of the Msnbc Digital Network, with NBCUniversal now retaining 100% control of the company. Msnbc Digital Network is now a part of the NBC News portfolio.
Now, our aim is to grow our digital presence with our newly created division — NBC News Digital — which will be operated under the leadership of Vivian Schiller, and includes Msnbc Digital Network, theGrio.com, NBCLatino.com, EducationNation.com, social media and all of our digital initiatives.
The new ownership structure will allow NBC News to align our brands with digital operations, reach news audiences in new ways, and support the television business by protecting and growing the distribution of our programming. We’ll be able to better engage users utilizing social networks, as well as distribute even more content with a particular focus on video.
To create consistency across the various brands, the current Msnbc.com site is now NBCNews.com, and the site will continue to provide users with the highest quality news and information from the network’s trusted on-air and online journalists, editors and producers.
MSNBC TV will launch a new digital home in 2013. The digital presence will be 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 its current platforms.
This deal was not done overnight. There are many people across various functions at NBC News and Msnbc Digital Network who played important roles in getting us here today. I would like to thank each and every one of them for their efforts. I would also like to thank our friends at Comcast, who recognized the value of this deal to NBC News, and who labored alongside our team to make this a reality. We are fortunate to have owners who are so invested in our success.
Microsoft has also been a terrific partner in all that we have accomplished from the very beginning. We thank them for everything they have contributed to making these digital properties what they are today, and we’re happy to have the opportunity to continue working together on key aspects of this venture, and thank them for their continued support through the transition.
Looking across the competitive landscape, no one is as well-positioned for growth and innovation as we are now. As we work toward fully integrating the digital assets from the joint venture into NBC’s news gathering and reporting processes, we are redefining NBC News as more than a just television news organization—we are now a MULTI-PLATFORM news organization in the truest sense, with a unified vision for development and commitment to excellence.
With your support and energy, I look forward to collaborating with all of you on this exciting new chapter. In the meantime, please join me in welcoming your new colleagues to the NBC News family.
Steve Capus