MSNBC Logo PNG
The MSNBC logo demonstrates the brand’s connection with the NBC television network. Additionally, it indicates the diversity of information and the relevance of news material offered by the channel. Abstract elements underscore the programs’ lively, dynamic character.
MSNBC began as a joint project between NBC and Microsoft in the mid-1990s, when both companies tried to connect cable news with the internet. The idea came from NBC president Tom Rogers, who had already created CNBC. The channel’s name combined Microsoft’s MSN service with NBC.
MSNBC launched on July 15, 1996, with Jodi Applegate hosting the first broadcast. Microsoft invested $221 million for a 50 percent stake in the cable company. In comparison, the companies spent $200 million on a newsroom in Secaucus, New Jersey. The website was run from Redmond, Washington, as Microsoft tested online news formats. The channel took over the cable slot left by NBC’s America’s Talking.
The early years were unstable. Ratings trailed CNN, and internal debates shaped the channel’s direction. Keith Olbermann arrived at ESPN in 1997 but left in 1998 after the Monica Lewinsky scandal dominated the news. After September 11, 2001, MSNBC gained attention through Ashley Banfield’s reporting from Afghanistan. In 2005, Microsoft sold its stake in cable to NBCUniversal, and in 2012, the web partnership ended when MSNBC.com became NBCNews.com.
From the mid-2000s, MSNBC shifted toward political commentary, while Fox News led the conservative cable segment. Hardball with Chris Matthews had been on the channel since 1999, and The Rachel Maddow Show launched in 2008. In 2010, MSNBC passed CNN in prime-time daily audience for the first time since 2001. In November 2025, during Comcast’s Versant spin-off, MSNBC became MS NOW, short for My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.
Meaning and History
Like other cable channels, MSNBC has developed a distinct visual identity. To be recognizable, it initially used the symbol of its parent company, NBC, a stylized peacock tail. The black brand name complemented the vivid image of several colorful feathers. However, in some logo variants, the “N” was red. In the inscription case, the arrangement of the letters and the font style were changed periodically. Since 2006, the word “MSNBC” has been on the right and is typed in black sans-serif glyphs.
What is MSNBC?
MSNBC is a television news channel, and its website is owned by the channel. It has existed since 1996 and is owned by NBCUniversal. Its main office is located in New York. The broadcast area covers the entire United States and Canada.
1994 – 1996
Before MSNBC appeared, there was the unpopular television channel America’s Talking. Its logo contained a large red letter “A” with a star-shaped cut-out. The blue “T” was pushed to the foreground. A yellow square served as a backdrop for the monogram. The full brand name was at the bottom, divided into two lines with width alignment. The words “AMERICA’S” were set in Futura Extra Bold, and “TALKING” was a modified version of ITC Avant Garde. A thin horizontal red line separated the two parts of the blue inscription.
1996
In 1996, the channel MSNBC replaced America’s Talking. It was named after Microsoft (“MS”) and NBC, as it was a joint project of theirs. The prototype of the emblem contained the same peacock tail that appeared on the NBC logo in 1986. Steff Geissbuhler of Chermayeff & Geismar designed this element. It consisted of six colored feathers: yellow, orange, red, purple, blue, and green. The negative space in the center formed the white silhouette of the bird’s neck and head. At the bottom was the inscription “msnBC,” typed in mixed-case letters. Franklin Gothic was used for “msn,” and NBC Futura for “BC.” The lateral glyphs were black, unlike the slightly enlarged “n,” which was red.
1996 – 2000
The channel debuted with a square-shaped logo. The stylized peacock tail was placed in the upper right corner. To its left were the black letters “MS” (stacked), which hung over the red “N.” And “B” and “C” were written under the feathers. The designers typed the brand name in the modified font Univers Next Pro 940 Extended Extra Black.
2000 – 2006
In 2006, the entire inscription became black. However, the positioning of the elements remained the same.
2006 – 2009
The symbol, a multicolored feather, was reduced and shifted left. The news channel’s name was shifted to the right and arranged on one line. In this form, the logo resembled CNBC’s wordmark.
2009 – 2015
This version debuted on the screen on June 27, 2009. However, it appeared much earlier: users saw it on the MSNBC website as early as April 2007. The new logo was internet-oriented, so the designers converted all the letters to lowercase and used the attractive sans-serif Gotham Bold font. Matt Ferrin and Sam Mazur worked on the emblem, collaborating closely with the team at SS+K.
2015 – 2021
In mid-August 2015, the inscription was converted to uppercase. The font and colors remained the same.
2021 – today
At the end of March 2021, MSNBC updated its logo again. The positioning of the elements remained the same. Instead of Gotham Bold, the designers now use a similarly styled Arial Bold.
Font and Colors
The TV channel’s name is set in a bold sans-serif font, making the inscription easy to read. This is a slightly modified version of Arial Bold. The black text creates a counterbalance to the bright symbol, painted in six colors:
- yellow;
- orange;
- raspberry;
- lilac;
- blue;
- green.
Such a color scheme shows MSNBC’s connection with NBC.
