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 underline the lively and dynamic character of the programs.
MSNBC: Brand overview
| Founded: | July 15, 1996 |
| Founder: | NBCUniversal (Comcast) |
| Headquarters: | New York City, United States |
| Website: | msnbc.com |
Meaning and History
Like other cable channels, MSNBC has created a unique visual image. 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. 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 channel that broadcasts news programs and the website it owns. It has been in existence 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 word “AMERICA’S” was typed in Futura Extra Bold font, and “TALKING” – 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 took the place of America’s Talking. It got its name in honor of 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. And 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 the left of it 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 with a modified font, Univers Next Pro 940 Extended Extra Black.
2000 – 2006
In 2006, the entire inscription became black. But the positioning of the elements remained the same.
2006 – 2009
The symbol in the form of multicolored feathers was reduced and shifted to the left. The name of the news channel shifted to the right and was arranged in one line. In this form, the logo resembled the wordmark of CNBC.
2009 – 2015
This version debuted on the screen on June 27, 2009. But it had 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, closely collaborating with the team from 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, a similarly styled Arial Bold is now used, which the designers slightly modified.
Font and Colors
The name of the TV channel is typed in a bold sans-serif font, which makes 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.
