In 1996, when the world wide web was a new and exciting place (and was called the world wide web, just to drive home the point that this newfangled computer thingy could connect you to anyone and anyplace anywhere in the whole wide world), the Microsoft Corporation and NBC got together to launch a television network and a website -- MSNBC (a portmanteau actually of "The Microsoft Network" -- Microsoft's attempt at making an America Online -- and NBC). Over the years though, NBC bought more and more of MSNBC television network from Microsoft, to where MSNBC-TV is now wholly owned by NBC Uni. (It was probably mutual. Microsoft has slowly given up in producing content. They sold Slate to The Washington Post some years ago. And The Microsoft Network, well it is less known than AOL as an ISP.) However, MSNBC continued to be a 50-50 partnership. Now Comcast/NBCUni is looking to buy MS out of MSNBC (but to keep it linked still to the somewhat popular MSN portal). The goal is to turn MSNBC.com into a proper promotional website for MSNBC, rather than a general news website.
http://goo.gl/2EaGD Curiously we've come a ways since folks last reported on the MSNBC/MSNBC.com relationship when MSNBC.com was embarrassed by its association with that liberal cable channel MSNBC.com and wanted a divorce. Back then, they were even willing to give up the name, even though it would have been a misnomer to the TV network. http://goo.gl/p5U6u -- Wesley McGee http://www.ambivi.com http://sterlingnorth.vox.com http://drawing-a-blank.tumblr.com Twitter: @westwit G+: http://plus.google.com/113413697748381364954 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/wesleymcgee -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
