MSNBC's High-Stakes Gamble: News, Opinion, or Oblivion?

The potential split between Comcast and its cable networks has raised serious questions about the future of MSNBC. If the spinoff happens, MSNBC will be cut off from the vital newsgathering resources it currently shares with NBC News. This leaves the left-wing channel with some tough choices to make if it wants to stay in the news game:

If the spinoff proceeds, MSNBC will need to find alternative ways to maintain its newsgathering capabilities. Several options are possible:

• Building an Independent News Organization: MSNBC could invest in building its own team of reporters and editors, creating an independent newsgathering operation. This would require significant financial resources and time to establish.
• Striking a Deal with NBC News: MSNBC could negotiate a deal with NBC News to continue accessing its reporting resources, potentially for a fee. This would allow MSNBC to maintain its current programming mix without building a news organization from scratch.
• Shifting Focus to Opinion: MSNBC could shift its focus to opinion-based programming, relying less on original reporting. This would reduce its reliance on NBC News but could also impact its viewership and brand identity.

Each of these options comes with its own set of challenges and potential downsides. Building a news organization from scratch is expensive and time-consuming. Striking a deal with NBC News might be the easiest solution, but it could come at a significant cost. And shifting to an opinion-heavy format risks alienating viewers and damaging MSNBC's brand. The stakes are high, and the decisions MSNBC makes in the coming months could have a lasting impact on its future.

My Streaming Life doesn't use these cable networks. I don't watch left-wing or right-wing propoganda masqerading as news. I get my news online, but not from a cable channel. However, I realize many do. You might. If this causes an actual news channel to result, then this will be a good thing.