MSNBC, Sky News Strike Deal to Bring Global Reporting to U.S. Audiences

MSNBC is entering a new chapter in its news coverage following changes in its relationship with NBC News’ global newsgathering. To adapt, the network has partnered with another Comcast-owned entity, Sky News.

This collaboration, labeled a “multi-year” agreement, will enhance MSNBC’s international news offerings to its U.S. audience. Set to commence on October 1, this partnership comes as MSNBC prepares for a significant structural change which involves separating its journalistic resources from NBC News, with the official transition taking place on October 6. This move is part of MSNBC’s strategy as it gears up to become an autonomous entity known as Versant at the end of the year.

“As we navigate through these historic and consequential global news events, we are thrilled to incorporate Sky News’ high-quality, on-the-ground reporting and the expertise of their leading journalists into the MSNBC lineup,” stated Rebecca Kutler, president of MSNBC. The network will soon drop “NBC” from its title, rebranding itself as MS NOW, with a renewed focus on worldwide news and opinion, all while building a new team to cover events in Washington, D.C.

Leading this new initiative will be Ian Sherwood, who previously held leadership roles within NBC News’ international newsgathering for a decade. As MSNBC’s newly appointed director of international newsgathering, he will collaborate closely with Tim Singleton, the head of international news at Sky. Sherwood has extensive experience working alongside notable overseas reporters like Richard Engel, enhancing the network’s reporting capabilities.

With 11 international bureaus located in key cities such as Beijing, Jerusalem, Johannesburg, and Moscow, Sky News boasts a workforce of over 500 journalists. This strategic alliance will allow MSNBC to leverage the knowledge and experience of Sky’s correspondents as international stories emerge.

Historically, NBC News has capitalized on Sky’s reporting capabilities, especially during critical news events when both NBC platforms and MSNBC shared the same feeds. Sky has also contributed to a collaborative podcast featuring top journalists Yalda Hakim and Richard Engel, and the expectation is that this collaboration will persist, despite NBC’s evolving relationship with Sky. Comcast, which acquired a majority stake in Sky for $39 million in 2018, continues to see value in these partnerships.

Many American media outlets look to international news organizations to bolster their global coverage. CBS News, for example, established a partnership with BBC News in 2017 for resource sharing, a model that previously included Sky. In a broader context, NBC News planned to launch NBC Sky World News in 2020, targeting English-speaking viewers globally. However, that initiative was ultimately put on hold due to the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its quest for innovation, Sky News is exploring new revenue models beyond traditional advertising for linear television. The network is looking into partnerships and content distribution arrangements to broaden its reach. “Sky News journalists deliver award-winning journalism daily from various corners of the globe, and this partnership with Versant will amplify that first-hand reporting to more audiences in the United States and beyond,” remarked David Rhodes, executive chairman of Sky News Group. “We are excited to collaborate with their creative and entrepreneurial team.”

(Pictured above: MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler and Sky News Executive Chairman David Rhodes)