NBC News Makes Major Moves: Layoffs, Cable Split, & New Strategy

Big changes are shaking up the media landscape, and NBC News is right in the middle of it, cutting staff and prepping for a major separation from its cable siblings, MSNBC and CNBC. Here's what's going down.

TL;DR: The Quick Scoop

• NBC News cut about 150 staff members (roughly 7% of its newsroom) as it prepares to spin off from MSNBC and CNBC.
• The cable networks, including MSNBC (rebranding to MS NOW) and CNBC, are moving into a new company called Versant, ending shared resources.
• Dedicated teams for diversity verticals like NBC BLK, NBC Latino, NBC Asian America, and NBC OUT have been eliminated, though content for these groups will still be published.
• NBC News is shifting focus to a new subscription streaming service, expanded sports coverage, and digital growth, with 140 open roles available for affected staff to apply for.

Alright, fellow news junkies, buckle up because there's a lot happening behind the scenes at one of the biggest names in television news. Nbc News just announced a significant round of Layoffs, letting go of around 150 employees. This isn't just a simple cost-cutting measure; it's part of a massive overhaul as the network gets ready to operate completely independently from its longtime cable partners, MSNBC and CNBC.

The Big Spin-Off: A New Era for NBC News and Cable Networks

So, what's driving all this change? Well, the media world is constantly evolving, and traditional cable TV isn't quite the powerhouse it used to be. Parent company Comcast's NBCUniversal is spinning off several of its cable networks, including MSNBC, CNBC, USA Network, Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and the Golf Channel, into a brand-new, publicly-traded company called Versant. This means NBC News, along with the main NBC broadcast network, NBC Sports, Peacock, and Bravo, will remain under Comcast's wing, while the cable channels forge their own path.

This separation is a huge deal because, for years, NBC News shared resources and reporting with MSNBC and CNBC. Now, that entwined relationship is coming to an end. Mark Lazarus, the CEO of Versant, mentioned that this move is all about "building our individual identity and vision for the future," allowing each entity to "charge our own path forward, create distinct brand identities, and establish an independent news organization." It's a sign of the times, reflecting the ongoing decline of cable TV as more and more viewers switch to streaming. NBC News attributed these cuts partly to this spin-off, noting that some roles supporting those cable outlets are simply no longer needed.

Impact on Staff: Tough Decisions for a Changing Landscape

The layoffs, which amount to about 7% of NBC News's roughly 2,000-person newsroom (or 2% of the wider NBCU News Group including Telemundo and local stations), weren't entirely unexpected. Staffers had been anticipating cuts for months, with the official announcements coming down on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. This isn't the first time NBC News has trimmed its workforce this year; they also cut around 40 roles back in January.

Cesar Conde, the Chairman of NBCUniversal News Group, sent out a memo to staff acknowledging the "hard day" and "difficult decisions," emphasizing that these moves are "necessary to remain strong as an industry leader." However, it's not all farewells. NBC News is actively hiring for about 140 open positions across the organization and is encouraging affected employees to apply for these new roles, with about a dozen eliminated positions being repurposed into new opportunities.

"Today is a hard day. We have had to make some difficult decisions, including the elimination of positions across NBC News. While these decisions are necessary to remain strong as an industry leader, they are not easy and are never taken lightly. We have sought to minimize the number of affected team members, and our teams’ decisions should not be seen as a reflection on our colleagues who will be leaving. We will miss them and their valuable contributions."

— Cesar Conde, Chairman of NBCUniversal News Group

A Significant Shift: Diversity Teams See Dedicated Roles Eliminated

One of the most notable and concerning aspects of these layoffs is the elimination of dedicated teams that bolstered coverage for marginalized communities. The verticals known as NBC BLK, NBC Asian America, NBC Latino, and NBC OUT will no longer have specialized teams focusing exclusively on their coverage. While NBC News has confirmed that these verticals will continue to publish stories related to these groups, the work will now be distributed across the broader newsroom, with the possibility of retaining up to five staffers to contribute to this coverage.

This move has drawn criticism, with many worrying that integrating these stories into general reporting could lead to less focus and fewer stories about these crucial communities. Rich Ferraro, Chief Communications Officer at GLAAD, called this a "dangerous pattern of mainstream media outlets choosing to lose trusted and talented journalists who focus on important LGBTQ news that otherwise is under-reported or not reported at all." He stressed that the "talented journalists at NBC Out consistently lead with impact and accuracy," earning the trust of LGBTQ+ Americans.

"This is a terrible and poorly-timed loss for journalism and for our democracy. The talented journalists at NBC Out consistently lead with impact and accuracy, and have earned the trust of LGBTQ Americans and our allies to report on news with care, precision, and impact."

— Rich Ferraro, GLAAD’s Chief Communications Officer

This trend isn't unique to NBC News. There's a broader retreat in the media industry from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, fueled by economic pressures and a political backlash. Companies like Gannett, Disney, and Condé Nast have also made similar reductions recently. Even Comcast, NBC's parent company, faced federal scrutiny from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr in February 2025 regarding its DEI programs, with allegations that they might violate anti-discrimination laws.

MSNBC's New Path: From Peacock to "MS NOW"

With the spin-off, MSNBC is also undergoing a significant transformation. It's rebranding to MS NOW, dropping the iconic NBC peacock from its logo, and plans to roll out this new image in the coming weeks. No longer able to rely on NBC News's resources, MS NOW is busy building its own newsroom, actively hiring talent from NBC News, The Washington Post, and Politico to beef up its newsgathering operations. For international news, MS NOW will be leaning on Sky News, and CNBC will continue to use third-party wire services like Reuters for financial reporting.

This shift ends a relationship that, while collaborative, sometimes presented challenges, especially given MSNBC's progressive leanings compared to NBC News's "straight news" approach. It'll be interesting to see how MS NOW reestablishes itself with viewers and builds its new identity.

NBC News Charts its Own Course with New Offerings

As for NBC News itself, it's not just cutting back; it's also pivoting and investing in new areas for growth. Conde outlined several key strategies:

• New Subscription Service: Later this year, NBC News plans to launch a new subscription streaming service featuring select news coverage and premium content. This will complement their existing free, ad-supported streaming channel, NBC News Now.
• Expanded Sports Coverage: With the NBA returning to NBC, plus major events like the Milan Olympics, the Super Bowl, and the World Cup on Telemundo, NBC News is expanding its Sports Hub in partnership with NBC Sports.
• Local News Collaboration: Since 2023, NBC News has been working more closely with its over 200 local affiliates, teaming up on big breaking stories and cross-promoting content – a smart move given the growing trust in local news.
• Marketing Campaign: A new marketing campaign is in the works to "reinforce our reputation for rigorous fact-based reporting that is indispensable and accessible across all platforms for all."

These moves reflect a broader industry trend where news organizations are adapting to declining traditional revenues by exploring new digital avenues and specialized content. It's a challenging but necessary evolution for legacy media outlets to remain relevant and financially stable.

Frequently Asked Questions About the NBC News Changes

What is Versant, and what does it mean for viewers?

Versant is a new company formed by Comcast's NBCUniversal that will house several cable networks, including MSNBC and CNBC, separating them from NBC News. For viewers, it means these channels will operate more independently from NBC News, with MSNBC even rebranding to MS NOW and building its own newsgathering operations. This separation is driven by the shifting media landscape and the decline of traditional cable TV.

What happened to NBC News's dedicated diversity teams?

NBC News has eliminated the dedicated teams that focused on verticals like NBC BLK, NBC Asian America, NBC Latino, and NBC OUT. While content related to these communities will still be published and integrated into the broader newsroom's coverage, there will no longer be specific teams exclusively dedicated to them. This has raised concerns among critics about a potential reduction in focus on marginalized voices.

What are NBC News's plans for the future?

NBC News is focusing on growth in digital and streaming. Key plans include launching a new subscription streaming service later this year, expanding its sports coverage, and rolling out a major marketing campaign to highlight its commitment to rigorous, fact-based journalism. They are also continuing to deepen collaborations with local news affiliates.

Are more media layoffs expected across the industry?

Unfortunately, yes. The articles suggest that the media industry is facing widespread challenges, including declining ratings and ad revenue due to audience migration to streaming. Layoffs have been occurring across many news outlets, including The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, CNN, PBS, CBS News, and ABC News, and more cuts are anticipated through the end of 2025.

Sources:

• Context provided by Business Insider, The Wrap, Los Angeles Times, Variety, TheDesk.net, The Advocate, Blacque Magazine.