Elon Musk has launched a barrage of criticism at MSNBC, calling it “the utter scum of the Earth” and accusing the network of “peddling puerile propaganda.” Recently, he declared, “MSNBC is going down,” and has even shared memes suggesting he might buy the channel.
While conventional wisdom suggests Musk and his allies may be joking, his comments are contributing to growing unease among MSNBC staff. This anxiety is fueled by concerns about Donald Trump’s potential reelection and Comcast’s plan to spin off its cable channels, including MSNBC, into a separate company.
Sources familiar with the situation revealed that several liberal-leaning billionaires have reached out to MSNBC staff to express interest in purchasing the network. This has been seen as reassuring, as it suggests Musk or other Trump allies would not be the only potential buyers. However, contrary to rumors circulating on X, Comcast has not officially put MSNBC up for sale.
Instead, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts is moving MSNBC and several other cable channels into a new entity called “SpinCo,” a standalone cable programming company. The spinoff is intended to improve Comcast’s and SpinCo’s stock performance by isolating these profitable but pressured channels.
The transaction, expected to take about a year, raises questions about MSNBC’s future. Could a buyer step in once SpinCo is established? It’s complicated. As a tax-free spinoff, immediate asset sales could carry significant tax implications, potentially delaying or preventing a sale in the near term.
