MS NOW to Launch Subscription ‘Membership’ Service in September for $7.99 Per Month
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MS NOW, the Versant-owned cable news network formerly known as MSNBC, has announced it will launch a subscription "Membership" service in September, priced at $7.99 per month or $79.99 annually. The move makes MS NOW the last of America's three main cable news outlets to introduce a standalone subscription offering, following similar services from CNN and Fox News, and reflects the network's ongoing effort to diversify revenue and deepen ties with its audience beyond traditional cable and digital output.
The service will offer subscribers original content, new verticals exploring how news and politics affect everyday life, and 24/7 access to live streams and television programming, with a focus on greater interaction with MS NOW's anchors and reporters. Network president Rebecca Kutler described it as "the first step in a long-term strategy" to build on what fans already value while addressing gaps identified by consumers. At $7.99 monthly, the offering sits between CNN's All Access ($6.99) and Fox Nation ($8.99), and follows earlier, less successful streaming ventures by the network, including 2014's "Shift" platform and a subsequent partnership with Peacock.
- MS NOW to launch $7.99/month "Membership" subscription service in September
- Last of the big three cable news outlets to offer one
- Prior streaming attempts, "Shift" and Peacock, had limited success
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MS NOW is the new name for MSNBC, the American cable news channel, since the network split from NBCUniversal and became part of a company called Versant. Like its rivals, it has traditionally made money from cable subscriptions and advertising, but changing viewing habits have pushed news broadcasters to look for extra ways to earn money directly from audiences who watch online.
Both of MS NOW's main competitors, CNN and Fox News, already run their own paid subscription schemes offering exclusive content and features beyond what is available for free. These typically include extra shows, behind-the-scenes material and closer access to presenters, aimed at viewers who want more than standard news coverage.
Rebecca Kutler, who leads the network as its president, has been overseeing MS NOW's strategy since the rebrand. The wider context matters because cable news audiences have been shrinking for years, and outlets have tried various paid online ventures before with mixed success, making this part of a broader industry-wide search for sustainable revenue beyond traditional television.
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