Comcast Launches New Site After Ending Microsoft Deal

Comcast CMCSA, NBC's new owner, has officially terminated the network's deal with Microsoft MSFT. The dissolution of their arrangement has led to some noticeable changes to MSNBC.com, which now redirects to NBCNews.com. Comcast is heavily promoting the switch with banner ads that reinforce the adjustments. The cable media conglomerate is also promoting a separate Twitter page, @NBCNews, which currently has more 288,900 followers -- more than 50,000 more than @msnbc. According to the New York Times, Microsoft received somewhere around $300 million for its stake in MSNBC. NBCNews.com Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Sizemore attempted to clarify these changes when she posted a brief message online. "While our name is changing, our commitment is not," she wrote. "MSNBC TV will launch a new digital home in 2013, as an extension of the MSNBC TV on-air brand, creating in-depth content and a community for the passionate audiences of MSNBC programs. Until then, MSNBC TV's digital content will continue to be available on this site, right where you've always found it." That should be easy enough for the average reader to comprehend. But the transition has not been without error. On the old Twitter page, @msnbc, readers are greeted by a confusing banner: "msnbc IS NOW @msnbc." The first "msnbc" is accompanied by the famous NBC peacock symbol, while the word "@msnbc" is not. That Twitter page links to tv.msnbc.com, which is the apparent new home of MSNBC. The site will not officially launch until early 2013. In the meantime, tv.msnbc.com redirects to msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434. However, msnbc.msn.com does not exist anymore. While individual pages are still active, the main address redirects to NBCNews.com. Could these changes and site redirects cause problems for either of the MSNBC or NBC News properties? That remains to be seen. But Steve Capus, the President of NBC News, told the New York Times that by making these adjustments, the company will fully own its digital business. "It's undeniable how big a part of all of our businesses the digital properties are going to be. We think we have a much better opportunity to shape them, and frankly grow the news division over all, if we have direct control over all of it." Capus said that what NBC had with the old site was "fine." "But I hate the word 'fine,'" he said. "We want something more than fine." Follow me @LouisBedigianBZ