Comcast has firmly denied plans to sell MSNBC after speculation arose following interest from billionaire Elon Musk and discussions about the network's future ownership.
The media giant recently announced plans to spin off its cable news channels, including MSNBC and CNBC, into a new company. However, a Comcast spokesperson clarified to reporters that "none of these assets are for sale" and that the new entity would remain owned by current shareholders.
The speculation intensified after Donald Trump Jr. tagged Musk in a social media post about MSNBC potentially being for sale. Musk responded by asking about the price and suggesting it could lead to "the most entertaining outcome."
When approached about potential interest in purchasing MSNBC, billionaire Mark Cuban declined, stating he doesn't believe anything can change the impact of linear TV news. Cuban expressed skepticism about what MSNBC could do differently to compete with Fox News, questioning if they should "manufacture conspiracy theories" or "go all in on crypto."
The network has faced challenges recently, with Nielsen data showing a 38 percent decline in average daily viewership since election day. Despite these numbers, Comcast's CEO Brian L. Roberts expressed confidence in the planned reorganization, stating the new spin-off company would launch with strong financial resources and be attractive to investors and content creators.
Musk, who purchased Twitter (now X) for $44 billion in 2022, has previously criticized MSNBC, calling it "utter scum of the Earth" and "puerile propaganda." While his social media exchange about buying MSNBC generated substantial attention, there's no indication of serious acquisition plans.
The speculation about MSNBC's future comes as traditional media companies navigate changing viewer habits and increased competition from digital platforms. Comcast maintains that its restructuring aims to position its media assets for future growth rather than prepare them for sale.