NBC Upfront Showcase: Morning Joe and Squawk Box Hosts Highlight Versant Programming
Hosts from MS NOW‘s Morning Joe and CNBC‘s Squawk Box made an appearance at the NBCUniversal upfront presentation on Monday, showcasing the reach and impact of Versant Media‘s programming.
Traditionally, this gathering at Radio City Music Hall would have been a routine affair. However, in 2026, the scenario is markedly different as MS NOW and CNBC, alongside various other cable and digital properties, were spun off from Comcast to form the standalone entity, Versant Media.
To support its transition from a startup to an established corporation, Versant Media has secured multiyear agreements with NBCUniversal for distribution and advertising services. The portfolio under Versant includes MS NOW (formerly known as MSNBC), CNBC, USA Network, Golf Channel, and the movie platform Fandango. Versant began trading on the Nasdaq in January.
The Morning Joe co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough, along with CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin, Joe Kernen, and Becky Quick, contributed remarks as part of a nearly two-hour presentation by NBCUniversal. This event serves as the launch of this year’s upfront presentations, which will run from Monday to Wednesday.
“Every day, we equip our viewers with what’s happening in Washington, why it matters, and how it impacts their lives,” Brzezinski stated. “Our audience comes to us for trust and for deeper understanding. Viewership is up 20%. Our lineup is resonating. We’re reaching 32 million Americans every week who spend more than nine hours with us.”
Scarborough humorously pronounced the company’s name as “Ver-SAHNT,” while Sorkin and Quick shared updates from CNBC before unveiling a promotional reel.
Despite the emerging significance of Versant, it was not the focus of the lengthy presentation. Nonetheless, the new company received a mention during Seth Meyers’ comedic segment at the conclusion of the event, where he joked, “If you’re from out of town and you get hassled by someone for money on the subway, don’t panic – that’s just the Versant afterparty.”
