viewers

Starting Saturday, NBCUniversal’s cable news channel MSNBC will be called MS NOW, a makeover that may come as a shock to its loyal audience.

It’s why every MSNBC host has been sending the same message in promotional spots, on their programs and in press interviews about the new moniker. They say: We’re not going anywhere and we’re not changing.

“ ‘Morning Joe’ will still be ‘Morning Joe,’ ” said the program’s co-host Joe Scarborough in a recent Zoom conversation. “Chris Hayes will still be Chris Hayes. Rachel Maddow will still be Rachel. Lawrence O’Donnell will still be Lawrence.”

“We’re just going to keep doing what we do,” added Scarborough’s wife and co-host, Mika Brzezinski.

While no programming changes are planned, the rebranding will be a test in an age when brand awareness is difficult to achieve as the media marketplace is highly fractured. MSNBC kept its name for 29 years even after its founding partner Microsoft gave up its stake in the network.

Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough on “Morning Joe.”

(MSNBC)

MS NOW — an acronym for “My Source for News, Opinion and the World” — is the result of the politically progressive network being spun off into a company called Versant. Parent company Comcast announced the move last year as it no longer wants the slow, steady decline of the cable business holding back its stock price. Versant, which also includes CNBC, USA Network, Oxygen, E! and Golf Channel, will be its own publicly traded company starting in January.

The new ownership for MSNBC led to a separation from NBC News, which operated MSNBC since its launch in 1996. Although Versant leadership initially said the name would remain, NBCUniversal wanted to avoid having the network’s brand attached to a channel it no longer controlled.

Versant executives will likely be nervous when they look at the Nielsen ratings the first few weeks after the name change. But Julie Doughty, regional executive director of naming and verbal identity for the global brand consulting firm Landor, believes the shift is minor enough for consumers to get used to quickly.

“I’m sure they were concerned about disrupting the brand awareness they’ve built and losing the legitimacy and gravitas of the NBC name,” Doughty said. “This new name closely tracks the original. It has the same number of letters. MS is still in the front, which is a nice bit of continuity for those customers who already just shorten the name to MS.”

Doughty added, “The real test will come in the content. Will it continue to have high standards and deserve their trust as a mainstream new source?”

The network appeared to pass its first big test as a freestanding news organization with coverage of the Nov. 4 off-year election that saw a strong showing for the Democrats and the passage of the congressional redistricting proposition in California.

Nielsen data showed MSNBC finished well ahead of CNN on the night and just slightly behind perennial cable news ratings leader Fox News.

MSNBC becomes MS NOW on Nov. 15.

(MSNBC)

MS NOW executives say they remain committed to covering breaking news, staffing the channel’s own Washington bureau and entering news-gathering agreements with Sky for international coverage and AccuWeather. A number of NBC News journalists, including White House correspondent Vaughn Hillyard, justice and intelligence correspondent Ken Dilanian and national correspondent Jacob Soboroff, moved to MS NOW with the belief there will be more opportunities for expansive reporting.

“I won’t say their names, but some of the best reporters at NBC are far more disappointed with this than we are,” Scarborough said. “Their window just went from having 30 minutes on ‘Morning Joe,’ where influencers are, to 35 seconds on a morning show or maybe a sound bite on ‘NBC Nightly News.’”

The network is leaning heavily into promoting its lineup of personalities who in the current era of divided politics serve as tribal leaders for the audience.

“One of the things that so impressed me three years ago when I joined MS was the depth of the relationship with the fans,” MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler said at a recent press breakfast at the network’s new headquarters in Midtown Manhattan once occupied by the New York Times. “Eight hours a week — that is a ton of time and that is how much people watch us.”

The only signature MSNBC talent who chose to go with NBC News is political analyst Steve Kornacki. Willie Geist will remain host of NBC’s “Sunday Today” in addition to his duties on “Morning Joe.”

MSNBC on-air personalities believe the lack of a large corporate owner will be freeing at a time when journalism organizations and their parent companies are fearing the wrath of President Trump and his threats of business-related retribution over coverage he doesn’t like.

Last month at an MSNBC fan event in Manhattan, Maddow stirred up the crowd by touting the network’s editorial independence. She called the network a “nontoxic workplace” that is “at no risk of right-wing bloggers who are some billionaire’s friend.”

The comment was a reference to Bari Weiss, founder of anti-”woke” website the Free Press, who was hired to be editor in chief of CBS News and is a clear favorite of parent company Paramount’s chief executive, David Ellison.

Scarborough and Brzezinski said they have noticed how fans greet them with a bit more intensity since Trump has returned to the White House.

“When people see us on the street or the airport, they hug us a little longer and they thank us a little more,” Scarborough said. “They ask if everything is going to be OK.”

Scarborough said the new corporate setup will allow more entrepreneurial opportunities for the on-air talent in other platforms such as newsletters, podcasts and live events.

Big Brother fans were left fuming just minutes into the latest episode, two days before the final

Big Brother viewers have issued the same complaint as they ask “why?” mere minutes into the latest episode, blasting the “ridiculous” instalment.

The Big Brother finale is merely two days away, with one contestant set to be crowned the 2025 champion on Friday, November 14. Earlier footage showed Somerset farmer Cameron bagging an automatic ticket to the finale, whilst fellow housemates face eviction.

Supporters have been casting their votes for who they wish to rescue as there’s a double elimination this week, which is believed to be a backdoor eviction. Elsa, Marcus, Teja, Tate, Emily, Richard and Jenny are all up for eviction, reports OK!.

Yet the elimination won’t be broadcast until tomorrow’s (November 13) episode, merely one day before the finale, leaving supporters absolutely livid with tonight’s (November 12) show.

Rushing to X, within minutes, one supporter declared: “This is such a filler episode i can’t, GIVE US THE WICKED TASK AND EVICTION NOWWWWW.”

Another penned: “It really is annoying that they are making us wait till tomorrow, the day before the final to see who’s gone. @ITV just can’t do backdoor evictions right, there’s too many of them.”

A third commented: “Why isn’t the eviction tonight?”.

A fourth remarked: “It really is ridiculous that the last eviction before the final, a double eviction as well, happened this morning and won’t be shown until tomorrow. This series has been done so badly.”

Another slated: “This is so stupid and pointless.”

Tonight’s episode witnessed Big Brother assembling the housemates on the sofa for a regal challenge.

Given that Cameron had secured his pass to the final, he was crowned King of the house.

Big Brother declared: “King Cameron, your first decision is to appoint your Royal Aid. They will be your right hand.”

Jenny was chosen as his Royal aide, whilst Marcus took on the role of Court Jester, tasked with keeping the monarch amused.

Tate was subsequently picked as a Royal Comforter, whose duty involved serving as a personal footrest, whilst Emily became the Royal Cook, responsible for all culinary matters.

However, things didn’t go according to plan, with Tate being banished to the garden jail before having rotten tomatoes hurled at him.

But viewers were left disappointed with the episode, demanding “more” for finals week.

One X user posted: “the final week has been a bore.”

Another commented: “I knew this week #bbuk would be boring! These tasks dont create drama.”

Big Brother’s finale airs Friday, November 14 at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX

Channel 4’s new drama Trespasses aired its first episode on Sunday night

Channel 4 viewers have voiced their frustrations over Gillian Anderson’s new series, Trespasses.

While some fans were enamoured with the fresh drama, others were less than impressed by what they deemed to be “dodgy” Irish accents.

Taking to social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, one disgruntled viewer wrote, “At times, I can’t understand a word people are saying …. It’s not just the accents, it’s the dodgy sound quality too #trespasses.”

Another chimed in, “Think I need subtitles on. #Trespasses.”

A third quipped, “#trespasses channel four….. I see what you did there! Getting down n dirty to Into the mystic by Van the man!!! Giving you points for this x, but some of the accents are again shocking!” (sic), reports the Express.

One surprised fan tweeted, “Crikey! I’ve only just recognised Gillian Anderson in #Trespasses. Her # Belfast accent sounds authentic. Struggling to understand when actors speak too rapidly.”

Another queried, “Is it common to say ‘I’m going to the bathroom’ in Northern Ireland? I always assumed that was purely an American phrase.”

Expressing anticipation for the series, one viewer penned, “Looking forward to watching the TV adaptation of #Trespasses on C4. Enjoyed the book when I read it this summer. Lola Petticrew was incredible in Say Nothing, so I have high hopes!”.

Another enthused, “God, it’s fantastic. I’m so glad that it lives and breathes like the book.”

The plot of Trespasses unfolds in a town outside Belfast in the 1970s.

The four-part drama is based on Louise Kennedy’s acclaimed first novel and features Lola Petticrew, Tom Cullen, and Gillian Anderson. The story centres on a forbidden romance during the Troubles.

The synopsis reads, “Working behind the bar of her family pub, serving a mixed crowd including locally stationed soldiers, Catholic schoolteacher Cushla meets Michael, an older Protestant married man, who often defends IRA suspects and is friends with cultured Bohemians who enrage and intrigue her.

“Worlds apart, Cushla knows a relationship like this spells all kinds of trouble, but they are irresistibly drawn to each other.

“In a place where loose lips cost lives and danger lurks in the shadows, amid the fear and paranoia, this illicit affair between the pair ignites and burns bright.”

Trespasses can be streamed on All4.

Sir Rod Stewart performed at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance on BBC One

Sir Rod Stewart’s lively performance at this year’s Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at London’s Royal Albert Hall left some viewers unimpressed.

The 79-year-old music icon kicked off the annual event, attended by high-ranking royals and military veterans, with a spirited rendition that split opinions among home audiences.

Despite the evening being dedicated to honouring the nation’s fallen heroes, some fans suggested his hip-shaking moves were “not exactly in the spirit of remembrance.”

One disgruntled viewer posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Because Rod Stewart gyrating his hips is how we all want to pay tribute to the fallen.”

Another commented, “Rod Stewart’s really going for it, but I’m not sure those hip gyrations are exactly in the spirit of remembrance,” and questioned, “Is this appropriate?” according to the Daily Express.

Someone else added, “Rod Stewart is totally inappropriate for the Festival of Remembrance.”

However, many came to the defence of the veteran singer, highlighting his decades-long history of entertaining troops and supporting military charities.

One fan praised, “Sir Rod Stewart on bbc1 tonight made me so very proud and all our soldiers and airmen, and LADIES GOD BLESS YOU ALL THANKYOU YOUR ALL AMAZING THANKYOU.” (sic)

Someone else complimented, “Sir Rod Stewart isn’t looking (or sounding) half bad for a man of 80! Good for him.”

Sie Rod, who previously performed at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, has a long-standing commitment to charity work supporting the armed forces. He returned to the stage a second time to perform his hit song, Sailing.

The evening, held at the Royal Albert Hall and presented by Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham, also saw performances from Sam Ryder, Keala Settle, Blessing Offor, and The Wellermen, alongside moving displays by the Central Band of the RAF and Royal Marines Band Service.

This year’s Festival of Remembrance commemorated the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II and paid tribute to the bravery of those who served, while also recognising the resilience of military families and the advancements made since the prohibition on LGBT service personnel was removed 25 years ago.

Viewers applauded the entire show, sharing their thoughts online: “The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance is always so beautifully put together. An incredible tribute to those who serve & have served our country.”

Some acknowledged the sacrifices being remembered whilst criticising the current state of Britain’s borders. One viewer commented: “In the year that our government admitted that they have lost control of our border, it makes the #festivalofremembrance more poignant than ever. Let us pray we don’t see the day when we admit they all died in vain.”

Many were left feeling emotional during the annual commemoration, with one viewer confessing: “10 minutes in and I’m already in tears.”

Another shared: “Imagine not seeing your baby until it was 9 months old. It’s incomprehensible. We owe these men and women so much.”

Hannah Waddingham received acclaim for her “simply superb” hosting and “stunning” vocal performance as she sang “We’ll Meet Again”.

Netflix has released a new four-episode series that follows a serial killer who strikes terror in Italy by targeting couples parked in lovers lanes – and viewers have been urged to check it out

Netflix subscribers are being urged to watch a gripping mini-series that will have you hooked from the very first episode. Film enthusiast Eccy Reviews, who shares the latest film and TV recommendations on social media, has told his followers they must watch The Monster of Florence.

The four-part series tells the true story of a “serial killer who strikes terror in Italy by targeting couples parked in lovers lanes, authorities explore a case from 1968 that may be key to identifying The Monster of Florence”. Directed by Leonardo Fasoli and Stefano Sollima, the programme features performances from Francesca Olia, Liliana Bottone, and Marco Bullitta.

Discussing the series, Eccy Reviews said: “You need to stop whatever you’re doing because Netflix just dropped a brand new series and it honestly might be one of the best shows of the year.”.

“It’s based on a true story. Now, trust me when I tell you that the first episode will have you absolutely hooked. It made me binge the entire thing and I honestly can’t recommend it enough.

“It can’t go under the radar. Everyone needs to watch it, everyone needs to talk about it. So make sure to get this show on your watch list and get it watched.”

Responding to his recommendation, one viewer said: “When I say my jaw just kept hitting the floor! This was a lot to take in but I did like it.”

Another commented: “Straight out of a Criminal Minds episode.”

A third wrote: “I always follow your recommendations, I’m starting it now.”

One viewer shared their thoughts on IMDb, stating: “I’d never heard of these murders until I watched this series.

“It’s well-acted and portrays the changing look and feel of the time periods in which it is set – a 20 year time span – through decor, cars, fashions and background music.

“The treatment of women is absolutely disturbing – not just the horrific murders but also the total misogyny and disrespect that they lived under in some family units.

“Apart from the detectives investigating these crimes – and the innocent victims – I don’t think there is one man featured who has any redeemable qualities.

“It was interesting but at times repetitive in that the same event was shown several times, albeit from different people’s perspective.”

Another viewer chimed in with: “This crime thriller is based on true events. After long time finally a solid psycho murder episode from Italy on Netflix.

“I find it is actually on short supply to see good series or movies from Italy on Netflix. The first episode was for me too slow paced and I thought already to stop.

“But the longer I watched it the more interesting the story got. There are many flashbacks to reconstruct the mystery puzzles and help so the audience to understand what was really going on.

“The atmosphere and filming locations have been wonderfully created from the 60s to the 80s.

“The actors played the characters respectably and I think the director did a great job too.

“If you liked the other two psycho killer series on Netflix Jeffrey Dahmer or Ed Gein this is for you. Final vote: 7/10.”

Netflix on Wednesday touted a surge in popularity for its low-cost streaming plan with ads, as it looks to tap into the lucrative the world of brands.

The streaming giant said it now has more than 190 million monthly active viewers watching ads through a plan that costs $7.99 a month. The lowest cost ad-free plan costs $17.99 a month.

In May, Netflix said it had 94 million monthly active users watching ads through the cheaper plan. That translated to roughly 170 million monthly active viewers, the company said at the time.

However, the Los Gatos, Calif.-based company is now using a different methodology to measure its audience watching ads, making exact comparison’s difficult.

Netflix now defines monthly active viewers as customers who watched at least 1 minute of ads on Netflix per month. It then multiplies that by the estimated average number of people in a household. Previously, Netflix had measured monthly active users based on the number of Netflix profiles watching content with ads.

The streamer said its previous measurement didn’t illustrate all the people who were in the room watching.

“Our move to viewers means we can give a more comprehensive count of how many people are actually on the couch, enjoying our can’t-miss series, films, games and live events with friends and family,”wrote Amy Reinhard, Netflix’s president of advertising in a post on the streamer’s website on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Netflix executives said the growth in ad viewers was in line with their expectations.

“We are very satisfied with where we are at,” Reinhard, said in a press briefing. “We think there is a lot of opportunity to grow on this plan around the world, and we’re going to continue to make sure that we are offering our customers a great experience and a great buying experience on the advertising side.”

Netflix began its foray into ad-supported streaming in 2022, after it received pressure from investors to diversify how it makes revenue. Previously, Netflix mainly made money through subscriptions and for many years had been ad-adverse.

The company said last month it was on track to more than double its ad revenue in 2025, but did not cite specific figures. Netflix Co-CEO Greg Peters said in an earnings presentation in October that the ad revenue is still small relative to the size of the company’s subscription revenues, but advertisers are excited about Netflix’s growing scale.

“We see plenty of room for growth ahead,” Peters said.

On Wednesday, Netflix said it is expanding its options for advertisers, including demographic targeting in areas such as education, marital status and household income.

Netflix also said it has partnered with brands including brewing company Peroni Nastro Azzurro in ads for its romantic comedy series “Emily in Paris,” and tested dynamic ad insertion with programs including WWE Raw this quarter and will offer that feature in the U.S. and other countries for NFL Christmas Gameday.

Many streamers have been increasing the cost of their subscriptions in order to become more profitable. Earlier this year Netflix raised the prices on plans.

Ofcom has received more than 100 complaints from Married At First Sight viewers over the way groom Ashley was treated during his time on the hit E4 reality series

Ofcom has received more than 100 complaints from Married At First Sight fans over the way a groom was treated. Earlier in this series of the hit E4 reality show. viewers watched as midwife Grace ‘tied the knot’ with Ashley but she was visibly not very keen from the start.

The couple made it past the initial wedding stage of the experiment, but various issues kept cropping up as they tried to embark on their new relationship and it all ended after one final argument that took place at a dinner party.

She added: “I expect you to act like a grown man capable of self-control. Sponsored by Canesten Duo.” The pair have been notably absent at various points within the series, and in the end, Ashley removed his wedding band when he decided that ‘couldn’t do anymore‘ for her without her taking issue with it as she accused him of ‘twisting’ everything.

READ MORE: Married at First Sight UK’s Ashley issues statement after sparking romance rumoursREAD MORE: Married At First Sight UK’s Grace takes brutal swipe at Ashley as fans express concern

But viewers have taken issue with the way that experts Mel Schilling, Paul C Brunson and Charlene Douglas seemingly enabled Grace’s behaviour during her time on camera. A spokesperson for Ofcom confirmed: “Complaints related to the experts allegedly enabling Grace’s treatment of Ashley.” In total, the regulator received 166 complaints from angry viewers.

It comes just one day after Grace took to social media to hit out at her ex regarding their final argument. She said: “I expect you to accept no for an answer. I expect you to prioritise my discomfort over your desire for sex. I expect you to act like a grown man capable of self-control. Sponsored by Canesten Duo.”

Things went from bad to worse for the couple during Wife Swap week, when Ashley admitted that he was ‘happier’ when his bride was not around. On the verge of tears, he explained: “I’d hate to hurt Grace’s feelings. I just feel like I can’t give any more to this. So I have to be selfish and put myself first. Grace then admitted: “I would have really liked if this had worked out I think we recognise now there was never anyway it was going to (work). But yeah, you do know that deep down.”

When viewers first met Ashley and Grace, she refused to accept a kiss on the lips when they were pronounced as husband and wife. Things got even more heated between the pair at the dinner following the wedding, when Ashley admitted that he had been raised with ‘old-fashioned’ morals and believed that a man should be the breadwinner. Grace was visibly shocked at this revelation, and in a confessional, she fumed: “God, here we go!”

Later on, Grace’s friend Georgina interrogated Ashley over his outlook on life and when he suggested he was not necessarily a feminist, she raged that someone like that was not going to be a match for Grace.

She said: “My advice was, she wants to know you respect her.” She then relayed her concerns to Grace, but insisted she had managed to warm to Ashley by explaining to him just what she thought a feminist was. This whole scene did not go down well with some viewers either, with one writing: “Grace & her friends seem like the type to bring about their own misery,” and another slamming it as the ‘most insufferable conversation’ they had ever heard.

Viewers will have to wait to see just how things pan out between Ashley and Grace on the next episode, but the trailer for next week teased that things might not be looking so good.

In a short clip, Grace raged: “Every now and then he says something, and it’s like ‘Do you know how that sounds?!'”

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The Los Angeles Dodgers’ thrilling 11-inning Saturday win over the Toronto Blue Jays was the most watched World Series game since 2017, according to Nielsen data.

The Fox telecast of the Game 7 contest giving the Dodgers their second consecutive world championship attracted an average of 25. 5 million viewers on Fox.

Viewers watching the Spanish-language telecast on Fox Deportes and Fox Sports streaming platforms brought the audience figure to just under 26 million.

The Dodgers’ 5-4 win delivered the largest audience for a World Series game since the Houston Astros’ Game 7 win over the the team in 2017, which had an audience of 28.3 million.

The figure was 10% over the last decisive game seven World Series game in 2019, when the Washington Nationals defeated the Astros.

The battle on Saturday will go down as one of the most memorable games in World Series history, with a number of spectacular plays in the field and a dramatic go-ahead home run by Dodgers catcher Will Smith.

Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto won his third game of the series with his strong relief outing, earning him the Most Valuable Player Award for the series.

The audience level peaked between 8:30 and 8:45 p.m. Pacific, with 31.5 million viewers tuned in.

The Dodgers became the first Major League Baseball team to win back-to-back championships in 25 years.