Microsoft sold stake in MSNBC.com

In 07/2012, Microsoft sold its remaining 50 percent stake in the MSNBC.com joint venture to NBCUniversal for approximately $300 million, ending a partnership that had begun in 1996. NBCUniversal, which was owned by Comcast at the time, assumed full control of the news website following the transaction. The sale separated Microsoft from the MSNBC digital brand while NBCUniversal prepared to rebrand the site. Following the deal, MSNBC.com was renamed NBCNews.com, aligning the website with NBC’s broader news operations. Microsoft had previously reduced its involvement in the MSNBC cable television channel, and the July 2012 sale completed its exit from the joint venture’s online presence. The agreement allowed NBCUniversal to fully manage editorial direction, branding, and digital strategy for the news platform. The transaction reflected Microsoft’s shift away from media partnerships and toward core software, cloud, and platform services. The companies stated that the separation would allow each organization to focus on its primary business priorities.