Comcast to Put MSNBC and Oprah Founded Oxygen Networks Up For Sale in Cable TV Sell Off

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Comcast, the media powerhouse behind NBCUniversal, is stirring up major buzz in the entertainment industry. The company recently announced that it’s considering a significant move: separating from several of its top cable networks, including MSNBC, CNBC, Bravo, and Oprah Winfrey’s Oxygen. This surprising revelation came from Comcast President Mike Cavanagh during the company’s third-quarter earnings call, and it has left media analysts and TV enthusiasts asking a ton of questions about the future of these beloved channels.

While Comcast’s broadcast network NBC and its streaming service Peacock will be spared from this proposed separation, it’s a clear signal that the cable TV world is shifting dramatically—and Comcast might be the next major company to embrace that change.

The “Cable Cut” Era: Why Comcast Might Be Pulling Back from Cable Networks

For years now, traditional cable TV has been steadily losing subscribers as millions of viewers cut the cord in favor of streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Comcast’s own Peacock. With streaming becoming the dominant form of entertainment for many households, cable networks have been scrambling to keep up. Subscriber numbers have dwindled, ad revenue has taken a hit, and the high cost of content production has forced even the biggest media companies to rethink their strategies. It’s no longer enough to rely on a traditional TV bundle; consumers want flexibility, customization, and above all, streaming.

Comcast has been feeling the squeeze from this trend, and so the company has decided to double down on its streaming service, Peacock. Launched in 2020, Peacock started strong, offering a mix of exclusive NBC shows, sports events, and original content, plus it was even the home of the Summer Olympics this year. And it seems to be paying off—Peacock’s subscriber base jumped by three million in the last quarter alone, bringing it up to a hefty 36 million. For Comcast, Peacock is the clear growth vehicle, which may be why they’re willing to reevaluate their commitment to traditional cable networks.

What Happens to the Networks? Enter the Idea of a Spin-Off

During the earnings call, Cavanagh mentioned that Comcast is considering creating a new, “well-capitalized company” that would house these cable networks, from MSNBC and CNBC to Bravo, Syfy, and Oxygen. This would make it a separate entity, but one still owned by Comcast shareholders. The goal? To streamline operations and give each segment the space to grow (or, in the case of cable networks, to stabilize in a very challenging media landscape).