MSNBC is being renamed after parent company Comcast spins the cable news channel off into a separate corporate entity later this year.

The left-leaning channel will be known as MS NOW once it becomes part of Versant, a new company, and is no longer associated with NBC News, staffers were told Monday.

"Morning Joe" co-host Joe Scarborough informed viewers of the pending change on his program.

"This shows we're independent," Scarborough said. "I'm excited."

In a memo obtained by the Times, Versant Chief Executive Mark Lazarus indicated it was NBCUniversal's decision to remove NBC and its famous peacock logo from the MSNBC name.

The MS NOW acronym — standing for "my source, news, opinion and world" — will convey that the channel has a point of view.

"The peacock is synonymous with NBCUn

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