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MS NOW Review

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Should I use MS NOW?

MS NOW (formerly MSNBC): Breaking news and the latest headlines today. Get daily updates from local reporters plus world news with live audio and video. - msnbc.com

· 1 month ago

MS NOW is a TV news network with a new $7.99/month streaming membership — worth paying for only if you specifically want its hosts and live coverage. If you just need headlines, or thought this was software, skip it: free news apps do the job.

Confidence

Medium. Based on ~25 public sources: trade press (Variety, Hollywood Reporter, LA Times), app-store reviews, and user forums. Not a software product — reviewed as a consumer news subscription.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security postureNo security page found in sources

Pricing

$0

Free app/website

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
MS NOW Membership$7.99/month

Best for

  • Cord-cutting fans of MSNBC hosts
  • Viewers wanting live progressive commentary
  • News junkies wanting live audio/video

Not for

  • Anyone shopping for a software tool — this is a TV news channel
  • Casual headline readers — free news apps cover that
  • Viewers wanting non-partisan coverage — Wikipedia describes it as liberal cable news
  • Cord-cutters unwilling to pay for previously free access

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

$7.99/month membership auto-renews; Terms of Service specifically warns about cancellation problems

medium

Content previously free on cable or the website now sits behind the paywall

low

Roku and some smart-TV users report the channel missing from their devices

low

Official FAQ says specific content, features, and pricing are not finalized — expect changes

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Live breaking news with audio and video, plus local reporters
  • First direct-to-consumer membership built for loyal 'super-fans'
  • Expanding investigative and local journalism via new partnerships
  • Available across Hulu, SiriusXM, and streaming platforms
  • Reported double-digit audience growth after the rebrand

Cons

  • Now gated behind a subscription; viewers openly angry about it
  • Mediocre 3.8/5 Android rating across 10,009 reviews
  • 2.2K consumer complaints on PissedConsumer, mostly about access
  • Quality-of-reporting worries after splitting from NBC's journalism wing
  • Rebrand caused site migration failures and brand confusion

Sources & method

- 11 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x2review x4security x1news x4

Key stats

  • Value for money: 2/5

    Rating

  • $0

    Starting price

  • 11

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 2/5. Paywall backlash over formerly free content
  • Ease of use: 3/5. 3.8/5 store rating; device complaints
  • Feature depth: 3/5. Live video, audio, local reporting; standard fare
  • Support quality: 2/5. Terms flag cancellation issues; 2.2K complaints
  • Security posture. No security page found in sources
  • 3.8/5 Google Play rating 10,009 ratings
  • $7.99/mo Membership price First direct-to-consumer tier
  • Yes Free tier Free app and website
  • 1996 On air since As MSNBC; rebranded Nov 2025

Pricing

Free app/website

$0

  • Breaking-news app and headlines
  • Limited access; full streaming costs money

MS NOW Membership

$7.99/month

  • Direct-to-consumer streaming, launched Sept 9, 2026
  • Aimed at loyal 'super-fans'

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

Alternatives

Compare MS NOW with each alternative.

  • AP News / Reuters apps

    Free wire-service headlines without paywalls or opinion shows

  • Hulu

    Already includes MS NOW with any plan — no separate membership

    MS NOW vs Hulu

  • SiriusXM MS NOW Radio

    Live audio channel if you already subscribe

  • Over-the-air antenna + local news

    Free broadcast news if you just want headlines

Full analysis

Based on ~25 public sources: trade press (Variety, Hollywood Reporter, LA Times), app-store reviews, and user forums. Not a software product — reviewed as a consumer news subscription.

Cable news, not software: $7.99/mo for what MSNBC gave cable subscribers. Super-fans only.

Methodology

Based on ~25 public sources: trade press (Variety, Hollywood Reporter, LA Times), app-store reviews, and user forums. Not a software product — reviewed as a consumer news subscription.

Read how a report is made.

Sources

  1. MS NOW Reveals Membership Tier in Bet on Loyaltyhollywoodreporter.com
    news
  2. MS NOW to Launch Subscription 'Membership' Servicevariety.com
    news
  3. MS NOW will launch direct-to-consumer streaming service on Sept 9latimes.com
    news
  4. MS NOW: Live & Breaking News — Google Play reviewsplay.google.com
    review
  5. 2.2K MSNBC Reviews — PissedConsumermsnbc.pissedconsumer.com
    review
  6. MS NOW — Bad news for quality of reporting?reddit.com
    review
  7. Really pissed off that i now need a subscription to watchfacebook.com
    review
  8. MS NOW Terms of Servicems.now
    official
  9. What you need to know about MS NOWms.now
    official
  10. MS NOW — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
    news
  11. Security pagemsnbc.com
    security

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