Elon Musk, the ever-provocative CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has his sights on a new target: MSNBC. In a series of recent posts on X (formerly Twitter), Musk has unleashed a barrage of criticism at the liberal-leaning news channel, calling it “the utter scum of the Earth” and “puerile propaganda.”
But Musk didn’t stop at mere condemnation. He began posting memes about buying the channel, fueling speculation that he might be considering a takeover bid. While some dismiss this as mere trolling, Musk’s track record of turning his online pronouncements into reality has left many wondering if he’s serious.
These developments have reportedly heightened anxiety among MSNBC staffers, already on edge due to the recent reelection of a conservative president and the announced spinoff of Comcast’s cable channels, including MSNBC.
Sources indicate that several liberal-leaning billionaires have expressed interest in acquiring MSNBC, according to a CNN report, offering a potential counter to any hostile takeover attempt by Musk. However, Comcast has not officially put MSNBC up for sale. The company plans to spin off its cable channels, including MSNBC, into a new entity dubbed “SpinCo.” This move is aimed at boosting shareholder value, not facilitating a sale.
Industry analysts believe that tax implications and strategic considerations would likely prevent any immediate sale of MSNBC after the spinoff is complete. Executives involved in the spinoff have also indicated that they intend to expand “SpinCo’s” portfolio, not dismantle it.
Despite these reassurances, Musk’s pronouncements have sparked a broader conversation about “media capture,” the phenomenon of powerful figures acquiring media outlets to advance their own agendas. This practice has been observed in countries like Hungary, where allies of the ruling party have gained control of significant media assets.
Whether Musk’s interest in MSNBC is genuine or just a provocative stunt remains to be seen. But his actions have undoubtedly injected a dose of uncertainty into the future of the cable news channel.