NewsNation, the cable channel owned by Nexstar Media Group, has implemented a rebranding strategy, consolidating its daytime news segments under the single banner of "News Nation Live." This change, which also involved the renaming of certain shows, was implemented on November 24, 2025. Previously, the "Live" designation was used exclusively for the morning block, anchored by Marni Hughes, commencing at 9 a.m. Eastern. Subsequently, at noon, the branding transitioned to "NewsNation Now" for the following three-hour blocks, with Nicole Berlie anchoring from noon to 3 p.m. and Connell McShane taking over at 3 p.m.
While Nexstar has not officially confirmed this, the move seems aimed at establishing a consistent brand identity for the network's daytime news programming. The previous system, using "Live" before noon and "Now" afterward, created a distinction that was primarily relevant only on the East Coast. Because the network broadcasts live across all time zones, the "Now"-branded programming began in the late morning for viewers outside of the Eastern time zone.
By unifying these blocks under the "News Nation Live" name, NewsNation eliminates branding discrepancies between rolling news segments that, from a viewer perspective, share a similar format.
Along with the renaming, TV listings and the graphic introductions for Berlie and McShane’s segments have been updated. The network has also introduced new variations of its theme music, composed by Stephen Arnold Music (SAM). The network continues to use elements of the original music alongside the new additions from SAM.
This rebranding also allows NewsNation to potentially reserve the "NewsNation Now" branding for its website domain, newsnationnow.com, which it has used since launch, apparently due to difficulties in acquiring newsnation.com. While the connection isn't confirmed, the move could further differentiate the network’s linear and digital presence.
"Live" is frequently used in television show titles, spanning late-night entertainment and news, though its use doesn’t always indicate a live broadcast, such as with ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” which is usually prerecorded. In such instances, "live" likely refers to a “live to tape” production style and the presence of a live studio audience.
The cable network formerly known as MSNBC used the “Live” branding for its dayside news blocks under the name “MSNBC Live” before switching to “MSNBC Reports” in 2021, and, as part of an overall network rebranding, “MS NOW Reports” in November 2025. At the time, MSNBC noted that the name change was designed to emphasize the programming’s hard-news focus. The naming schema also helped put focus on the network’s talent, with individual blocks titled as “(Anchor Name) Reports,” a practice that continues to this day. MSNBC Live returned as the name for the network’s series of in-person events earlier in 2025.