Is the MSN TV network dying?

Facebook, not TV, will be platform for 2 new MSNBC shows

MSNBC’s two newest programs won’t be seen first on the cable-news network.

In the latest example of so-called “traditional” news outlets casting about for audience in new ways, the NBCUniversal-owned outlet will produce two daily videos that appear on Facebook before they surface anywhere else.

MSNBC is teaming up with NowThis a distributor of digital video in which NBCU has a stake. One, “Sound Off,” will focus on a breaking story in the morning that users can discuss and debate. The other, “FacePalm,” will appear toward the end of the day and examine one of the most shocking or frustrating events in the news cycle. The videos series will be released through NowThis’ and MSNBC’s Facebook pages.

https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/msnbc-to-launch-daily-facebook-videos-1201451355/

NBC, ABC, CBS are dying. Only telecoms that own/operate hardware devices or established web streaming companies will thrive

My Take
We're experiencing a shift in the television broadcast world with the continued emergence of web based shows.

The problem with web-based shows for Netflix, Shomi, Facebook, etc. is monetizing the content. Netflix based shows are designed drive awareness of the platform, thus driving subscriptions. Shomi is to protect Rogers and Shaw against cord-cutters and to learn how they can capture the online audience as they transition away from television subscriptions to online viewing.

This move by MSNBC is curious. I believe they are trying to attract a young audience in hopes to drive them back to the traditional MSNBC television programming. This is a stretch at best and in my opinion will fail. How they will monetize programming and content raises flags. Even YouTube, the king of web-content is not profitable. The dollars they pay out to content creators, etc. only just covers the revenue of the ads. I'm also curious why they didn't choose MSNBC.com for this content. Hosting the shows on Facebook tells me that they are having huge troubles attracting a younger or generally an online audience. Comcast who owns NBC and their respective web properties may not have the NBC television property in their long-term plans.

We're in an interesting transition period. I for one am fascinated on how television broadcasters such as NBC, ABC, Fox, etc. will survive. I don't think they will. Instead web companies like Google, Netflix, Rogers, Amazon, Bell, Sony, Samsung and the like will survive. These are companies such as telecoms that own/operate hardware devices, or established web streaming companies.