Versant, Owner of MS NOW, in Talks to Acquire Vox Media’s Podcast Division
Versant, the parent company of CNBC and MS NOW, is looking to continue expanding its business beyond cable TV.
Versant, the newly formed parent company of CNBC and MS NOW, is weighing a buzzy acquisition target: the podcast network owned by Vox Media.
Versant is one of multiple suitors in talks to buy the network, which produces about 40 podcasts, according to several people with knowledge of the discussions, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the negotiations were confidential. The talks, which are still in their early stages, may not result in a deal, the people said.
Related Knowledge Center: State of the business model
The traditional journalism business model has long since collapsed, and news organizations have shrunk or disappeared entirely. While a number of promising experiments are under way, the public has not shown a willingness to buy what news organizations are selling.