Versant set to explore new programming strategy as split from Comcast concludes 

Comcast has officially completed the spin-off of Versant Media Group, with the new entity comprised of seven cable channels and several other assets starting to trade on the NASDAQ stock exchange on Monday.

Mark Lazarus

Led by CEO Mark Lazarus, Versant Media is comprised of cablenets CNBC, MS NOW (fka MSNBC), USA Network, Golf Channel, Oxygen, E! and SYFY, as well as Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. It does not include broadcaster NBC, streamer Peacock or reality-focused cabler Bravo.

With its separation from US media and telecommunications giant Comcast, Versant Media intends to pursue an adjusted programming strategy, with execs claiming they will have the ability to experiment and evolve the programming strategy that is distinct from Comcast and NBCUniversal.

The company’s senior VP of unscripted content, entertainment Cori Abraham and VP of unscripted content, entertainment Blake Levin appeared at C21’s Content London last month to lay out their programming plans for unscripted, including plans for true crime and sports-adjacent programming. The company also has a footprint across political news and opinion, sports, golf, business news and personal finance.

“Today marks a defining moment as Versant becomes an independent, publicly traded media company,” said Lazarus.

“As a standalone company, we enter the market with the scale, strategy and leadership to grow and evolve our business model.”

Comcast is one of several major media companies spinning off their cable assets as they manage the decline of their still-profitable linear assets. Examples include Lionsgate separating its studio business from Starz; Hearst Communications and Disney putting 50-50 joint venture A+E Global Media up for sale last year; and Warner Bros Discovery also planning to spin off its linear networks (and Discovery+) following Netflix’s acquisition of its studio and streaming assets.

Last May, Versant revealed its first programming slate, with 16 new titles greenlit for 2025/26. It also previously announced its programming team, led by president of entertainment Val Boreland.

In addition to Abraham and Levin, the programming team includes Susie Kricena as senior VP of content acquisitions and Michael Sluchan as senior VP of scripted content for entertainment.