NBC bought 32% of Microsoft’s original 50% ownership of MSNBC in 2005 and the remaining 18% from MS 2 years later. So, Microsoft hasn’t had any ownership in MSNBC since about 2007.
“On December 23, 2005, it was announced that NBC Universal would acquire an additional 32% share of the television channel from Microsoft, solidifying its control over television operations and allowing NBC to further consolidate MSNBC’s backroom operations with NBC News and its other cable properties. msnbc.com (the website was a separate corporate entity from the television channel) would continue to be 50% owned by both NBC and Microsoft, and its operations would be largely unaffected. NBC would have the option, which it exercised, to buy the remaining 18% share of the television from Microsoft after two years.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MSNBC
Microsoft sold its 50% ownership in MSNBC.com in 2012.
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-07-16/nbc-buys-microsofts-share-of-msnbc-dot-com
Thanks for the detailed information.....Unfortunately, aggravating NBC seems to have little effect.