Microsoft is pulling out of the joint venture that owned MSNBC.com, freeing the world’s largest software maker to build its own online news service.
The breakup, which was announced late yesterday, dissolves the final shreds of a 16-year marriage between Microsoft and NBC News, which is now owned by Comcast.
The relationship began to unwind in 2005, when Microsoft sold its stake in MSNBC’s cable TV channel to NBC.
NBC is buying Microsoft’s 50 percent interest in the MSNBC Web site for an undisclosed amount. MSNBC.com will be rebranded as NBCNews.com.