NBC has bought a controlling interest in MSNBC from Microsoft. They now own 82% with an option to buy the other 12% in two years. I'm not sure why they would do this personally unless they have a definite plan for the channel that is going to increase it's viewership and ratings. Microsoft seems to want out of the television space. Financials of the deal were not disclosed.

Of course I'll link to the Fox News article on this because I'm cruel.

Microsoft will continue to share ownership of the channel's Web site, MSNBC.com

...

NBC's head of news, Steve Capus, said in a statement that he expected the deal to allow NBC to make a fuller integration of MSNBC into NBC's news operations.

For Microsoft, the move to exit the cable network marks the latest pullback from the traditional media business following its sale of the online opinion journal Slate to The Washington Post Co. a year ago.