the 'Fast Money' traders talk Versant Media's IPO and what the future holds for the company. Versant Media is the parent company of CNBC.

Wall Street

Versant Media, recently spun off from Comcast, made its debut on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker VSNT. CEO Mark Lazarus outlined the company's strategy to diversify beyond pay TV and focus on vertical scale to differentiate its business. 

On its first trading day, Versant Media's stock fell by 13%, with significant trading volume attributed to mutual funds being required to sell shares due to index rules. Analysts noted the company's solid balance sheet and independent management, while also highlighting ongoing forced liquidations that may continue to affect the stock price in the near term.

Versant Media debuts on Nasdaq

Our parent company, Verson Media, ringing the opening bell right here at the NASDAQ this morning. The company completing the spinoff from Comcast, now trading under the ticker VSNT. CEO Mark Lazarus joins SquawkBox to lay out his vision for the new venture. Take a listen. The market is listening to what we're saying, that vertical scale is going to be a way for us to differentiate and to diversify our business, to be not so beholden to pay TV. While that's still a big profitable part for us, it's not going to be the end game. Verson Stock was down 13% today, but our very own Karen Feinerman picked up some shares. So walk us through your thesis. Yes. So several reasons that I did that. So one is, you know, one for the home team. I want to do that. So the second one is I do believe that when you are in charge of your own destiny, as VSNT is now, that you do a much better job. You're very focused. Right. So that's really important. The other thing is there is a technical issue to this trade that I think is really important, which is that most of Comcast is owned by mutual funds that are tied to, let's say, the NASDAQ composite. So they need to mirror that. VSNT will not be in that. So if you're a mutual fund and you own Comcast, you will get 4% of the number of shares that you own in Verson Stock. You can't own it. You must sell it regardless of price. When you can sell it, you might have a little bit of room. Often people begin to sell it immediately. So you saw a ton of volume today. Right. I think doing the math, I think there's maybe about 90 million shares to go potentially if all of the index related stocks sell, which I think may happen. But so today you had a lot of volume. I thought, all right, so about 10-ish percent of the shares traded today. I'll step in and buy about 10% today. I love the dynamic of when you have someone selling who cannot own it regardless of price. They have to sell it. And so I'm also somewhat intrigued by the media space has gotten a lot of attention. Yes. We'll see the W, whoever, however Warner ends up, we might see somewhat of a comp to look at. And, you know, the balance sheet's in decent shape. You got a management that's in charge of their own destiny. Let's see what happens. I mean, that's that stub price, right, of what Netflix wants to buy. X, the live businesses. That is the comp, in theory, to what Versant is now. And there was a bidder interested in that. Right. Yes. So that's. So there you have it. That's right. And Karen brings up the number of shares. So 40 something million shares traded today. You get a couple more days. You flush this thing out. And maybe it doesn't mean it goes down in those ensuing days. But Karen's right to sort of be sort of picking away at this in terms of the forced liquidation. Wait, I didn't see that. But that that number of volume was not there when I said that must have been a huge near the end of the day. That is late day. Yes. Late day. So that's really interesting. How does a Comcast chart look, Carter? I mean, you know, it's one of those that's trying to show itself. But I mean, we're not owned by Comcast. I already did that last time. I was like, look, it keeps trying. I mean, this is the kind of thing that the trick is just to avoid it. Avoid Comcast. OK. Yeah. Actually, you said that before, too. So that's fair. Yeah.

The U.S. seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker that was being shadowed by a Russian submarine on Wednesday (Jan. 7), after a more than two-week-long pursuit across the Atlantic as part of a U.S. "blockade" of Venezuelan oil exports.

U.S. seizes Venezuela-linked oil tanker after weeks-long pursuit

Nick Reiner, the son of Rob and Michele Reiner, is set to be arraigned in the killing of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. It comes as details emerge about his time in custody and how his mental health history could play a role in his case.

Los Angeles

Nick Reiner due in court on murder charges

Flights across France and Belgium and Eurostar train services have been severely disrupted by the winter weather.

Paris

Eurostar trains and hundreds of flights cancelled amid heavy snowfall

President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday urged security forces to distinguish between what he called rioters and protesters, urging them not to target peaceful demonstrators.

Tehran

Iran's President urges security forces not to target protesters

In Iran, protests that broke out on December 28th over the soaring cost of living look set to continue. Security forces fired tear gas at demonstrators in Tehran's Grand Bazaar on January 6: without giving numbers, Iran's IRNA news agency said 'some' people were arrested.

Death toll rises as Iran's security forces clash with protesters

Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are reacting to the Trump administration's comments on a potential Greenland takeover from Denmark.

Nuuk

European leaders blast Trump over Greenland takeover discussions

Donald Trump says Venezuela will hand over as much as 50 million barrels of oil and he will control the profits.

Washington

Trump says Venezuela will turn over 30-50 million barrels of oil

Britain and France have said they could send troops to Ukraine if a ceasefire is agreed. The pledge came at a Paris meeting of 30 nations, including the US, on security guarantees demanded by Kyiv before any peace deal.

London

Ukraine Invasion

UK, France ready to deploy troops in Ukraine after ceasefire

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he would “take up arms” in the face of threats issued by US President Donald Trump.

Bogotá

Colombia vows to defend its sovereignty amid Trump’s military threats

Israeli forces storm Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank soon after students begin a sit-in in solidarity with jailed Palestinians.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israeli school assault wounds dozens of Palestinians in West Bank raid

The White House says U.S. President Donald Trump and his team are considering a range of options in efforts to acquire Greenland as the ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro continues to reverberate in the Western Hemisphere.

Trump sees acquiring Greenland as a national security priority

The United States for the first time backed a broad coalition of Ukraine's allies in vowing to provide security guarantees that leaders said would include binding commitments to support the country if it is attacked by Russia again.

U.S. backs security guarantees for Ukraine at summit of Kyiv's allies

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep concern over recent U.S. military action in Venezuela, calling for the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

Soweto

Ramaphosa urges UN action after U.S. capture of Maduro

At least 25 people have been killed in Iran during the first nine days of protests that started in the bazaar of Tehran over the plunging value of the currency and soaring inflation, according to rights groups. This video contains graphic images.

Rights groups say at least 25 dead in Iran protests

The administration of President Donald Trump is planning to meet with executives from U.S. oil companies later this week to discuss boosting Venezuelan oil production after U.S. forces ousted its leader Nicolas Maduro, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Trump administration sets meetings with oil firms on Venezuela: source

Uncertainty in Venezuela has crossed into neighboring Colombia, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Colombian President Gustavo Petro could face U.S. action following the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

Tension rises in Colombia after Maduro’s capture

Nicolas Maduro appeared in a US courtroom on January 5, 2026. He pleaded "Not Guilty" to drug trafficking and other charges, insisting he is still Venezuela's president. Maduro's kidnapping is being justified by the Trump administration as a "surgical law enforcement operation", but what proof is the case resting on?

New York

Maduro pleads 'not guilty' in U.S. drug trafficking case

Local authorities in Crans-Montana admitted failing to conduct fire and safety inspections at Le Constellation bar, where a fire killed 40 and injured 116 during New Year celebrations.

Crans-Montana

Swiss Alps bar not inspected for five years prior to deadly fire

Twelve Israeli military vehicles have entered the Quneitra countryside in southern Syria. Several villages there have been the target of repeated Israeli raids in recent months. Tuesday's incursions come as discussions between an Israeli and Syrian delegation are expected to continue in Paris - mediated and coordinated by the U.S.

Beit Jinn

Israeli army vehicles enter southern Syria ahead of Paris talks

Following the largest anti-corruption investigation of his presidency, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has launched a significant shake-up of the government and his office, with a series of dismissals and appointments in top political and security roles.

Kyiv

Ukraine's security service chief resigns amid Zelenskyy's reshuffle

The capture of Nicolás Maduro is prompting strong reaction from Venezuelans in the United States, and those who fled across the border into Colombia. Lilia Luciano has more on the two women vying to lead the country. Then, Cristian Benavides reports on opposing viewpoints on U.S. intervention.

Caracas

Venezuela Strikes

Two women vying to run Venezuela amid opposing viewpoints

Police and the Secret Service are investigating a break-in at Vice President JD Vance's Ohio home. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul has more.

Cincinnati

Vice President JD Vance's Ohio home broken into

Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty Monday to federal drug trafficking and weapons charges, days after they were captured by U.S. military forces in a stunning overnight operation and brought to New York City for prosecution.

Manhattan

Maduro, wife plead not guilty to charges in New York

A Paris court on Monday (January 5) found 10 people guilty of the cyber-harassment of France's first lady, Brigitte Macron, for spreading false claims that she is a transgender woman who was born male.

Ten convicted for cyber-bullying France's Brigitte Macron

Nicolás Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, was officially sworn in as Venezuela's acting president. President Donald Trump warned he could go after her if she doesn't comply with U.S. demands, including access to the country's oil supply.

Trump says U.S. "in charge" of Venezuela

A Paris ​court on Monday found ten people guilty ⁠of the cyber-harassment of France's first lady, Brigitte Macron, for spreading false claims she is a transgender ​woman who was born a man. The court convicted all defendants to sentences ranging from a cyberbullying awareness training to 8-month suspended prison sentences.

Ten people found guilty of cyberbullying Brigitte Macron

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is set to appear in a U.S. court on Monday (January 5) on drug charges after his controversial capture by American forces. President Donald Trump says he could order another strike if Venezuela’s interim government doesn’t cooperate.

Trump warns of second strike as Maduro faces U.S. drug charges

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is being housed at Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, after he was captured by U.S. forces and flown to New York to face federal drug trafficking and weapons charges.

Maduro held in same jail as Sean "Diddy" Combs, Luigi Mangione

Police have identified all 40 victims who died in a New Year's Eve bar fire in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, including multiple teenagers. Two managers of Le Constellation bar have been placed under investigation for criminal negligence, according to prosecutors.

Police identify all 40 victims of Swiss bar fire

Seized overnight from their home on a military base on Saturday, Venezuela's toppled leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife are now being held in a New York detention centre. The apprehension is the U.S.'s most controversial in Latin America since the invasion of Panama 36 years ago.

Breakdown