NBCUniversal launches new sports cable network
NBCUniversal is launching a new cable network on Monday that will broadcast live sporting events, some of which are currently exclusive to its Peacock streaming service.
The company announced Thursday that the new NBC Sports Network will air on YouTube TV and parent company Comcast’s Xfinity service. Agreements with other pay-TV providers are expected in the coming months, the company said.
The new channel will allow NBC to make its sports offerings more attractive to advertisers who might balk at the limited reach of its Peacock streaming service, which currently has 41 million subscribers. There is little duplication between Peacock subscribers and the nearly 60 million households that still purchase a traditional pay TV package.
Sports is also one of the main reasons why consumers continue to pay for cable and satellite television. NBCU executives believe the channel will help distributors such as Comcast build customer loyalty.
The new channel will broadcast Monday night NBA games, which were previously exclusive to Peacock. During the Winter Olympics in February, it will be home to Gold Zone, the daily coverage show hosted by Scott Hanson that was offered only on Peacock during the 2024 Summer Games.
Although the deal has not been officially announced, NBCU is expected to receive a package of Major League Baseball games, some of which will be broadcast on NBCSN.
The Wall Street Journal was first to report news regarding the upcoming sports network.
Other events from NBC’s sports portfolio that will appear on the channel include WNBA regular season and playoff games, Big Ten, Big East and Big 12 men’s and women’s college basketball, select coverage of major golf tournaments, Premier League Soccer and undercard races at the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oats.
NBCUniversal had a cable sports network, but shut it down in 2021 after losing television rights to the NHL. But the company has since invested heavily in live sports, which has strong appeal among advertisers.
In 2024, the company entered into an 11-year agreement to become a major media rights partner with the NBA.
The new channel will also carry Peacock’s sports talk shows, including “The Dan Patrick Show,” “The Dan Le Batard Show” and “Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry.”
