Commentary

NBCU Starting A Sports Network - After Axing One 4 Years Ago?

by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, Yesterday

Starting up a new cable TV network -- for sports -- now in this market? Does that make sense?

For some time now, analysts have talked up that live sports and news are the two remaining programming genres left that can have value for legacy TV -- broadcast and cable.

But let’s not jump ahead too fast. Comcast/NBCUniversal is considering starting up a sports network as a supplemental platform for sports programming that originates on its Peacock streaming platform, according to reports.

The new sports network would be at NBCUniversal, not Comcast's forthcoming Versant spinoff -- where most of its legacy cable TV networks (USA Network, MSNBC, Oxygen, CNBC, among others) are headed.

For many, this doesn’t make sense now, four years after stopping for NBCSN, its longtime sports network. That channel ended because of financial conditions, partly as a result of high sports-rights costs and modest viewing of sports programming franchises -- NHL and NASCAR, for example.

Sports on Peacock -- including Premier League football (soccer), NASCAR, the Olympics, the Paralympics, PGA Golf, college football, and the Tour de France -- will find their way onto this channel.

Since the demise of NBCSN (NBC Sports Network), NBCU has been using its other channels -- USA Network, CNBC -- at times to supplement airings of golf events, Tour de France, the Olympics, and other sports.

So it makes sense that Comcast needs a low-cost home for what may be spillover airings needed to cover major sports events, as well as adding in modest-level sporting events -- for example, tennis, volleyball, lacrosse and even pickleball.

But couldn’t it have stayed on NBCSN -- in some form -- if it had a clear vision of the future? Here are two things to consider: Next year it starts a new big/highly watched 11-year deal with the NBA?

At the same time NBC, is considering a “Sunday Night Baseball” package that ESPN currently has -- to go along with “Sunday Night Football” and Sunday Night Basketball”

Five years ago, NBCSN couldn't see that marketplace. In other words, way more sports.

broadcast networks, cable tv, comcast, nbcuniversal, peacock, sports, television

2 comments about "NBCU Starting A Sports Network - After Axing One 4 Years Ago?".

Check to receive email when comments are posted.

Mark Sutton from NHR, July 29, 2025 at 12:33 p.m.
Makes no sense indeed....but looks like NBC is wanting more sports (who doesn't?), but low-cost sporting content....so it needs something to place them on....but yeah, NBCSN would have been perfect.

Just lousy forward thinking by the brass.
Reply

Ben B from Retired, July 29, 2025 at 8:28 p.m.

I always thought NBC made a mistake shutting down NBCSN 4 years ago and should've kept it with the EPL and the lower sports could've aired Olympic type events for filler in my opinion. Since they got NBA right NBC needs a cable sports network again.