The back story as to why there will soon be additional options for watching sports is more complicated than simply NBC Sports needing more space for its growing portfolio of live events.
There is a new channel that’s technically a relaunch with a familiar name. There is also a redefined brand encompassing multiple channels created through a new company, which was formed as a spin-off from the media giant that also happens to own the aforementioned relaunched network.
So the introduction, or reintroduction, of NBC Sports Network and USA Sports this year can seem a bit confusing. It involves NBC parent company Comcast, its reported interest in acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery, the requisite politics to get a merger of that size done and a media landscape that’s evolving rapidly. All these factors led to Versant, a new company that will house USA Sports and most of NBCUniversal’s U.S. cable networks, including MSNBC, USA Network, CNBC, E! and the Golf Channel.
The end result should be a net positive for sports fans, with more platforms to watch NBA, WNBA, MLB, college football and basketball, NASCAR, Premier League soccer and Olympics coverage. Here’s what to know about NBC Sports Network and USA Sports, including the sports events each will broadcast and answers to key questions on what this means for viewership moving forward:
What is NBC Sports Network?
NBC Sports Network, owned by NBCUniversal, is a new linear network with the same name as the sports-based linear network NBC previously operated from 2012 through 2021. The channel is seen as a vehicle for pay-TV customers to watch the thousands of hours of live events and studio coverage that could previously only be seen with a subscription to NBC’s streaming platform, Peacock.
The new NBC Sports Network will feature games and programming from NBC’s new media rights deal with the NBA and WNBA, a new MLB rights package, Big Ten and Notre Dame football, college basketball, various daily podcasts and sports talk shows and more.
“The new NBC Sports Network gives pay-TV customers a seamless way to enjoy the wide range of sports in our portfolio, adding an important pillar in our linear and streaming strategy,” Matt Schnaars, NBCUniversal’s president, platform distribution and partnerships, said in a statement. “NBCSN is a win across the board – driving value for fans and distributors who prefer an aggregated experience, league and conference partners seeking broad reach, and advertisers targeting engaged sports audiences – while also creating a new monetization path for some of our most premium programming and supporting NBCU’s commitment to serving viewers wherever they watch, whether on Peacock, pay-TV, or both.”
When does NBC Sports Network start?
NBCUniversal announced that NBC Sports Network will officially launch on Monday, Nov. 17. The channel will be available initially to all YouTube TV subscribers, and soon with Xfinity, according to an NBCUniversal press release. Other distributors will be announced at a later date, the company said.
What is USA Sports?
USA Sports is a collection of sports media rights packages that will air on three Versant channels (USA, Golf Channel and CNBC) throughout the year. Coverage includes WNBA regular season and Finals games, the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, PGA Tour events, Premier League soccer and WWE Smackdown, among other offerings. Versant officially launched the USA Sports brand on Wednesday, Nov. 12 and announced it will produce more than 10,000 hours of game and studio programming.
“Our new USA Sports brand and division name leans into USA Network’s decades-long reputation as a top national sports and entertainment network,” USA Sports president Matt Hong said in a statement. “USA Sports has something for all sports fans across the country.”
NBC Sports Network portfolio
- Programming on NBC Sports Network will include Monday night NBA games and the NBA playoffs
- Dozens of MLB games in a soon-to-be announced agreement, according to the NBC press release.
- Premier League soccer matches
- Gold Zone during the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics
- WNBA regular season and playoff games
- Big Ten and Notre Dame football games
- Big Ten, Big East and Big 12 men’s and women’s basketball games
- Select coverage of U.S. Open and The Open Championship in golf
- Tour de France
- Kentucky Derby undercard
- Major Olympic sports events (track and field, swimming, figure skating, gymnastics, ski and snowboard)
- Daily sports talk shows and podcasts like PFT Live, The Dan Patrick Show, The Dan Le Batard Show and Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry
USA Sports portfolio
Note: Games/events will air on USA Network, Golf Channel or CNBC
- More than 50 WNBA games on USA Network, including WNBA Finals games and Wednesday night doubleheaders during regular season
- NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs
- More than 175 Premier League soccer matches
- Pac-12 football, men’s and women’s basketball games
- Pac-12 men’s and women’s basketball tournaments
- More than 40 Atlantic-10 men’s and women’s college basketball games
- PGA Tour (roughly 3,200 hours of live golf overall)
- Select coverage of U.S. Open and The Open Championship in golf
- U.S. Women’s Open and AIG Women’s Open
- League One Volleyball
- WWE Smackdown