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NBCSN

{{Short description|American sports television channel (1995–2021)}}

{{About|the former American cable home of NBC Sports|the current de facto cable home of NBC Sports|NBC Sports on USA Network}}

{{Redirect|Versus (TV channel)|other uses|Versus (disambiguation){{!}}Versus}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}

{{more citations needed|date=January 2021}}

{{Infobox television channel

| name = NBCSN

| logo = NBCSN logo (flat).svg

| logo_size = 180px

| launch_date = {{start date|1995|7|31}}

| picture_format = 1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)

| owner = NBCUniversal
(Comcast)

| parent = NBC Sports Group

| country = United States

| language = English

| area = Nationwide

| headquarters = Stamford, Connecticut

| former_names = Outdoor Life Network
(1995–2006)
Versus (2006–2011)
NBC Sports Network
(2012–2013)

| closed_date = {{end date|2021|12|31}}

| sister_channels = NBC
Universo
Golf Channel
NBC Sports Regional Networks
Olympic Channel
USA Network
Syfy
CNBC

}}

NBCSN (also known as NBC Sports Network) was an American sports television channel owned by the NBC Sports Group division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It originally launched on July 1, 1995, as the Outdoor Life Network (OLN), which was dedicated to programming primarily involving fishing, hunting, outdoor adventure programs, and outdoor sports. By the turn of the 21st century, OLN became better known for its extensive coverage of the Tour de France but eventually began covering more "mainstream" sporting events, resulting in its relaunch as Versus in September 2006.

In 2011, Comcast, the original owner of the network, acquired a majority stake in NBCUniversal. As a result, Comcast merged the operations of its pay channels with those of NBC. In particular, it aligned the operation of its sports channels with NBC's sports division, NBC Sports. On January 1, 2012, Versus was rebranded as the NBC Sports Network. The branding was later shortened to NBCSN. By September 15, 2014, most of NBC Sports' operations, including NBCSN, had been moved to facilities in Stamford, Connecticut.

As of February 2020, NBCSN was distributed to 79.879 million homes and was the second most watched cable sports network besides ESPN (though some sources included ESPN2 as a separate network in those figures).{{Cite web |last=Ourand |first=John |title=FS1, NBCSN Seeing Big Dips In Home Distribution Numbers |url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2020/01/30/Media/Cable-distribution.aspx |access-date=September 3, 2020 |publisher=Sports Business Daily}} On January 22, 2021, NBCUniversal announced that the network would cease operations by the end of the year. NBCSN ceased operations on December 31, 2021, with its sports properties moved to USA Network, Peacock, and other NBCUniversal networks.

History

=As the Outdoor Life Network=

The channel originally launched as the Outdoor Life Network (or OLN) on July 31, 1995;{{cite news |title=Delays typical for new channel launches |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/95-OCR/BC-1995-09-11-OCR-Page-0046.pdf |access-date=7 August 2021 |work=Broadcasting & Cable |date=September 11, 1995 |page=46}} the name was licensed from Outdoor Life magazine. Its programming consisted of hunting, fishing, and outdoor adventure shows. In its early days, the channel reached around one million homes and found most of its carriage via the then-infant platforms of direct broadcast satellite services and digital cable. The network was one of two (the other being Speedvision) formed out of a partnership of Cox Cable and Times Mirror which had combined their cable systems operations a year earlier. Outdoor Life was originally planned to have launched at the beginning of July 1995. However, it was delayed when Times Mirror decided to reassess its media holdings. Times Mirror decided to reduce its stake in the two new networks to 10%; bringing Comcast and Continental Cablevision on as partners. The network initially had trouble gaining carriage and was also broadcast on several low power television stations.{{cite news |title=Continental, Comcast join Cox/TM team |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/95-OCR/BC-1995-07-31-OCR-Page-0032.pdf |access-date=7 August 2021 |work=Broadcasting & Cable |date=July 31, 1995 |page=30}}

In 1999, OLN acquired the U.S. broadcast rights to the Tour de France for US$3 million. Coverage of the Tour on OLN brought substantially greater viewership to the then fledgling channel, due in part to the then-growing popularity of American rider Lance Armstrong. In 2004, where Armstrong would aim for a record-breaking sixth straight Tour de France title, OLN would devote over 344 hours in July to coverage of the Tour, along with documentaries and other original programming surrounding the event, all of which promoted through a $20 million advertising campaign.{{Cite web |last=Bernstien |first=Andy |title=No word could describe the Tour de France, so OLN made one up |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2004/05/20040531/Media/No-Word-Could-Describe-The-Tour-De-France-So-OLN-Made-One-Up.aspx?hl=YES%20Network&sc=0 |access-date=January 2, 2012 |publisher=Sports Business Journal}}

Overall, while its coverage of the Tour de France helped OLN expand its carriage to over 60 million homes, rumors surrounding Armstrong's possible retirement from cycling led to concerns over the channel's overemphasis on him in its coverage (to the point that some critics sarcastically stated that OLN actually stood for "Only Lance Network").{{Cite news|last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=July 7, 2006|title=OLN Sizing Up Impact of the Post-Lance Era|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/07/sports/othersports/07sandomir.html|access-date=May 7, 2012}} Critics questioned whether the network could sustain itself without the viewership that Lance Armstrong's presence had brought to its coverage.{{Cite news |last=Deitsch |first=Richard |date=July 30, 2004 |title=Life after Lance: What happens to OLN once Armstrong finally retires from cycling? |publisher=CNNSI |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/richard_deitsch/07/30/media.0730/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040804121421/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/richard_deitsch/07/30/media.0730/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 4, 2004 |access-date=January 2, 2012}}

Following the 2005 Tour (where Armstrong captured his seventh victory in the race, and announced his retirement from cycling afterward), OLN debuted a new lineup of programming–led by the acquisition of off-network reruns of the reality competition series Survivor. OLN's executives believed that bringing Survivor into its lineup would fit well with the new direction it had planned for OLN, and could attract viewership from fans of the show who had watched it on CBS, though it was also the first example to prove that traditional repeats of reality competitions with the results already known was an unviable strategy.

Around the same period, OLN also acquired the rights to the Dakar Rally, America's Cup, the Boston Marathon, and the Iditarod. OLN planned to cover these events in a similar style to how it covered the Tour, hoping that its coverage might bring "surprise" results for the channel. Due in part to Armstrong's absence from the Tour in 2006, its ratings for live coverage of the first four stages of the race drew 49% fewer viewers than previous years.

==OLN and the NHL==

File:John Lieswyn 341.jpg after he won the Stillwater, Minnesota, Criterion in 2005]]

In May 2005, ESPN rejected a $60 million offer to renew its broadcasting contract with the National Hockey League (NHL) into the 2005–06 season, and the league rejected its alternate proposal for a revenue sharing agreement similar to the one it had established with NBC. With the NFL also shopping a new late-season package of Thursday and Saturday night games to potential broadcasters, speculation began to emerge that Comcast would bid on the new NHL contract as its first step to transforming OLN into a mainstream sports channel that could compete with ESPN.{{Cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=July 28, 2005 |title=With Armstrong Out, N.H.L. May Be in at OLN |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/28/sports/hockey/28sandomir.html |access-date=January 2, 2012}} Comcast had already been involved in NHL broadcasting; at the time, it owned majority control of the Philadelphia Flyers, and four Comcast SportsNet regional sports networks.

In August 2005, ESPN declined to match Comcast's offer, and OLN acquired pay television rights to the NHL beginning in the 2005–2006 season in a three-year deal worth close to $200 million. The new deal would include 58 regular season games on Monday and Tuesday nights, coverage of the NHL All-Star Game, conference finals, and the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals.{{Cite news |last=Rovell |first=Darren |date=August 18, 2005 |title=ESPN decides not to match Comcast's offer |work=ESPN.com |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2137098&CMP=OTC-DT9705204233 |access-date=October 15, 2007}} With the help of its new NHL package, by June 2006, OLN had now reached 75 million subscribers. However, due in part to OLN's lesser carriage in comparison to ESPN, the NHL's ratings that season had suffered in comparison.{{Cite news |last1=El-Bashir |first1=Tarik |last2=Heath |first2=Thomas |date=June 5, 2006 |title=NHL's Strong Comeback Marred by Poor TV Ratings |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/04/AR2006060400897.html |access-date=May 7, 2012}}

In 2006, OLN broadcast selected games in the Arena Football League's 2006 season. The channel televised a weekly regular-season game for 11 weeks as well as a wild card playoff game.{{Cite press release |title=OLN and AFL announce national TV partnership |date=February 17, 2006 |publisher=Arena Football League |url=http://www.arenafootball.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3500&ATCLID=238885&SPID=1563 |access-date=October 15, 2007 |archive-date=March 18, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318104422/http://www.arenafootball.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3500&ATCLID=238885&SPID=1563 |url-status=usurped }} However, the agreement was not renewed and was later picked up by ESPN, who also acquired a minority stake in the league's ownership.{{Cite press release |title=ESPN acquires minority stake, TV rights in AFL |date=December 20, 2006 |work=ESPN.com |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/news/story?id=2702195 |access-date=October 15, 2007}}

=As Versus=

File:Versus logo.svg

In April 2006, Comcast announced that it would be renaming Outdoor Life Network to Versus in the fall of 2006. As the network had shifted beyond simply "outdoor" programming, the name "Versus" was intended to represent the common element of competition within its lineup.{{Cite news |date=April 24, 2006 |title=OLN Network getting new name |work=Philadelphia Business Journal |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2006/04/24/daily9.html |access-date=May 7, 2012}} OLN's re-launch as Versus occurred on September 25, 2006.

Among the new programming acquired by Versus was a number of combat sports, beginning with a series of boxing programs promoted by Bob Arum's Top Rank promotion. The channel also began televising Chuck Norris's World Combat League, a kickboxing promotion featuring a unique round ring without ropes. Versus entered into a partnership with World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) to bring mixed martial arts events to the channel, with the first being broadcast live on June 3, 2007.

The channel also added a variety of sports events as part of the rebranding, including men's and women's college basketball, high school basketball,{{Cite press release |title=MWC Announces 2006–07 Men's Basketball Television Schedule |date=September 14, 2006 |publisher=Mountain West Conference |url=http://themwc.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/091406aad.html |access-date=October 15, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061030235125/http://themwc.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/091406aad.html |archive-date=October 30, 2006 |url-status=dead}}{{Cite news |last=Morfoot |first=Addie |date=December 7, 2006 |title=Versus gets rights to basketball tourney; Network will televise all eight high school games live |work=Variety |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117955274.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |access-date=October 15, 2007}} a weekly "game of the week" for the National Lacrosse League, darts competitions, the Major Indoor Soccer League, and the USA Sevens, one of the nine tournaments (then eight) that make up the IRB Sevens World Series, the top annual circuit in the sevens version of rugby union.

In 2007, Versus expanded its college football coverage; the network acquired a portion of the rights to the Mountain West Conference (as part of the deal, Comcast also took a stake in the conference's new cable network MountainWest Sports Network),{{Cite web |date=2006-07-19 |title=OLN joining TV team for MWC distribution |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2006/07/19/oln-joining-tv-team-for-mwc-distribution/ |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}} and acquired a package of 10 Big 12 and Pac-10 football games sublicensed from Fox Sports Net (replacing a package it had previously sub-licensed to TBS).{{Cite news |last=Consoli |first=John |date=June 6, 2007 |title=FSN, Versus Ink College Football Game Deal |url=http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003595322 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010102651/http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003595322 |archive-date=October 10, 2007 |access-date=October 15, 2007 |work=MediaWeek}}

In 2008, Versus announced a contract with the Ivy League to broadcast at least three games each year beginning in the 2008 season, culminating with the annual Harvard–Yale rivalry game. The initial two-year contract was later renewed in 2010.{{cite web|title=Versus renews Ivy League football contract|url=http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/sports/fball/2009-10/releases/versus_to_broadcast_ivy_football_games_in_2010__2011.htm|work=Ivy League Sports|date=June 9, 2010|access-date=April 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124155533/http://ivyleaguesports.com/sports/fball/2009-10/releases/versus_to_broadcast_ivy_football_games_in_2010__2011.htm|archive-date=November 24, 2010|url-status=dead}}

Versus secured coverage for the 2007 America's Cup, which had been a staple on ESPN and ESPN2 for years. The channel began to show qualifying regattas in late 2005, aired the Louis Vuitton Cup for challengers in 2007, and the America's Cup match between the Louis Vuitton winner and current champions, won by Alinghi of Switzerland in Valencia, Spain. In 2006, it picked up American broadcast rights (in conjunction with The Tennis Channel) of Davis Cup events.

Versus, with NBC Sports and the World Championship Sports Network (later Universal Sports), broadcast coverage of the 2007 World Championships in Athletics from Osaka, Japan, as well as the 2009 World Championships in Athletics from Berlin, Germany.

On January 28, 2008, Versus and the NHL extended their television contract through the 2010–11 season.{{Cite news |date=January 22, 2008 |title=NHL, Versus extend TV contract by 3 Years |work=yahoo.com |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=ap-nhl-versus-contract |access-date=April 6, 2008}} In June 2008, operations were moved from Stamford, Connecticut, to Comcast's headquarters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.{{Cite news |date=August 6, 2008 |title=Time Warner Cable Closing Conn. Offices |work=courant.com |url=http://www.courant.com/business/hc-ap-timewarner-0806,0,5048611.story |access-date=August 7, 2008}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} On August 7, 2008, the channel announced a 10-year deal with the Indy Racing League to broadcast at least 13 IndyCar Series events a year in HD, beginning in 2009.{{Cite news |date=August 7, 2008 |title=Solid Partnerships |work=indycar.com |url=http://www.indycar.com/news/?story_id=12219 |access-date=August 7, 2008}} The channel would also broadcast various motorsports series on its Lucas Oil Motorsports Hour program such as USAC, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, and World Series of Off-Road Racing.{{Cite web |title=WSORR Oshkosh Races Garner More National TV |url=http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2008/07/wsorr_oshkosh_r.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216074615/http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2008/07/wsorr_oshkosh_r.php |archive-date=February 16, 2012 |access-date=February 10, 2013 |publisher=Motorsports Journal}}

The channel aired the 96th Grey Cup, the championship game of the Canadian Football League in 2008.{{Cite web |title=Grey Cup to air live on Versus in the U.S. |url=http://cfl.ca/article/grey-cup-to-air-live-on-versus-in-the-u-s |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211151114/http://www.cfl.ca/article/grey-cup-to-air-live-on-versus-in-the-u-s |archive-date=December 11, 2008 |access-date=November 8, 2012 |publisher=CFL.ca}}

On April 5, 2010, Versus debuted The Daily Line, a sports betting show consisting of a four-person panel (host Liam McHugh before moving to NBC Sports, handicapper Rob DeAngelis, comedian Reese Waters, and Jenn Sterger) who discussed, often with heavy satire, sports-related topics that were popular that day.Huff, Richard. "Versus seeks game-changer with 'Daily Line' news show starring Jenn Sterger." New York Daily News April 2, 2010, Print. However, the show was cancelled due to low viewership on November 4, 2010.{{Cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Michael |date=October 29, 2010 |title=Versus cancels Jenn Sterger's sports TV show |work=USA Today |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2010/10/versus-cancels-jenn-stergers-sports-tv-show/1 |access-date=October 29, 2010}} It was revived by NBC Sports Radio in 2019 after the PASPA Act was declared unconstitutional, though NBCSN instead blended betting content into regular programming.{{Cite web |title=NBC Sports Radio Launches New Sports Betting Focused Afternoon Show |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/173332/nbc-sports-radio-launches-new-sports-betting-focused-afternoon-show/ |access-date=January 2, 2019 |website=Radio Insight |date=January 2, 2019 |language=en}}

The Ultimate Fighting Championship would air two live events on the channel due to the new contract agreement with UFC sister promotion World Extreme Cagefighting. The first edition of UFC on Versus aired on March 21, 2010, headlined by Brandon Vera vs. Jon Jones in the Light Heavyweight division. The second event aired on August 1 with Jon Jones facing Vladimir Matyushenko. Also as part of the agreement with the UFC, several UFC Countdown shows would air. A countdown show aired the week of a pay-per-view event, usually lasting for one hour, and covering 2–3 of the biggest fights on the card. In August 2011, the UFC announced a new broadcasting deal with the channels of rival Fox Sports, which would begin to take effect in November 2011.{{Cite web |date=August 18, 2011 |title=It's Official: UFC and Fox Are Now in Business Together |url=http://mmaweekly.com/its-official-ufc-and-fox-are-now-in-business-together |access-date=August 18, 2011 |publisher=MMAWeekly.com}}

Versus had also struck a deal with the NBA to air 10 regular season NBA Development League Saturday night games, as well as six playoff games a year. In total, the channel would air 16 NBA Development League games,{{Cite web |date=January 4, 2010 |title=VERSUS To Air 16 NBA D-League Games This Season |url=http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/versus_100104.html |access-date=August 10, 2011 |publisher=NBA}} in addition to 25 hours of NBA specials.

Starting in August 2010, Versus aired nine races of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour each Wednesday at 7 p.m. The races originated from a variety of locations, including Stafford Motor Speedway, Tri-County Speedway, and Thompson Motor Speedway.{{Cite web |date=July 22, 2010 |title=Whelen Modified Telecasts Set For VERSUS |url=http://hometracks.nascar.com/node/4969 |access-date=April 8, 2015 |website=NASCAR.com}}

=Merger with NBC Sports=

In February 2011, Comcast acquired a majority stake in NBC Universal, and merged its content operations into the company. As part of the acquisition, Versus and Comcast's other sports channels began to be integrated into the NBC Sports division. Coinciding with the merger, President Jamie Davis was replaced by Comcast Sports Group president Jon Litner. Litner began to oversee the channel, in addition to his other duties following the Comcast takeover.{{Cite web |last=Renyolds |first=Mike |title=McCarley To Head Golf Channel, Davis Out at Versus in NBC Sports Group Reorg: Sources |url=http://www.multichannel.com/article/463313-McCarley_To_Head_Golf_Channel_Davis_Out_At_Versus_In_NBC_Sports_Group_Reorg_Sources.php |access-date=February 2, 2011 |publisher=Multichannel News |archive-date=February 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204193426/http://www.multichannel.com/article/463313-McCarley_To_Head_Golf_Channel_Davis_Out_At_Versus_In_NBC_Sports_Group_Reorg_Sources.php |url-status=dead }}

In March 2011, Versus expanded its college football coverage by becoming the pay-television partner for NBC's coverage of Notre Dame football, airing replays of Notre Dame games, and the first ever live broadcast of the team's annual spring game. Its coverage began with a marathon of three classic Fighting Irish games on March 17, St. Patrick's Day, to serve as a prelude to its coverage of the spring game.{{Cite news |last=Rosentha |first=Phil |date=March 7, 2011 |title=Notre Dame football: Comcast-NBC Universal merger helps Versus get its Irish up |work=Tower Ticker |publisher=The Chicago Tribune |url=http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/towerticker/2011/03/notre-dame-football-comcast-nbc-universal-merger-helps-versus-gets-its-irish-up.html |access-date=December 28, 2011}}

For the 2011 season, Versus also returned to airing National Lacrosse League telecasts with a nine-game package, starting with the 2011 All-Star Game and culminating with the Champion's Cup final.{{Cite web |title=2011 NLL TV Schedule with VERSUS features two playoff games, plus VERSUS name change? |url=http://www.ilindoor.com/2011/02/04/2011-nll-tv-schedule-with-versus-features-two-playoff-games-plus-versus-name-change/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210222552/http://www.ilindoor.com/2011/02/04/2011-nll-tv-schedule-with-versus-features-two-playoff-games-plus-versus-name-change/ |archive-date=February 10, 2011 |access-date=February 28, 2011 |publisher=ILOnline.com}} Versus would drop the NLL for the league's 2012 season; U.S. broadcast rights were instead picked up by CBS Sports Network.{{Cite news |last=Bailey |first=Budd |date=November 14, 2011 |title=Bandits notebook: New TV package |work=The Buffalo News |publisher=Berkshire Hathaway |url=http://blogs.buffalonews.com/sports_ink/2011/11/bandits-notebook-new-tv-package.html |url-status=dead |access-date=November 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111181503/http://blogs.buffalonews.com/sports_ink/2011/11/bandits-notebook-new-tv-package.html |archive-date=January 11, 2012}}

==Relaunch as the NBC Sports Network / NBCSN==

File:NBC Sports Network logo.svg]]

In April 2011, NBC Sports and Versus announced they had reached a ten-year extension to their television contract with the National Hockey League worth nearly $2 billion over the life of the contract. As part of the announcement, Dick Ebersol, the former chairman of NBC Sports, said that Versus would be renamed "within 90 days" in order to reflect the synergy resulting from the merger.{{Cite web |last=Condor |first=Bob |date=April 19, 2011 |title=NHL, NBC sign record-setting 10-year TV deal |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=560238 |access-date=July 20, 2011 |publisher=NHL}} However, the announcement of a new name did not come until August 1, 2011, when Comcast announced that Versus would be relaunched as the NBC Sports Network (NBCSN){{Cite web |last=Koo |first=Ben |date=February 27, 2013 |title=Looking Back at NBC Sports Network's Lack of Growth |url=http://www.awfulannouncing.com/2013/february/the-issues-hindering-nbc-sports-network-s-growth-part-i.html |access-date=February 28, 2013 |website=AwfulAnnouncing.com}} on January 1, 2012. The relaunch coincided with NBC's coverage of the NHL Winter Classic, which took place on the same day.{{Cite web |last=Fernadez |first=Bob |title=Goodbye Versus, hello NBC Sports Network |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/126495098.html |access-date=August 1, 2011 |website=Philadelphia Inquirer |publisher=Philly.com}}

In an interview with TV Guide, president of programming Jon Miller stated that NBCSN was to be positioned as a credible "full-service sports network", dropping low-brow programming (such as Whacked Out Sports and The T.Ocho Show) in favor of focusing on event coverage, and sports news and talk programs, including new original programming.{{Cite web |last=Sands |first=Rich |title=Channel Changing: Versus Becomes NBC Sports Network |url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Versus-NBC-Sports-1041158.aspx |access-date=January 1, 2012 |publisher=TV Guide}} NBC also made efforts{{Cite web |last=Karangu, Jesse |title=Guest Column: How To Improve NBC Sports Network |url=http://fangsbites.com/2012/06/guest-column-how-to-improve-nbc-sports-network/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116202251/http://fangsbites.com/2012/06/guest-column-how-to-improve-nbc-sports-network/ |archive-date=January 16, 2013 |access-date=July 1, 2012 |website=Fangsbites.com}} to expand its current broadcasting relationships and acquire new rights for additional sports events to be broadcast on the channel. In the months leading up to the relaunch, NBC struck deals with Major League Soccer,{{Cite news |last=Goal Blogs |first=New York Times |date=August 10, 2011 |title=MLS and NBC Sports announce new TV deal |work=NYTimes.com |url=http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/10/m-l-s-and-nbc-sports-announce-new-tv-deal/ |access-date=August 10, 2011}} dropped the UFL,{{Cite web |last=Glanville |first=Jerry |date=March 21, 2011 |title=Jerry Glanville Named Hartford Colonials Head Coach and General Manager |url=http://www.ufl-football.com/news/jerry-glanville-named-hartford-colonials-head-coach-and-general-manager |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110322183003/http://www.ufl-football.com/news/jerry-glanville-named-hartford-colonials-head-coach-and-general-manager |archive-date=March 22, 2011 |access-date=March 21, 2011 |website=United Football League}} and added coverage of college hockey games.{{Cite web |title=NBC Sports Announces National College Hockey TV Package |url=http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2011/11/02_nbc_sports_announces_national.php |access-date=December 28, 2011 |publisher=College Hockey News}}

On June 6, 2011, it was revealed that NBC Sports would extend its rights to the Olympic Games through 2020, outbidding competing bids by Fox Sports and ESPN in a $4.38 billion contract. The network began to participate in NBC's overall coverage beginning at the 2012 Summer Olympics.{{Cite news |date=June 7, 2011 |title=NBC Wins TV Rights For 4 More Olympic Games, All Events Will Be Live Either on TV Or Internet |work=TV by the Numbers |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/07/report-nbc-wins-latest-olympics-tv-rights-bid/94902 |url-status=dead |access-date=June 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609180116/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/07/report-nbc-wins-latest-olympics-tv-rights-bid/94902/ |archive-date=June 9, 2011}}{{Cite news |date=June 7, 2011 |title=Update: NBC Bids $4.38 Billion for Olympic Gold |work=Ad Week |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/television/update-nbc-bids-438-billion-olympic-gold-132319 |access-date=June 7, 2011}} Its coverage of the women's soccer gold medal match between the United States and Japan set a new viewership record for the network, with 4.35 million viewers.{{Cite web |title=2012 Olympics: NBC Sports Net Scores Most-Watched Telecast with Women's Gold-Medal Soccer Match |url=http://www.multichannel.com/article/488418-2012_Olympics_NBC_Sports_Net_Scores_Most_Watched_Telecast_with_Women_s_Gold_Medal_Soccer_Match.php |access-date=September 1, 2012 |publisher=Multichannel News}}

In August 2013, after having largely been used as an initialism in unofficial capacities, the channel officially shortened its name to NBCSN.{{Cite web |last=Matt Yoder |date=August 26, 2013 |title=NBC Sports Network will rebrand as NBCSN |url=http://awfulannouncing.com/2013/nbc-sports-network-will-rebrand-as-nbcsn.html |access-date=July 18, 2014 |website=AwfulAnnouncing.com}} The change was made to help streamline its branding in preparation for the 2014 Winter Olympics, by which time the name change was mostly complete.{{Cite web |last=Tim Basinger |date=August 13, 2013 |title=NBC Sports Network Rebranding as NBCSN |url=http://multichannel.com/news/content/nbc-sports-network-rebranding-nbcsn/357815 |access-date=July 18, 2014 |website=Multichannel News}}

On September 22, 2013, NBCSN broadcast an episode of Under Wild Skies—a hunting program aired as a time-buy by the NRA—in which host and NRA lobbyist Tony Makris was shown killing an African elephant on a trip to Botswana. The network was criticized by the media for airing such material; while NBC responded by pulling the episode due to its "objectionable" content and stating that it would be more "aggressive" towards the content of future episodes of the program. Under Wild Skies was pulled from the network entirely after Makris made remarks on an NRA-produced webcast comparing critics of the show to Hitler.{{Cite web |title=NBC Sports Network Cancels NRA-Sponsored Elephant Hunting Show |url=http://deadspin.com/nbc-sports-network-cancels-nra-sponsored-elephant-hunti-1417367389 |access-date=September 28, 2013 |website=Deadspin|date=September 28, 2013 }}{{Cite news |last=Blake |first=Meredith |date=September 26, 2013 |title=NBC Sports Network under fire for elephant killing on NRA show |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-nbc-sports-elephant-hunting-20130926,0,4123743.story |access-date=September 28, 2013}} The network's outdoors block, its final connection with its OLN era, was slowly wound down by 2016 with natural contract expirations, as the outdoor networks of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment effectively monopolized the market through their own three networks, along with streaming providers. The editorial standards for those venues also had more tolerance to the firearms-centric genre (and advertiser base) of outdoors programming.

NBCSN simulcast Spanish-language coverage of two matches from the 2018 FIFA World Cup from corporate sibling Telemundo: Brazil vs. Switzerland on June 17, and England vs. Belgium on June 28.{{Cite news |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=June 13, 2018 |title=World Cup: Telemundo Ready For Kickoff In First Year Of Rights Deal |language=en-US |work=Deadline |url=https://deadline.com/2018/06/world-cup-2018-schedule-telemundo-universo-spanish-language-tv-1202409129/ |access-date=June 18, 2018}}{{Cite web |date=June 26, 2018 |title=NBCSN to broadcast England-Belgium in World Cup |url=https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2018/06/26/nbcsn-to-broadcast-england-belgium-in-world-cup/ |agency=ProSoccerTalk (NBC Sports)}}

In December 2018, the yearly ratings rankings for American sports networks saw NBCSN rank second for the first time, ahead of ESPN2, which fell below the second spot for the first time in its history.{{Cite web|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/espn2-wont-finish-the-year-as-the-2-sports-network-falling-behind-both-nbcsn-and-fs1.html|title = ESPN2 won't finish the year as the #2 sports network, falling behind both NBCSN and FS1|date = December 10, 2018}}

Because of Comcast's acquisition of Sky plc, NBCSN partnered with the British media firm's Sky Sports division on coverage of international events. The first collaboration came at the Premier League transfer deadline in January 2019. Two months later, NBCSN added an hour-long simulcast of the Sky Sports News channel to its weekday morning lineup, returning that program to the American airwaves for the first time since the discontinuation of Fox Soccer in September 2013.{{Cite web |date=January 29, 2019 |title=First major NBC-Sky collaboration is for extra Premier League transfer deadline coverage |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/first-nbc-sky-collaboration-since-comcast-bought-sky-is-premier-league-transfer-deadline-coverage.html |access-date=January 29, 2019 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=February 26, 2019 |title=NBCSN will replace the Dan Patrick Show with a PFT Live replay and an hour of Sky Sports News |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/nbcsn-will-replace-the-dan-patrick-show-with-a-pft-live-replay-and-an-hour-of-sky-sports-news.html |access-date=February 26, 2019 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}

==Closure==

On January 22, 2021, an internal memo sent by NBC Sports president Pete Bevacqua announced that the network would cease operations by the end of the year, and that USA Network and NBC would begin "carrying and/or simulcasting certain NBC Sports programming," including the Stanley Cup Playoffs, IndyCar Series, and NASCAR Cup Series, before NBCSN's shutdown (NBC lost the rights to the NHL to an ESPN/Turner Sports consortium after the 2020–2021 season).

When NBCSN was shuttered, its programming was effectively merged into USA Network's schedule, with some events also moving to CNBC on weekends, freeing NBC Sports from the burden of having secondary programming to fill time without any live sporting events. Peacock, NBCUniversal's new streaming service, began to broadcast some of the network's former programming such as Notre Dame hockey, and would also simulcast several major sports events held by NBCSN as a transitional move, most notably the opening games of the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals.{{Cite news |last=Pallotta |first=Frank |date=January 22, 2021 |title=NBC Sports Network to shut down by the end of the year |work=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/22/media/nbc-sports-network-shut-down/index.html |access-date=January 22, 2021}}{{Cite news |last1=Flint |first1=Joe |last2=Rizzo |first2=Lillian |date=January 22, 2021 |title=Comcast's NBCUniversal to Shut Down Sports Cable Channel NBCSN by Year-End |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/comcast-s-nbcuniversal-to-shut-down-sports-cable-channel-nbcsn-by-year-end-11611344361 |access-date=January 22, 2021}}

The move was cited by industry analysts as a response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sports and television industries, the acceleration of cord-cutting, as well as formidable competition from rival sports networks such as ESPN and Fox Sports 1, noting the company saw an overall revenue drop by 19% to $6.72 billion.{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |title=Cable Network NBCSN To Go Dark By Year-End, With Live Sports Telecasts Shifting To USA Network, Peacock |url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/cable-network-nbcsn-to-go-dark-by-end-of-2021-sports-streaming-peacock-1234678611/ |access-date=23 January 2021 |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=January 22, 2021 |publisher=Penske Media Corporation}}

Following a gradual "wind-down" of operations (even further aggravated by NBC's loss of NHL rights), it was further disclosed as to the process of how NBCSN would cease operations on November 2, 2021; specifically, it was revealed on that date that a majority of NBCSN's sports rights, beginning with rights to Premier League soccer, would transfer over to USA Network, the Olympic Channel (which itself shut down nine months after NBCSN did){{cite web |last1=Hayes |first1=Dade |title=NBCUniversal Will Unplug The Olympic Channel After Five-Year Linear TV Run |url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/nbcuniversal-olympic-channel-going-dark-cable-tv-1235055291/ |website=Deadline |access-date=July 1, 2022 |date=July 1, 2022}} and Peacock, beginning at 12:00:01 a.m. on January 1, 2022; at that time, the network, after signing off, would then carry a looping advisory video advising viewers where their programs could be found until January 10, though the provider could simply take the channel dark immediately after sign-off.{{cite press release|title=HITS - ESPN Classic & NBC Sports Cessation|publisher=Comcast Technology Solutions/National Cable Television Cooperative|date=22 November 2021|url=https://www.nctconline.org/index.php/members/resources/technical-notices/item/1813-hits-espn-classic-nbc-sports-cessation|access-date=27 November 2021}} NBC also advised viewers during broadcasts of affected games as to their new location, along with making sure electronic program guide listings reflected the channel's closure, and the company's social media was used to advise viewers as well.{{Cite web|title=SBJ Media: NBC Sports plans shift to USA; NBCSN goes dark Dec. 31|url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/SB-Blogs/Newsletter-Media/2021/11/01.aspx|access-date=2021-11-19|website=Sports Business Journal|language=en}} Mecum Auctions already had a secondary content deal with Motor Trend and a tertiary deal with RFD TV; Motor Trend became its primary television partner at the start of 2022,{{Cite web|title=MotorTrend Group and Mecum Auction, Inc. Create a Multi-Year Strategic Partnership to Deliver Exclusive, Live Coverage of All Mecum Auctions {{!}} News|url=https://www.mecum.com/news/2021/10/28/motortrend-group-and-mecum-auction-inc-create-a-multi-year-strategic-partnership-to-deliver-exclusive-live-coverage-of-all-mecum-auctions/2734/|access-date=2022-01-01|website=www.mecum.com|language=en}} though the fate of other surrounding non-NBC programming such as PowerNation programming (which is offered through its owner's own streaming service, Vuit), is unknown.

The final live sports broadcast aired on NBCSN was an exhibition cornhole "Team USA vs. The World" event (both men's and women's) from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (during the 2021 US Open Cornhole Championships){{cite web|url=https://www.usa-cornhole.org/usopen2021|title=US Open Cornhole Championships|work=USA Cornhole|publisher=NBC SportsEngine|access-date=31 December 2021}} on December 31. It led into the final program, a replay of the second day of Mecum's Kansas City auction event from December 3, and following the program the transition to the advisory loop was done without ceremony. Said loop continued until 2:34 p.m. ET on January 10, when it went dark.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/bubbaprog/status/1480652279074152450|title=And here, at 14:34 ET, it appears NBC has shut the transmission down.|last=Burke|first=Timothy|date=10 January 2022|work=@bubbaprog account|publisher=Twitter|access-date=13 January 2022}}

The Canadian iteration of the former OLN was relaunched under another NBCUniversal brand, Bravo, on September 1, 2024.{{cite web |last=Pinto |first=Jordan |date=September 2, 2024 |title=Corus’s Slice shops around, expands into new genres after losing Bravo content |url=https://www.c21media.net/news/coruss-slice-shops-around-expands-into-new-genres-after-losing-bravo-content/ |access-date=September 2, 2024 |work=C21Media}}

Facilities

As of September 15, 2014, the entirety of NBC Sports' operations, including NBCSN, moved to a new campus in Stamford, Connecticut.

Football Night in America remained at NBC Studios in Rockefeller Center until September 7, 2014, when that program also moved to Stamford.{{Cite news |last=Heistand |first=Michael |date=March 13, 2013 |title=NBC to air MLS marathon in new digs |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/hiestand-tv/2013/03/12/nbc-nhl-olympics-major-league-soccer/1983139/ |access-date=March 13, 2013}}

Notable personalities

=Announcers, reporters and hosts=

=Hockey=

=Motorsports=

=Soccer=

=Mixed martial arts=

Programming

{{main|List of programs broadcast by NBCSN}}

=Event coverage=

==Olympics==

==Motor sports==

==Soccer==

  • Premier League on NBC (2013–2021){{Cite news |date=October 29, 2012 |title=NBC wins $250m rights to broadcast English Premier League in US |agency=Associated Press |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/oct/29/nbc-250m-english-premier-league-epl-broadcast-us?newsfeed=true |access-date=October 29, 2012}}
  • FIFA World Cup and FIFA Women's World Cup (selected games in Spanish, simulcast from Telemundo or Universo) (2018–2019){{Cite web |date=June 22, 2019 |title=NBCSN will simulcast Telemundo's Spanish feeds of Women's World Cup games Monday |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/nbc-simulcast-telemundo-womens-world-cup-2019.html |access-date=June 24, 2019 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US |last=Bucholtz |first=Andrew}}
  • FA Women's Super League{{Cite web |last=Tannenwald |first=Jonathan |title=Women's soccer leagues make big TV splash: NWSL with CBS, England's FAWSL with NBC Sports |url=https://www.inquirer.com/soccer/cbs-nwsl-fall-series-nbc-english-soccer-fawsl-20200901.html |access-date=September 19, 2020 |website=The Inquirer |language=en-US |date=Sep 1, 2020}}

==Hockey==

File:2017 NHL Entry Draft (35513219955) (NBCSN set).jpg]]

==Rugby union==

==College sports==

  • College Football on NBCSN (2006–2021)
  • Bayou Classic (Southern-Grambling State) (2015–2021){{Cite news |last=East |first=Les |title=Bayou Classic moving to 4 p.m. start time, will air on NBC Sports Network |language=en |work=The Advocate |url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/article_dad0b222-1463-5294-a801-49dbcaa71aa4.html |access-date=February 25, 2017 |date=Aug 4, 2015}}
  • College Basketball on NBCSN (2007–2021)
  • Atlantic 10 men's and women's regular season contests{{Cite web |date=September 29, 2016 |title=NBCSN Announces 2016–17 Atlantic 10 Basketball Schedule |url=http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2016/09/29/nbcsn-announces-2016-17-atlantic-10-basketball-schedule/ |access-date=February 25, 2017 |website=NBC Sports Pressbox}}
  • Atlantic 10 men's tournament, second round and quarterfinals
  • Notre Dame Hockey on NBCSN (2012–2021)
  • Notre Dame Football on NBC (2011–2021)
  • Pre-game show
  • Notre Dame spring game (Blue-Gold game)

==Other sports==

WSOF was formed in 2012, having signed a broadcast deal with the NBC Sports Network. This was the third MMA promotion that NBC Sports has hosted, having broadcast World Extreme Cagefighting and Ultimate Fighting Championship events when the channel was formerly known as Versus.{{Cite web |date=September 10, 2012 |title=Viewpoint: Uphill Climb |url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Viewpoint-Uphill-Climb-45527 |publisher=Sherdog |last=Critchfield |first=Tristen}} NBC Sports had been one of the bidders for the rights to broadcast future UFC events, but lost out to Fox. However, some journalists regarded WSOF's deal with NBC Sports to be a considerable coup for a debuting promotion, considering NBC Sports' past interest in the UFC. Upon the announcement of the broadcast deal, WSOF President Ray Sefo stated that the promotion wanted to host 8–10 events per year, whilst holding a one-year deal with NBC Sports.{{Cite web |date=September 6, 2012 |title=Ray Sefo ready for new challenge with World Series of Fighting |url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/9/6/3299016/ray-sefo-ready-for-new-challenge-with-world-series-of-fighting |publisher=MMA Fighting |last=Samuelson |first=Andy}} However, the next day, an NBC spokesman revealed that the deal only covered WSOF's inaugural event, with the option for more, should NBC hold a positive evaluation.{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2012 |title=NBC Sports: World Series of Fighting deal only covers one event |url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/9/7/3300634/nbc-sports-world-series-of-fighting-deal-only-covers-one-event |publisher=MMA Fighting}} On February 4, 2013, it was reported by several news outlets that NBC Sports signed a 3-year deal with WSOF.{{Cite web |date=February 4, 2013 |title=World Series of Fighting Inks 3-Year Deal with NBC Sports Network |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1515478-world-series-of-fighting-inks-3-year-deal-with-nbc-sports-network |publisher=Bleacher Report |last=Martin |first=Damon }}{{Cite web |date=February 4, 2013 |title=World Series of Fighting signs 3-year deal with NBC Sports Network |url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2013/2/4/3951214/world-series-of-fighting-signs-3-year-deal-with-nbc-sports-network |publisher=MMA Fighting |last=Chiappetta |first=Mike}}

On December 16, 2012, NBC Sports Network, along with CNBC, aired a portion of the Sunday Night Football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the New England Patriots. This was because the game's coverage on NBC was interrupted by President Barack Obama's press conference following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. NBCSN will continue to serve as overflow coverage for Sunday Night Football and other NFL games covered by NBC in the event the ongoing game is interrupted by an NBC News special coverage.{{Cite web |title=Over 1 Million Viewers Watched "Sunday Night Football" On NBCSN During Obama Newtown Address |url=http://sportsrantz.com/media/2012/12/18/over-1-million-viewers-watched-sunday-night-football-on-nbcsn-during-obama-newtown-address/ |access-date=January 7, 2013 |publisher=SportsRants |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121222114006/http://sportsrantz.com/media/2012/12/18/over-1-million-viewers-watched-sunday-night-football-on-nbcsn-during-obama-newtown-address/ |archive-date=Dec 22, 2012 |author=Diamond Joe |date=Dec 18, 2012}}

On July 23, 2013, NBC announced that coverage of NASCAR racing would return to NBC beginning in the 2015 season under a new contract lasting through 2024. The deal includes broadcast rights to the second half of the NASCAR Playoffs and Xfinity Series seasons; the majority of which will air on NBCSN.{{Cite web |title=NBC wins NASCAR TV rights, signs 10-year deal to replace ESPN, Turner |url=http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2013-07-23/nbc-tv-rights-sprint-cup-races-2015-espn-tnt-nationwide |access-date=July 24, 2013 |website=Sporting News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726045207/http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2013-07-23/nbc-tv-rights-sprint-cup-races-2015-espn-tnt-nationwide |archive-date=Jul 26, 2013}}{{Cite web |title=NASCAR and NBC Sports Group Reach Landmark Media Rights Agreement |url=http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2013/07/23/nascar-and-nbc-sports-group-reach-landmark-media-rights-agreement/ |access-date=July 25, 2013 |website=NBC Sports Group Press Box|date=July 23, 2013 }}

On August 17, 2014, NBCSN aired rain-delayed coverage of the USGA's 2014 United States Amateur Challenge, making it the first golf event to be televised on the network.

=Original programming=

Original programs aired by the network include NBC SportsTalk, and the weekly CNBC Sports Biz, which both debuted in the fall of 2011 (the latter ending when Darren Rovell moved to ESPN as their sports business correspondent). Bob Costas hosts Costas Tonight, which consists of monthly interview episodes, and quarterly town hall specials – the first of which aired from Indianapolis on February 2, 2012, as part of NBC's overall coverage of Super Bowl XLVI.

The network also added more documentary-style series, including 36, Caught Looking (a weekly series co-produced with Major League Baseball), and Sports Illustrated, a monthly series produced in conjunction with the magazine of the same name.{{Cite news |title=Sports Illustrated on the Air |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304299704577503100721987914 |access-date=August 14, 2012}}

On August 13, 2012, NBCSN premiered a new morning show, The 'Lights, which consists of a 20-minute loop of sports highlights with no on-camera personalities, repeated from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. ET.{{Cite web |title=Break Glass in Case of Lockout: What's Left Of NBC Sports Network |date=August 13, 2012 |url=https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2012/8/13/3234549/break-glass-in-case-of-lockout-whats-left-of-nbc-sports-network |access-date=August 14, 2012 |publisher=SB Nation}}

In 2014, NBCSN premiered a new auto-themed reality series Mecum Dealmakers. It was renewed for a second season in 2015.{{Cite web |date=July 27, 2015 |title=NBC Sports Group Presents Season Premiere of "Mecum Dealmakers" Thursday, July 30 at 10 P.M. ET on NBCSN |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2015/07/27/nbc-sports-group-presents-season-premiere-of-mecum-dealmakers-thursday-july-30-at-10-pm-et-on-nbcsn-898410/20150727nbc03/ |access-date=August 25, 2015 |website=The Futon Critic}}

In April 2016, NBCSN acquired rights to air the Dan Patrick-hosted Sports Jeopardy! The premiere run followed nightly 2016 Summer Olympics coverage, and joined NBCSN's Wednesday night schedule later in October.{{Cite web |title=NBCSN Acquires TV Rights to Sports Jeopardy |url=http://awfulannouncing.com/2016/nbcsn-acquires-tv-rights-to-sports-jeopardy.html |access-date=April 23, 2016 |website=Awful Announcing|date=April 21, 2016 }}

In February 2019, it was announced that The Dan Patrick Show would be dropped and replaced by an encore of PFT Live and an hour-long simulcast block of British sister channel Sky Sports News. In April 2020, it was announced that the latter would be replaced by the new NFL studio show NBC Sports Football Flex on April 13.{{Cite web |date=April 12, 2020 |title=NBCSN replaces Sky Sports News with "NBC Sports Football Flex" as it ramps up NFL Draft coverage |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/nbcsn-replaces-sky-sports-news-with-nbc-sports-football-flex-as-it-ramps-up-nfl-draft-coverage.html |access-date=April 12, 2020 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}

Past carriage disputes

At the beginning of September 2009, DirecTV pulled Versus from its lineup, as it was unable to reach terms on a rate increase demanded by Comcast. In public statements (including a message shown on the channel which formerly carried Versus), DirecTV scolded Comcast for its "unfair and outrageous demands", and considered the company to be "simply piggish" in its demands for higher rates, as it derisively pronounced Versus as "a paid programming and infomercial channel with occasional sporting events."{{Cite news |last=Hiestand |first=Michael |date=September 1, 2009 |title=Versus does disappearing act after dispute with DirecTV |newspaper=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/hiestand-tv/2009-09-01-versus-directv_N.htm |access-date=January 3, 2012}} On March 15, 2010, an agreement was reached between the two sides and Versus returned to DirecTV's lineup. The channel was returned to its original package on the service, Choice Xtra.[http://www.marketwatch.com/story/directv-and-versus-reach-carriage-agreement-sports-net-returns-to-directv-lineup-today-2010-03-15?reflink=MW_news_stmp DIRECTV and VERSUS Reach Carriage Agreement; Sports Net Returns to DIRECTV Lineup Today] Market Watch March 15, 2010 The network then drastically reduced its paid programming blocks to a more traditional late night-only arrangement under NBC management (between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. Eastern time), and mainly limited their offerings to trusted advertisers such as Time Life. The paid programming itself was also subject to pre-emption with live sports from Asia or Australia, and fully put on hiatus during Olympic coverage.

High definition

A 1080i high-definition feed of the network was launched in January 2007. Initially, its HD feed was shared with sister network Golf Channel in an arrangement marketed as Versus/Golf HD; Golf Channel programming was broadcast during the daytime hours, and Versus programming was broadcast during the evening and primetime hours with some schedule variation during Tour de France coverage. The shared channel was replaced by individual HD feeds for both channels in December 2008.{{Cite web |last=Moss |first=Linda |title=Comcast To Launch Three HD Nets, Including E! |url=http://www.multichannel.com/article/133676-Comcast_To_Launch_Three_HD_Nets_Including_E_.php |access-date=August 20, 2011 |publisher=Multichannel News}}

In May 2013, the network's standard-definition feed was converted to a widescreen presentation with letterboxing to duplicate the display seen on the high-definition feed in line with their competitors' presentations of their SD channels.

References

{{reflist}}

{{NBCUniversal}}

{{NBC Sports}}

{{NHL on NBC}}

{{Sports television in the United States (defunct)}}

Category:Defunct television networks in the United States

Category:English-language television stations in the United States

Category:NBCUniversal networks

Category:Sports television networks in the United States

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1995

Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2021

Category:1995 establishments in Connecticut

Category:2021 disestablishments in the United States