NBC Sports Network will be shutting down by the end of this year. NBC Universal’s sports channel is known for NHL, NASCAR, and English Premier League soccer among other sports.
“At the conclusion of 2021, we have decided that the best strategic next step for our Sports Group and the entire Company is to wind down NBCSN completely, with key elements of NBCSN’s programming moving to USA Network and, in some cases, Peacock for 2022 and beyond,” NBC Sports Chairman Pete Bevacqua shared in an internal memo reported on by Deadline. “This will make USA Network an extraordinarily powerful platform in the media marketplace, and gives our sports programming a significant audience boost.”
While NHL games were a major draw for the channel, NBC Universal’s rights deal is set to expire after this season, so news about a shake up in where hockey programming will air wasn’t a big surprise. According to Sports Business Daily, NBC has been working on a long term deal with the NHL to air games on its broadcast channel and USA, along with streaming on Peacock. NASCAR and EPL programming will also air on USA, with more niche sports programming potentially moving to other channels or finding a home on Peacock.
Sports Business Daily notes that other sports channels owned by NBC, including Golf Channel and Olympic Channel, will not be affected.