NBC Sports Group

Last updated
NBC Sports Group
Company type Division
IndustryTelevision
Founded2011;13 years ago (2011)
Headquarters
Stamford, Connecticut
,
United States
Key people
Rick Cordella (President)
Parent NBCUniversal Media Group
Divisions
Subsidiaries
Website nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com

NBC Sports Group is a division of NBCUniversal Media Group that is responsible for NBC Sports' media properties, encompassing the NBC television network's sports division as well as day-to-day operation of the company's sports-oriented cable networks and other properties such as NBC Sports Radio.

Contents

Group history

Mark Lazarus Mark Lazarus (6282755655).jpg
Mark Lazarus

The unit has its origins in Comcast Sports Group, a division which oversaw Comcast's Golf Channel and Versus cable networks, as well as the regional sports network chain Comcast SportsNet. In February 2011, Comcast completed its acquisition of a majority stake in NBC Universal. Following the acquisition, plans were unveiled for the three networks to be subsumed by the NBC network's existing division NBC Sports, under the title NBC Sports Group, with Dick Ebersol as chairman. [1] [2] [3] Mark Lazarus, formerly the head of Turner Entertainment Group, was named president of NBC Sports Cable Group. Comcast Sports Group president Jon Litner assumed the role of president of Comcast SportsNet and Versus, while former NBC Sports executive vice president Mike McCarley was named president of Golf Channel. John Miller was named executive vice president of NBC Sports and Versus. [4]

In May 2011, Lazarus took over for Ebersol as chairman of the group. [5] In June 2011, NBC Sports Group purchased back the Alli Sports share held by MTV Networks Music Group in June 2011 and previously sold by NBC Sports to them in 2008. [6] On January 1, 2012, Versus was renamed NBC Sports Network. [7]

On December 9, 2012, Yahoo and the NBC Sports Group announced a content and promotional deal [8] combining Yahoo Sports’ original reporting expertise, coverage of big events, Rivals’ college content and popular fantasy sports products with NBC Sports Group's growing digital assets, and significant television promotion and integration.

On March 18, 2013, nearly all of the operations for NBC Sports and NBCSN began to be based out of a purpose-built facility in Stamford, Connecticut. The move was made mainly to take advantage of tax credits given by the state of Connecticut, which NBC has taken advantage of previously with the daytime talk shows of its sister broadcast syndication division. [9]

Telemundo Deportes, a dedicated Hispanic sports production unit, was also announced by Joe Uva, Chairman of NBCUniversal Hispanic Group, and chairman Mark Lazarus at May 2015 Upfronts. Telemundo Deportes was also in process of moving to the NBC Sports Group facility in Stamford. [10]

NBC Sports Group formed NBC Sports Films in 2015 for long form sports documentaries for the sports group's platforms. The first film was Center of Attention: The Unreal Life of Derek Sanderson which was broadcast on NBC Sports Network June 8 after Game 3 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals. [11]

On October 22, 2015, it was announced that Universal Sports Network would close down on November 16, 2015, and that NBC Sports would inherit the network's portfolio of sports rights for its own networks and channels. [12] The Group launched two channels just for the 2016 Olympic games, NBC Olympic Basketball and NBC Olympic Soccer. [13]

In May 2016, NBC Sports Group broke out its streaming technology unit into an entity known as Playmaker Media, to serve other NBCUniversal properties as well as third-party clients (thus competing with BAMTech). [14] [15] In June 2016, NBC Sports Group launched NBC Sports Gold, an over-the-top streaming service containing subscription-based packages focused on different sports. [16]

In July 2016, NBC Sports Group acquired Sport Ngin, a Minneapolis-based provider of digital services for youth and amateur sports organizations. The unit was renamed SportsEngine. [17] The group purchased the All-American Bowl high school all star game in February 2019. [18]

In February 2020, it was reported that Golf Channel would re-locate its operations from Orlando to Stamford over the next 12 to 18 months. [19]

In January 2021, it was announced that NBCSN will cease operations by the end of the year, and that its programming was slated to be moved to USA Network and Peacock. [20]

In August 2021, it was announced that NBC Sports' technology and digital operations would be re-aligned under the new division NBC Sports Next. [21] [22]

Units

Broadcasting

Digital

NBC Sports Ventures

  • NBC Sports Radio [23]
  • Alli Sports (Alli, Alliance of Action Sports, LLC): Reebok Spartan Race, Lucas Oil Pro Motocross, Red Bull Signature Series

Minor holdings

Former properties

Related Research Articles

E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable television network. It is owned by the NBCUniversal Media Group division of Comcast's NBCUniversal. The channel focuses primarily on pop culture, celebrity based reality shows and movies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NBCUniversal</span> American media and entertainment conglomerate

NBCUniversal Media, LLC is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate that is a subsidiary of Comcast and is headquartered at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown Manhattan in New York City.

NBCUniversal Media Group is the television and streaming arm of NBCUniversal, and the direct descendant and successor of the former division NBCUniversal Television Group, which existed from 2004 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NBC Sports Regional Networks</span> Group of regional sports networks in the United States

NBC Sports Regional Networks is the collective name for a group of regional sports networks in the United States that are primarily owned and operated by the NBCUniversal division of the cable television company Comcast. The networks were originally established as Comcast SportsNet (CSN), a unit of Comcast's cable television business, beginning with a network in Philadelphia which launched in 1997. Their operations were aligned with the national NBC Sports division following the 2011 acquisition of NBCUniversal by Comcast. NBC Sports Regional Networks' business and master control operations are based in Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

Golf Channel is an American sports television network owned by the NBC Sports Group division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. Founded in Birmingham, Alabama, it is currently based out of NBC Sports' headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NBC Sports</span> Division of American broadcast network NBC

NBC Sports is an American programming division of the broadcast network NBC, owned and operated by the NBC Sports Group division of NBCUniversal and subsidiary of Comcast. The division is responsible for sports broadcasts on the network, and its dedicated national sports cable channels. Formerly operating as "a service of NBC News", it broadcasts a diverse array of sports events, including the Premier League, the IndyCar Series, NASCAR, the National Football League (NFL), the NBA, Notre Dame football, Big Ten football and basketball, the Olympic Games, professional golf, the Tour de France, Thoroughbred racing, and the WNBA among others. Other programming from outside producers – such as coverage of the Ironman Triathlon – is also presented on the network through NBC Sports. With Comcast's acquisition of NBCUniversal in 2011, its own cable sports networks were aligned with NBC Sports into a part of the division known as the NBC Sports Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympic Channel (American TV channel)</span> American television sports channel

Olympic Channel was an American pay television sports channel owned by the NBC Olympics, a joint venture between NBC Sports and the United States Olympic Committee. It was dedicated to Olympic sports, and was a franchise of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Olympic Channel operation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universo (TV channel)</span> U.S. Spanish-language cable TV channel

Universo is an American pay television channel owned by the NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises subsidiary of NBCUniversal. The network serves as a companion cable channel to the NBCUniversal's flagship broadcast television network NBC and, to some extent, its Spanish network Telemundo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telemundo Deportes</span> Sports programming division of Telemundo

Telemundo Deportes is the programming division of NBC Sports Group, owned by NBCUniversal, that is responsible for the production of sports events and magazine programs that air on NBCUniversal's Spanish language television networks Telemundo and Universo and the streaming service Peacock. Originating as the former's sports division Deportes Telemundo from 1999 to 2015, it broadcasts an array of sports events, including the soccer matches from various international soccer leagues and the Olympic Games, among others.

College Football on NBC Sports is the de facto title used for broadcasts of NCAA college football games produced by NBC Sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telemundo</span> American Spanish-language television network

Telemundo is an American Spanish-language terrestrial television network owned by NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, a division of NBCUniversal, which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast. It provides content nationally with programming syndicated worldwide to more than 100 countries in over 35 languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NBC Sports Chicago</span> American regional sports network

NBC Sports Chicago was an American regional sports network that broadcast regional coverage of professional sports teams in the Chicago metropolitan area, as well as college sports events and original sports-related news, discussion and entertainment programming. It was branded as part of the NBC Sports Regional Networks. The channel ceased operations on September 30, 2024.

NBCUniversal International Networks & Direct-to-Consumer, formerly NBC Universal Global Networks, Universal Networks International and NBCUniversal International Networks, is a part of NBCUniversal, owned by Comcast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acquisition of NBC Universal by Comcast</span> Business transaction held from 2009 to 2013

On December 3, 2009, telecommunications company Comcast announced its intent to acquire mass media company NBC Universal from General Electric (GE). The acquisition was subject to scrutiny from activists and government officials; their concerns primarily surrounded the potential effects of the vertical integration that the acquisition could create, as Comcast is also heavily involved in cable television and internet services in many media markets. The deal went through on January 28, 2011, resulting in Comcast owning 51% of the company until March 19, 2013, when GE divested its stake to give Comcast sole ownership. Through this acquisition, Comcast gained ownership of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), the film studio Universal Pictures, cable channels such as Syfy, CNBC and MSNBC, and Universal Parks & Resorts, among other assets owned by NBC Universal. It has also integrated its own cable channels – including E! and Golf Channel – into NBC Universal. As a result of the acquisition, NBC Universal slightly changed its name to "NBCUniversal", rendered in camel case, to indicate the integration between NBC and Universal Studios.

NBCSN 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.

Alli Sports is an organizer of extreme sports events that is subsidiary of the NBC Sports Ventures LLC, a unit of NBC Sports Group. The group was formed in 2008 as a joint venture between NBC and MTV Networks, when the latter bought a stake in an extreme sports tour that NBC had been operating, the Dew Tour. While MTV parent Viacom has since sold its share in the venture, it still operates as a part of NBC.

NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News", it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others. Assets currently include among others Golf Channel and NBC Sports Regional Networks.

Cycling on NBC is the de facto name for broadcasts of multiple-stage bicycle races produced by NBC Sports, the sports division of the NBC television network. This includes broadcasts of the Tour de France, Vuelta a España, UCI World Tour Championships, Tour of California, USA Pro Cycling Challenge, and Liège–Bastogne–Liège.

Following the dissolving of USA Sports into NBC Sports after the 2007 Masters, USA Network began deemphasizing sports. During this time NBC Sports properties generally only aired on USA in special cases, such as during the Olympics, Stanley Cup Playoffs or the final week of the English Premier League season.

References

  1. ↑ Goetzl, David (May 4, 2011). "NBC Sports Brand Going Local". MediaPost. Archived from the original on May 9, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  2. ↑ Friedman, Wayne (May 9, 2011). "NBC Steps Up Branding For Comcast Sports Nets". MediaPost. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  3. ↑ John Ourand. "SBJ: Exit Versus, enter the NBC Sports Network". The Sporting News. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  4. ↑ Joshua L. Weinstein (February 2, 2011). "Mark Lazarus to Head NBC Sports Group's Executive Team". The Wrap . Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  5. ↑ Sandomir, Richard (December 18, 2011). "More Low-Key Than His Predecessor, NBC Sports Chief Still Aims High". The New York Times . Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  6. ↑ "NBC buys back Dew Tour stake from MTV". Sports Business Journal. American City Business Journals. June 20, 2011. p. 3. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  7. ↑ Fernadez, Bob. "Goodbye Versus, hello NBC Sports Network". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  8. ↑ Stelter, Brian (December 9, 2012). "Media Reporter". The New York Times .
  9. ↑ Michael Heistand (March 13, 2013). "NBC to air MLS marathon in new digs". USA Today . Gannett Company . Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  10. ↑ Petski, Denise. "NBCUniversal Hispanic Group Unveils CultureFirst, NBC Deportes, Telemundo & NBC Universo 2015–16 Lineup, More". Deadline. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  11. ↑ Finn, Chad (May 27, 2015). "NBC Sports Films will debut with hour-long documentary on Derek Sanderson". The Boston Globe . Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  12. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (October 21, 2015). "Universal Sports Network Being Shuttered By NBCU". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  13. ↑ Stoller, Kristin (August 18, 2016). "NBC Sports takes on first Summer Olympics". The Kansas City Star . The Hartford Courant. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  14. ↑ Ourand, John (April 28, 2016). "Sources: NBC Sports Competing With MLBAM, Turner On Streaming". Sports Business Daily. American City Business Journals. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  15. 1 2 Baumgartner, Jeff (May 23, 2016). "NBC Sports Digital Launches 'Playmaker Media'". Multichannel. NewBay Media. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  16. ↑ "NBC Sports Gold Adds Passes for Rugby, Pro Motocross". Sports Video Group. Retrieved 2019-01-05.
  17. ↑ Spangler, Todd (2016-07-18). "NBC Sports Acquires App Player Sport Ngin, Diving Into Youth and Amateur Sports Market". Variety. Retrieved 2019-01-05.
  18. ↑ Hayes, Dade (February 25, 2019). "NBC Sports Acquires The All-American Bowl, A High School Football Showcase". Deadline. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  19. ↑ Zimmerman, Kevin (2020-03-03). "NBC moving Golf Channel HQ from Orlando to Stamford". Westfair Communications. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  20. ↑ Pallotta, Frank (January 22, 2021). "NBC Sports Network to shut down by the end of the year". CNN . Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  21. ↑ "NBC Sports Next launched to house tech services, products and brands - SportsPro Media". www.sportspromedia.com. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  22. ↑ Staff, S. V. G. "NBC Sports Launches 'NBC Sports Next' Brand for Sports Technology Innovation". Sports Video Group. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  23. ↑ "Rob Simmelkjaer". NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com. NBC Sports Group. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.