It's official (Versus to NBC)

[dare2be]

Versus set to become the NBC Sports Network - USATODAY.com

 

[SLY]

I wonder if they're still going to show hunting and all that shit.

 

[elocomotive]

I wonder if they're still going to show hunting and all that shit.

...what...is....going on in that new avatar. You doing calisthenics? Listening to YMCA?

 

[SLY]

I'm not sure actually...

 

[elocomotive]

If your avatar has a soundtrack, I feel like it's this...

 

[SLY]

I can't see it... Stop hatin'

 

[SLY]

It's my victory pose.

 

[dare2be]

...what...is....going on in that new avatar. You doing calisthenics? Listening to YMCA?

Look....away...look....away...

(That is basically what's in the youtube that Eloco posted)

 

[PhillyPhaithful48]

...what...is....going on in that new avatar. You doing calisthenics? Listening to YMCA?

zumba class?

 

[SLY]

Hey... We won it all. Maybe you should try it.

 

[higgyfan4]

Good news I guess. Maybe soon I won't have to get and pay for extra cable channels I never watch just to get Versus/NBC Sports. Especially since my cable provider does not off NHL enter Ice.

Hopefully they'll show more than 2 hockey games a week.

 

[DChero]

Good news I guess. Maybe soon I won't have to get and pay for extra cable channels I never watch just to get Versus/NBC Sports. Especially since my cable provider does not off NHL enter Ice.

Hopefully they'll show more than 2 hockey games a week.

Fingers crossed on that one. I'm tired of watching most of the season online.

 

[elocomotive]

Hey... We won it all. Maybe you should try it.

Love to, I can't control it though. On second look, I think Jeff is doing the Alex Burrows' arrow shot!

But back to the matter at hand...

 

[elocomotive]

Good news I guess. Maybe soon I won't have to get and pay for extra cable channels I never watch just to get Versus/NBC Sports. Especially since my cable provider does not off NHL enter Ice.

Hopefully they'll show more than 2 hockey games a week.

The name change is pretty much just that - a name change. It won't change the TV deal that hockey already signed with NBC/Versus a few months ago and I'm guessing that hockey and Indy racing will continue to be the "NBC Sports" bread and butter.

That TV deal callls for 100 games to be broadcast on NBC/NBC Sports during the regular season. That equates to an NBC weekend game and 2-3 NBC Sports weeknight games per week. Basically, you'll see about one more game a week on NBC Sports this coming season than you did on Versus last year, but again, that has everything to do with the April TV deal and nothing to do with the name change.

So, if you're a hometown fan that no longer lives in your hometown, this might mean 1-2 more games with your team on national broadcasts (maybe 2-4 for high profile teams) during the season. It might mean the few markets that didn't have Versus might now add NBC Sports as a channel. Like all sports except football, hockey will continue to largely be the domain of regional cable channels.

 

[DChero]

So, if you're a hometown fan that no longer lives in your hometown, this might mean 1-2 more games with your team on national broadcasts (maybe 2-4 for high profile teams) during the season. It might mean the few markets that didn't have Versus might now add NBC Sports as a channel. Like all sports except football, hockey will continue to largely be the domain of regional cable channels.

Thanks, man. It's disappointing, but at least my hopes aren't up.

 

[devs30rko]

You watch. Comcast is a juggernaut these days.

In 5 years espn could be in reeeeaaal trouble

 

[elocomotive]

You watch. Comcast is a juggernaut these days.

In 5 years espn could be in reeeeaaal trouble

Don't they serve different markets. If I want to see or find coverage of my local teams, I watch Comcast (or the comparable network for your region). If I want national news, I go to ESPN.

I don't think it's really competition against each other as much as market segmentation. Fox has soccer, VS has hockey/racing, TNT has basketball, etc. I imagine it will further break apart this way.

 

[TiLoBrown]

I think youre thinking about the Comcast sports networks. He's talking about Comcast the cable giant that now owns those same sports networks and NBC network as well. Disney is already pissed they didnt lure the NHL away and lost the Olympic bidding as well.
..hopefully sooner or later all Disney has is the NFL and NBA because I never care about those two "sports".

 

[elocomotive]

I think youre thinking about the Comcast sports networks. He's talking about Comcast the cable giant that now owns those same sports networks and NBC network as well. Disney is already pissed they didnt lure the NHL away and lost the Olympic bidding as well.
..hopefully sooner or later all Disney has is the NFL and NBA because I never care about those two "sports".

Oh, I got ya. I just meant that ESPN does primarily sports reporting, not sports broadcasting. The networks all do weekend/big event sports broadcasting and I guess all (except CBS?) has a cable arm now for broadcasting during the week.

But the local/regional networks will continue to do the bulk of the work on that front.

I don't think anyone will supplant ESPN as the leading network for sports reporting/commentary anytime soon, but it also appears they are increasingly getting out of covering actual events/games/sports as well. Aside from poker of course.

 

[TiLoBrown]

My problem with ESPN is if they dont have a contract for it, they dont care about it. And even then the sport still gets no love sometimes (baseball). Its like if the sport isn't filled with idiot criminals they dont want to cover it. Or maybe its the fact that baseball and hockey have minor leagues. God forbid the sports where you actually have to work your ass off to make it to the highest level gets any actual airtime.