NBCUniversal executives are considering a new sports cable channel, about four years after they closed down the previous one they had running.
An unbranded cable channel will broadcast sports events that will also be available on the company’s platform, Peacock, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. The network could launch as early as the fall.
No conclusion has been reached, and discussions are still in the initial phase, as stated in the report, although the network would be accessible through cable and satellite services as part of specialized packages.
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The channel would enhance the Peacock streaming service and provide the company with a sort of backup plan if its number of subscribers does not increase as rapidly as the network expects.
The report arrives several months prior to NBC’s official announcement as a broadcast partner for the NBA, which involved significant expenses.NBCU roughly $2.5 billionevery year for the privilege of broadcasting the league’s content.
NBA matches this season will be broadcast on traditional NBC channels as well as through Peacock.
The Wall Street Journal report also mentioned that the proposed sports network would be offered via select cable packages, instead of being part of a wider plan that includes other sports channels like ESPN and Fox Sports 1.
Earlier, NBC managed the NBC Sports Network, also referred to as NBCSN, until it closed in 2021 because of poor viewership and challenges in competing against ESPN.
NBCU has broadcast “Sunday Night Football” live on Peacock, alongside an exclusive NFL match that is available solely on the streaming platform.
Additional sports available on the streaming service include golf, college football, the Olympics, and Premier League soccer, with the NBA set to join in the fall.
Peacock increased its subscription price by $3, raising the cost to $10.99 per month for the ad-supported plan and $16.99 for the commercial-free option.
