NBC Sports Group

NBC Sports Group is a division of NBCUniversal 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.

NBC Sports Group
TypeDivision
IndustryTelevision
Founded2011 (2011)
Headquarters
Stamford, Connecticut
,
United States
Key people
Pete Bevacqua (chairman)
OwnerNBCUniversal
(Comcast)
ParentNBCUniversal Media Group
Divisions
Subsidiaries
Websitenbcsportsgrouppressbox.com

Group history
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
  • Playmaker Media[15]
  • NBC Sports Next
    • Betting, Gaming & Emerging Media
    • Golf
    • Youth and Recreation
      • SportsEngine
      • GoMotion
      • TeamUnify
      • TourneyMachine

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

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.com. 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. 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.
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