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NBCSN Set to Close Up Shop By End of 2021

The sports-focused cable channel has played host to Premier League soccer, NHL Hockey and more over the last several years.

by
Justin Wasik
January 22, 2021

Photo: Awful Announcing

NBC Universal has reportedly told sports leagues and media industry leaders they plan to shut down NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) by the end of the year. John Ourand of Sports Business Journal first reported this development.

NBC has told distributors and some sports leagues that it plans to shut down its NBCSN sports channel by the end of the year. Story coming in SBD
— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) January 22, 2021

NBCU plans on moving the premier sports content that previously aired on NBCSN — NHL hockey and Premier League soccer — to USA Network and Peacock, NBCU’s streaming service. The media conglomerate has already experimented with showing multiple Premier League games per week on the new streaming service.

Ourand correctly predicted that NBC would shut down its sports-focused cable station last year. As a stand-alone channel, NBCSN simply never brought in the carriage fees or viewership numbers to warrant the channel continuing on its own.

This move is in line with current media trends as companies strive to consolidate cable channels and move viewership and attention over to streaming services. NBCU has made a great effort in marketing and growing Peacock and this measure will only further grow the service that aims to compete with the likes of Disney+ and Netflix.

Photo: Awful Announcing

Justin Wasik

I love soccer. Write about Fire, Red Stars, U.S. National Teams, Chicago House, and more. Occasional writer for Bulls and Cubs. Follow me on Twitter (@just_wasik).

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