NBCUniversal is set to revive NBC Sports Network, commonly known as NBCSN, as part of a fresh, multi-year distribution agreement with YouTube TV. This move marks the return of a linear cable channel that was previously shut down at the end of 2021.
The resuscitated network will feature a wide array of NBCUniversal’s sports programming and will be included in the standard YouTube TV subscription package. While specific details about the programming lineup and other potential distribution partners have not yet been revealed, anticipation is building.
Originally launched in 1995 as Outdoor Life Network, the channel was rebranded as NBC Sports Network in 2012 following Comcast’s acquisition of NBC. The network ceased operations in December 2021, with NBC shifting much of its sports content to the USA Network and Peacock, its proprietary streaming platform.
The decision to relaunch the channel comes as NBCUniversal continues to invest heavily in sports rights and seeks to cater to the substantial number of households—estimated at 65 million—that still subscribe to traditional pay-TV services. According to NBCUniversal, the renewed NBC Sports Network will serve as a complement to the existing sports coverage offered on NBC’s broadcast network and its streaming services.
In recent years, the company has secured rights to major sporting events and leagues, including the Big Ten, the Premier League, the Olympics, and the NBA. An MLB deal is also reportedly in the works. Early reports had suggested that NBC intended to distribute the revived channel through specialized, genre-specific pay-TV bundles. However, its inclusion in YouTube TV—which does not use such packaging—suggests a potentially broader distribution strategy.
Previously, NBCSN served as a platform for secondary sports programming, such as Premier League matches and Olympic coverage. It is expected that the new iteration of NBCSN will fulfill a similar role, especially for sports content that NBCUniversal considers valuable but not essential for driving individual subscriptions to Peacock.
This move coincides with structural changes within NBCUniversal, where many of its cable networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Syfy, and Golf Channel, are being spun off into Versant. Relaunching NBC Sports Network may enable NBC to maintain some carriage-related revenue as its existing portfolio undergoes these ownership changes.
The exact timeline and scope of the NBCSN relaunch remain undisclosed. NBCUniversal has only confirmed that the network will be part of its new agreement with YouTube TV and will feature a diverse range of sports content.