NBC to Stream Its Regional Sports Networks on Peacock

By Jessica Lerner 

NBC Sports regional networks (RSNs) will soon start streaming on Peacock.

NBCUniversal Television and Streaming chairman Mark Lazarus said at a conference hosted by Sports Business Journal that the company has been negotiating streaming rights with teams and leagues, according to Bloomberg.

With the new rights, Peacock can offer more sports content to entice new subscribers. Comcast, NBCU’s parent company, owns regional networks that broadcast the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, the NBA’s Chicago Bulls, and MLB’s San Francisco Giants.

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Over the past few years, there has been a larger trend of media companies snapping up sports rights and making them available to stream.

Amazon is in year one of an 11-year agreement with the NFL for exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football. Apple TV+ and Peacock both secured exclusive windows for Major League Baseball. Additionally, Apple and the Major Soccer League recently struck a 10-year streaming rights deal beginning in 2023.

Netflix has also tried to acquire streaming rights to several sports leagues and events over the past few months, though none of its attempts have been successful.

Along with streaming giant’s entry into sports, regional sports networks have started to close the digital divide.

In July, NESN became the first regional sports network to launch a direct-to-consumer platform, and in September, Bally Sports+, a streaming service from Diamond Sports Group, debuted across all 19 Bally Sports regional sports TV networks.

Additionally, in October the Los Angeles Clippers offered the first-ever localized NBA streaming service ClipperVision.

Lazarus proposed that teams and channel owners may split the profits from the streaming industry, with higher rights fees going to franchises that sell more subscriptions in their local areas, per Bloomberg.

“It’s going to be more of a share-the-risk mentality,” he said.

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