Indication the network as a whole is going to be rebranded "NBC Sports", or are they going to stick with the Versus name for the TV stuff?
Really hoping it's NBC Sports. That's a much stronger brand than Versus.
What are they versing us in, anyhow?
Seriously though, from a web development point of view it'd be... unusual... and probably not a good move to have a website that doesn't roughly match up with the name of the TV product, so I'm guessing it'll be rebranded NBC Sports soon. Of course, NBC's track record lately hasn't been brilliant either, so I'm hardly calling that a firm conclusion.
Am I the only one who liked the name Vs. and thinks that the rebranding is unnecessary. Hell it might take a few months to get people to know that VS. = NBC sports but its not really going to make it any better or more respected.
"In all my years as commissioner, I have learned that our diverse group of fans and players all enjoy food of some sort. Italian, French, barbecue, quick-and-easy 30-minute meals—you name it, one or more of them eat it," said Bettman, adding that Iron Chef French host Hiroyuki Sakai will join play-by-play announcer Mike "Doc" Emrick and analyst Brian Engblom to form a new lead announcing team for all Food Network games. "This partnership has been a long time coming. If the Food Network would have been around in 1991, we would have left ESPN in a heartbeat."
"We also thought the lead-in programs on Versus, especially those that focused on bull-riding, bass fishing, and violent contact sports, were not entirely compatible with the image of the league," Bettman said. "Now, hockey games will follow Emeril Live, Feasting On Asphalt, and The Hungry Detective, which, as you can plainly see, are a better fit. Also, we are paying the Food Network much less money to broadcast our games."
Am I the only one who liked the name Vs. and thinks that the rebranding is unnecessary. Hell it might take a few months to get people to know that VS. = NBC sports but its not really going to make it any better or more respected.
Article out today that all the local CSN channels will be re-branded to NBC Sports as well. I.E. NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBC Sports Chicago ect.
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=149913&nid=126425
Makes me think Versus will be renamed NBC Sports National, or NBC Sports America to go along and tie the two together.
Ebersol said the aim is to "give viewers everywhere a much better sense of just who we are, wherever they go."
Ebersol spoke about the re-branding while appearing last month on NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's radio show on Sirius XM.
The NBC Sports brand will soon get more national awareness, too, as the Versus network takes that moniker in some form later this year.
Versus is "one of the more unfortunate names possible chosen for a channel because what does it mean?" Ebersol said.
Don't know where to post this, doesn't deserve a thread. But EJ Hradek is leaving ESPN for the NHL Network and NHL.com
My guess is that he'll also do some work for Versus as an insider.
Don't know where to post this, doesn't deserve a thread. But EJ Hradek is leaving ESPN for the NHL Network and NHL.com
My guess is that he'll also do some work for Versus as an insider.
My guess is in the offseason the name will change.
Any word on if it will move to a new channel listing instead of being rather high up on channels number wise? I would think NBC has considerable clout when negotiating something like that.
If they were smart they'd do it right before the start of the Stanley Cup final.
If they were really smart they'll do what Comcast has failed to do and get into more basic tier Cable and Satellite packages.