Kimota
ROY DU NORD!!!
I see no problems in them calling themselves NBC Sports. If you want to bring the most visibility possible with the most prestige, that's what they should name it.
Versus - new name, new programming
- Thread starter LadyStanley
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Sabre Dance
Make Hockey Fun Again
- Jul 27, 2006
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Evil Doctor
Cryin' Hank crying
I find it interesting that this is the second name change for the US network, while their Canadian spin-off network is still using their original moniker...OLN....
RTN
Be Kind, Rewind
- Aug 28, 2008
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Well, OLN in Canada maintains the original programming while Versus/NBC is going mainstream. OLN Canada isn't allowed to broadcast mainstream sports.
I've heard rumours the new name will be NBC Sportsnet. Any truth behind that or just speculation?
YES
This is what I've said all along: Versus needs their own personalities, their own people. I hope this is just the beginning, too. Versus needs a highlights show for all sports (not necessarily like SportsCenter, I'd prefer a half hour show to be honest), as well as nightly shows dedicated to both hockey and UFC. When they inevitably land the MLS package currently held by Fox Soccer, things will get a lot easier in terms of filling airtime.
As for the name, NBC Sports is fine. Everyone will call it NBCS anyway, so it's not like it's too wordy.
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worstfaceoffmanever
These Snacks Are Odd
It's not definite, but they very easily could. I would imagine Versus has a higher profile with the typical sports fan than Fox Soccer Channel, although FSC's coverage has improved considerably this year. Eric Wynalda, oddly enough, has been a really good studio host, and they've been able to land JP Dellacamera for a lot of prime time games. If the league still wants $20M a year, though, they'll probably end up moving to Versus. They were, after all, negotiating with Versus while the FSC deal was in limbo.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Versus try to get UFC on the network. They have a foot in the door with Strikeforce, and revenues from a UFC cable event would be enormous.
For a partial look at what's coming due in the next five years:
2012
Major League Soccer - Fox Soccer Channel ($6.25M)
Sunday Night Football - NBC ($650M)
National Football League - CBS ($622M)
National Football League - Fox ($713M)
Bundesliga - GOL TV (Unknown)
La Liga - GOL TV (Unknown)
2013
Sunday/Wednesday Night Baseball (no playoffs) - ESPN (about $240M)
Major League Baseball (Saturday games + Playoffs) - Fox, TBS (roughly $430M combined)
Big East - ESPN/ABC ($36M)
2014
Major League Soccer - ESPN (roughly $7.5M)
Mountain West - CBS Sports, Versus ($11.7M)
Monday Night Football - ESPN ($1.1B)
NASCAR - ESPN, TNT, Fox ($560M combined)
2016
National Invitation Tournament - ESPN ($2.41M)
Big 12 - ESPN/ABC ($60M)
Big Ten - CBS ($20M; not sure what this includes)
National Basketball Association - ESPN/ABC, TNT ($930M combined)
Versus, with all the resources behind it, could probably drive Turner out of most of its contracts (except the NCAA basketball tournament). I could see the NBA being interested in returning to NBC, and getting additional games on Versus as part of the deal. They could probably rub out CBS for Mountain West coverage and make a move for expanded coverage of the Big East. European soccer would also be a nice daytime filler on the weekends, and cycling coverage will eat up plenty of those normally rerun-filled midday hours.
Of course, having sporting events is all well and good, but there needs to be something to flesh that out. Something to rival Sportscenter in the news department would be good, and possibly a weekly/nightly review show for the sports they cover. (NHL 2Night, anyone?) Working with the NHL to create that mythical "NHL Films" series we've all been pining for would be something to consider, as well.
Versus has a ton of options and, now, a ton of resources. I'm eager to see what they put together for the rebrand.
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46zone
Pass me the soft pretzels
I think it would be wise for NBC/Comcast to make a huge bid for Thursday Night Football, which will now become a weekly thing I believe starting for the '12-'13 NFL season. Would tremendously raise the profile of the network.
The TBS MLB package should also be eyed by NBC/Comcast.
The TBS MLB package should also be eyed by NBC/Comcast.
Fox Soccer isn't going to seriously invest in keeping the MLS rights, they're barely invested as it is. Versus needs more live sports and might be willing to throw down ~$20 million a year.
A lot of good things for the poaching here... the Big East rights are especially interesting to me.
It won't happen. They already made the biggest bid for the package when they first created it, but it makes more sense for the NFL to just put it on their own network regardless.
I think Versus will buy MLS rights, but it may not come at the expense of FOX Soccer. It is probably more possibly that MLS carves out a new package for them and gives FOX a bit smaller one.
Also remember that buying MLS rights is basically a ticket to bid on the FIFA rights. FIFA won't sell their rights to a network that doesn't pay MLS. So if Versus/NBC want the World Cup (and they nearly got it last time around) they need MLS.
Different people involve. What happened last time around was OLN was just starting the change over to Versus. They had bought the NHL and had 3 months lead time in preparing their coverage. The result was a lot of problems early on. The NFL owners watched the early season NHL games on OLN that first season and said no way to selling the package to them.
Now you have the NBC people involved who the NFL has a lot of experience with. From what I have read the NFL loves the quality of NBC's Sunday Night coverage. So if Comcast comes with the money with that group behind them they are probably the favorites.
And it looks pretty clear the NFL is going to sell at least the other half of the Thursday Night rights to an outsider. If the price is right they may give them NFL Networks part too.
Those are really the best shot for Versus. I dont think the NBA is going anywhere. They are tightly aligned with Turner as Turner runs NBA.com and NBA TV. I also don't think ESPN will let it go.
One thing not mentioned is NASCAR. The bidding for that should start next year.
MLS wouldnt be a bad addition but that's still small potatoes when it comes to drawing viewers.
MLS would be a great addition, simply because it's a different audience. Admittedly, not as big as some of the other sports mentioned.
The MLB/TBS deal is tricky. That involves the playoffs, which immediately creates a juggling of the Versus October hockey schedule.
I see Comcast making a HUGE run at the full-season NFL package.
I've posted this a ton on here, the NEED more college sports/conferences. Increasing the Mountain West package and adding the Big East would work well. Rumors are already circulating that Versus may be adding college hockey in January, and possibly adding the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference in 2012-13.
Add it all together, plus the major thing no one has mentioned, and NBC/Versus has built into a heckuva brand:
Summer and Winter Olympics
NFL (Twice a week?)
NHL
MLS
PGA
UFC
College Football (Mountain West, Big East, Notre Dame)
College Hoops (Mountain West and Big East)
College Hockey (TBA)
IndyCar
Triple Crown
That's more than CBS (NFL, SEC Football, NCAAs, and PGA), and roughly equals the amount of sports (not necessarily the amount of programming hours) ESPN has right now (World Cup, NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, Tennis, PGA, NASCAR, College Football, College Hoops, and College anything else).
The MLB/TBS deal is tricky. That involves the playoffs, which immediately creates a juggling of the Versus October hockey schedule.
I see Comcast making a HUGE run at the full-season NFL package.
I've posted this a ton on here, the NEED more college sports/conferences. Increasing the Mountain West package and adding the Big East would work well. Rumors are already circulating that Versus may be adding college hockey in January, and possibly adding the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference in 2012-13.
Add it all together, plus the major thing no one has mentioned, and NBC/Versus has built into a heckuva brand:
Summer and Winter Olympics
NFL (Twice a week?)
NHL
MLS
PGA
UFC
College Football (Mountain West, Big East, Notre Dame)
College Hoops (Mountain West and Big East)
College Hockey (TBA)
IndyCar
Triple Crown
That's more than CBS (NFL, SEC Football, NCAAs, and PGA), and roughly equals the amount of sports (not necessarily the amount of programming hours) ESPN has right now (World Cup, NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, Tennis, PGA, NASCAR, College Football, College Hoops, and College anything else).
IU Hawks fan
They call me IU
They would easily air the playoffs games over hockey games the 1st month of the season. And it would only be about a week during the LDSs where they couldn't show hockey. In the LCS they'd only have 1 of them and would still have days open.
If I were task to build Versus and NBC sports this is what I would try to do.
-First priority would be the new NFL Thursday package coming up for bid once the lockout ends. Whether it is 8 games or full season, doesn't matter have to make sure you get that. That along with the Olympics gives you the home boost and allow you to charge more the channel boosting the revenue the channel needs to buy more programming.
-Second thing is I sign a deal with MLS. Sure it is small potatoes like another poster said, but it is programming for the summer that is likely to come comparatively cheap. Further it allows me to then go and bid on the bigger international soccer packages that without the domestic league is harder to get.
-Next I talk to MLB about acquiring the rights (in partnership with MLB Network) to the next World Baseball Classic. I can offer them better scheduling for the tournament as I don't work around the NIT like ESPN does, just regular season NHL which can be flexibly scheduled to air on one of the tournament's travel days. This allows them put the the tournament on in a more realistic baseball tournament fashion. For myself the tournament fits nicely in the direction I'm building the network to, a home for international sports, and builds a relationship with MLB to better my chances to get the rights shortly after.
-Now I look at getting international soccer. There is talk of CONCACAF (the North American federation) of moving the Gold Cup to even number years between World Cups, and 6 Concacaf teams (likely including the US) participating in Copa America (the South American tournament). Go after these both English and Spanish language rights. The Spanish language rights can go to Telemundo where it will be popular programming. If the US is involved both tournaments are something you can build English language audience for. If you can get both tournaments along with also having MLS gives you the supplemental coverage with the ability to bid of the FIFA rights on a more even ground with ESPN and FOX.
-Go after the FIFA rights, which include Men's and Women's World Cup, Confederation Cup, and the different age level World Cups. If you can get this then you have the two biggest sporting events in the world (Olympics and World Cup). Also then you have a yearly international tournament going on about the same time on the network (World Cup, Copa Americas, Gold Cup, Confederations Cup). Also fits nicely post Stanley Cup on the schedule.
-Now go after MLB rights. Bid for the FOX package for NBC for the full season. Also put a bid for a post All-Star game mid-week package and playoffs for Versus. Two nights a week with a double header one of the nights. Versus would air the wild card, division series in full, and 7 games from the AL and NLCS (all of one or combination of both). NBC would get World Series.
If you can get all of the above (a tall task), then you have something going on at all times of the year. In the fall you have the baseball playoffs and NFL, then you have hockey, then international Soccer tournaments, then MLS and MLB pennant races for the summer.
Fill in the schedule with some international and olympic sports such as the different world championships as well as stuff like UFC. These are things you may be able to get cheap and build an audience for especially if a US team or athlete is involved.
As far as college sports, bid but don't break the bank. Most of the conferences are signed up long term with only the Big East remaining. Might be something you have to punt on. Same with Tennis, after losing Wimbledon might as well move on and give up the French Open rights and focus on something else.
Darlotto99
Registered User
AdmiralsFan24
Registered User
Rink Rage
Registered User
They should go after a Big Ten hockey contract.
This is your flagship sport, keep growwing it. It's not like you have anything better to show on the weekends, and if what you're drawing is anywhere near whatever you were drawing before, I'd call it a success. Doc Emrick is a huge a College Hockey fan and would work wonders with calling the games. You could also get Billy Jaffe since he already cover Big Ten hockey.
Than after you do this, expand your draft coverage. Get your own draft experts and coverage. It wouldn't be a bad idea to also have some shows on the week of draft so your viewers have some knowledge as to who these prospects are.
It may not hurt to put American Junior hockey on Sundays (EJHL, USHL, ETC), it's not like you have something better to show. This will improve your viewership for the draft and it would be great to show American hockey. Notice how the current Versus broadcasting coverage points out every American player and try to sell them? This could help to continue to grow that. Maybe let USA Hockey craft something to put on this new network too.
This is your flagship sport, keep growwing it. It's not like you have anything better to show on the weekends, and if what you're drawing is anywhere near whatever you were drawing before, I'd call it a success. Doc Emrick is a huge a College Hockey fan and would work wonders with calling the games. You could also get Billy Jaffe since he already cover Big Ten hockey.
Than after you do this, expand your draft coverage. Get your own draft experts and coverage. It wouldn't be a bad idea to also have some shows on the week of draft so your viewers have some knowledge as to who these prospects are.
It may not hurt to put American Junior hockey on Sundays (EJHL, USHL, ETC), it's not like you have something better to show. This will improve your viewership for the draft and it would be great to show American hockey. Notice how the current Versus broadcasting coverage points out every American player and try to sell them? This could help to continue to grow that. Maybe let USA Hockey craft something to put on this new network too.
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AdmiralsFan24
Registered User
IU Hawks fan
They call me IU
Yeah, the whole reason for the Big Ten to create their hockey conference is to air the games themselves.
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
I'm willing to bet that they'd give Versus the time of day if they wanted to bid on a marquee Game of the Week.
That's what USA is for. We'll keep the non-scripted athletic contests on Versus and NBC.
AMEN!
I think you're right but adding college hockey won't do much for Versus. It's a very small niche. CBS Sports Network, Big Ten Network, NHL Network and ESPNU all air college hockey. Not to mention, the regional networks. There's a lot of competition out there and not many viewers.
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
Perhaps Versus' angle is that they're not part of the "sports tier" of cable packages (in most places anyway), so they might pick up a certain amount of viewers who don't get the regional networks and don't have the sports tier?
I dunno, pretty much just made that up on the spot. Maybe it's just better than showing rodeo reruns.
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