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UPDATED WITH STATEMENT: NBC DECISION COULD IMPACT WWE PROGRAMMING ON THE USA NETWORK

NBC confirmed today several partners and sports leagues, according  to the Sports Business Journal, that they will be shutting down their NBC Sports Network cable station by the end of 2021, with NASCAR and NHL programming likely migrating to the USA Network.

While there is no official word on this, Wednesday night NHL coverage migrating to USA would certainly mean a change in the day WWE NXT broadcasts on USA.

NASCAR coverage could also potentially impact Monday Night Raw, although anyone who knows their history is aware that one of the reasons WWF left the USA Network for Viacom's SpikeTV in the early 2000s was that USA would not guarantee Raw would not be preempted for the US Open tennis tournament and The Westminster Dog Show, a practice that has never happened since WWE returned to the USA Network.  It is hard to think that USA, now paying a high premium for Raw, would push to move Raw.

In any event, stay tuned to see what the ripple effect, if any, may be here.  There is a long time until the end of the year for strategies to be put into place.

Thanks to Jeff Wirtheim.

***

Update 4:17 PM EST

Deadline.com has published an internal memo sent today by NBC Sports Chairman Pete Bevacqua:

Team:

We’re all aware of how quickly the media landscape is evolving, and our Company is taking thoughtful steps to stay ahead of these trends wherever possible and, in many instances, help set them.

As evidence of our strong commitment to live sports programming, we recently transitioned all of Golf Channel’s linear studio productions to Stamford, and we’re producing multiple new programs for Peacock and other platforms in Stamford as well. In addition, we’re doing more in partnership with our colleagues at Telemundo and Sky Sports.

Commencing later this year, USA Network will begin carrying and/or simulcasting certain NBC Sports programming, including NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games and NASCAR races, as part of a larger transition within the Company.

At the conclusion of 2021, we have decided that the best strategic next step for our Sports Group and the entire Company is to wind down NBCSN completely, with key elements of NBCSN’s programming moving to USA Network and, in some cases, Peacock for 2022 and beyond.

This will make USA Network an extraordinarily powerful platform in the media marketplace, and gives our sports programming a significant audience boost.  We believe that the power of this offering is the best long-term strategy for our Sports Group, our partners, and our Company.

This transition, combined with our robust portfolio of assets, including Golf Channel, The Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, RSNs, SportsEngine, GolfNow, digital, audio, sports betting and gaming, puts us in an even stronger position as leaders in the sports media space and to continue to grow our business.

We will keep you informed as the broader plan develops, and please join me for a virtual meeting on Tuesday afternoon, January 26 to answer your questions. A meeting invitation will follow shortly.

Thank you for everything you’re doing on behalf of NBC Sports Group.

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