VERSUS to Become NBC Sports Network on January 2, 2012
August 1, 2011 12 Comments
Michael McCarthy of USA Today breaks the story. More later today:
So much for the Versus name in TV sports. Comcast’s NBC Sports Group will announce Monday that it’s jettisoning the Versus moniker and changing the name of the cable channel to NBC Sports Network. The makeover, including a new peacock logo, takes effect Jan. 2.
“This is more than just a name change for Versus,” NBC Sports Group boss Mark Lazarus said in a statement. “It’s a complete repositioning of the brand.”
The national sports channel did a nice job on the NHL. But some hockey viewers complain, rightly or wrongly, they have trouble finding it on their cable box. Plus, Versus never developed into the legitimate, national rival to ESPN that many sports viewers had hoped.
The move was expected. Versus no longer has its own website.
About stevelepore
not a surprise, hopefully NBCSN challenges ESPN!
So will this mean no more bull fighting fishing and hunting! I pray to god it does because thats brutal
Cool. I’m really hoping they do televise college hockey!!
I’m glad that they went with the obvious yet safe name.
and then one would assume that the Comcast SportsNet RSA’s will follow suit
ie NBC Sports Network Philadelphia and NBC Sports Network Bay Area,etc,
I knew this was going to be NBC Sports Network but will debut on January 2nd of next year so I’m going to have to wait five months to see it so that means I’m done with ESPN crap already by next year.
I forgot to mention this right before I comment on the first.
ESPN, you enjoyed these five months because on January 2nd, 2012, the sports network wars begins and NBC Sports Network will dominate on ESPN.
I don’t know what kind of war you think this is going to be. Like it or not ESPN has all the major sports with the exception of hockey.
The Versus name grew on me over the past few years. NBC Sports Network is very plain and reminds me too much of Fox Sports Net, which really is not much of a Network and is just an extension of regional sports television. The name is too long to say, “hey, the NHL playoff game is on NBC Sports Network, instead of put Versus on.”
When I think of NBC Sports, I think of tape-delayed events.
I wonder if this will mean that NBC Sports Network will have a regular daily televised sportscenter type of show. I also wonder if they will have Al Michaels do play-by-play for a couple of NHL games, when Doc is not available.
I agree w/ thegrenade…..NBC Sports Network reminds me of how NBC has nothing to watch except taped volley ball or MOAB bike challenge…or poker or whatever….just as it did w/ ABC sports…which is why ESPN did change its name to ABC Sports….come on…we all know its affiliated to NBC….just go with something like NBCSN or SNBC…like how CNBC or MSNBC have it
Hope they continue fishing like that Salty Dog program from Hawaii.
I wonder why they didn’t go with “NBC Sportsnet”? Still, this name works too. At least it’ll (more easily) turn up in a search engine search than “Versus” did… and maybe it’ll be nicknamed “NBCSN” for short (a la “MSNBC”)?
And yes, I hope NBCSN shows something, *anything* other than hunting/fishing/infomercials/8 zillion airings of “Bloodsport”…