The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Comcast’s NBCUniversal is considering launching a new sports-focused cable network that would feature content also available on its Peacock streaming platform.
The proposed channel, still in early-stage discussions, could debut as early as fall 2025, aligning with NBC’s 11-year, $75 billion NBA rights deal, which includes games broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock.
Details of the Proposed Sports Cable NetworkContent and Purpose: The channel would primarily simulcast sports content from Peacock, including NBA games, NFL’s Sunday Night Football, PGA Tour golf, Premier League soccer, college football, WNBA, and Olympics coverage. The goal is to complement Peacock rather than cannibalize its subscriber base, offering sports fans access to live events through both traditional pay-TV and streaming.
A fall 2025 launch would coincide with the start of NBC’s NBA broadcasting rights, making the channel a timely addition to capitalize on high-profile sports content. The NBA deal is a significant driver, as it includes games exclusive to Peacock, which has drawn criticism for locking major sports behind a paywall.
Discussions are preliminary, and no final decision has been made. NBCUniversal has declined to comment, indicating the project is not yet confirmed.