NBC Sports Network Is Back: What the Relaunch Really Means for Sports Fans
Somehow, NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) returned.
After shutting down in 2021, the channel relaunches today, November 17, as a 24/7 linear network. If you’re a YouTube TV subscriber, you’re the first to get it. The channel should be live in your guide right now. It’s also scheduled to hit Xfinity soon, with other TV providers to follow.
If you’re confused, you should be. NBCSN 1.0 was shuttered just a few years ago as NBCUniversal shifted a lot of content to its streaming service, Peacock. This channel relaunch signals a major strategic reversal. It’s a hybrid play to get more value out of pay-TV partners and advertisers while also serving as another linear home for the NBC Sports division.
So, why is NBC Sports Network back?
The short answer is “money.” For the last several years, NBC’s strategy was to push some of its best sports content exclusively to Peacock to drive subscriptions. Now, they’re pivoting back to the 24/7 linear model to collect reliable, high-value carriage fees from pay-TV partners, who are fighting to keep subscribers in their ecosystem.
But in my view, this is just another clear example of NBC double-dipping to reach more people. We’ve seen this on the entertainment side, with Peacock exclusives like The Paper getting a run on NBC and Below Deck Down Under jumping ship from a streaming exclusive to airing first on Bravo. By putting marquee sports content like Premier League matches and Big Ten games back on a traditional channel, NBC is sacrificing some of that exclusivity for a larger audience.
This doesn’t even solve the “app-juggling” for fans. Since Peacock will still be necessary for other exclusive events, this move just benefits NBC’s bottom line and the pay-TV providers, not the frustrated fans who still must pay for both.
What’s on the new NBC Sports Network?
Based on NBC’s official press release, the new NBCSN will be packed with premium, tier-one content previously exclusive to Peacock. In other words, this won’t be just another overflow channel, as we’ve seen USA Network become.
Here’s a quick look at the marquee programming NBCSN will include.
- NBA and WNBA: You’ll get live Monday night NBA games, select NBA Playoff matchups, and a full slate of WNBA coverage.
- MLB: The new NBC–MLB deal that starts in March 2026 will bring a stacked lineup of regular-season and postseason pro baseball games to NBCSN.
- College football: The channel will be the new linear home for a rich slate of Big Ten and Notre Dame Football games.
- Premier League: Expect a package of live Premier League soccer matches.
- Olympics: You’ll find plenty of 2026 Winter Olympics coverage in February, including the NFL RedZone-style whip-around Gold Zone show hosted by Scott Hanson.
- Cycling: Summertime will bring expanded Tour de France and Vuelta a España action.
- Studio shows: This will be the new 24/7 home for NBC’s most popular sports talk shows, including PFT Live, The Dan Patrick Show, and Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry.
- Other marquee sports: The NBCSN schedule will also feature Big Ten, Big East, and Big 12 basketball, U.S. Open and The Open Championship coverage, and Kentucky Derby undercard races.
Congrats to my friends & colleagues @NBCSports …. Great news for fans!
— Scott Hanson (@ScottHanson) November 13, 2025
*Gold Zone ~ 12 weeks away! https://t.co/FRvgGSXw1I
How to get NBC Sports Network
As of its launch on November 17, 2025, the only way to get the new NBC Sports Network is by subscribing to YouTube TV. It’s included in the live TV streaming service’s base plan at no extra cost, thanks to the October media agreement between NBCUniversal and Google.
NBCUniversal has already announced that the channel will be “coming soon” to its own Xfinity TV service. While there’s no official timetable for other providers yet, I fully expect them to fall in line. Services like DIRECTV, Hulu + Live TV, and Fubo will want to get deals done well before the 2026 Winter Olympics start this February.
