USA Sports (2025–present)

For the first incarnation of this division, see USA Sports (1977–2007).

USA Sports
Network
LaunchedNovember 12, 2025 (2025-11-12)
Country of originUnited States
OwnerVersant
Key peopleMark Lazarus
(CEO, Versant)
HeadquartersNew York City, New York
Major broadcasting contracts

USA Sports is an American programming division for Versant that is responsible for sports broadcasts on USA Network, CNBC, and Golf Channel, launched on November 12, 2025.

Overview

On November 20, 2024, Comcast announced that it would spin off most of its cable networks and select digital properties into a new publicly traded company, Versant, which would be controlled by Comcast shareholders. Included in the spin off were USA Network, CNBC and Golf Channel, all of which previously aired sports content from NBC Sports.[1][2]

When asked about the impact of the spin-off, NBC Sports president Rick Cordella stated that the division would "fulfill every obligation" it has with networks that are part of the spin-off (such as USA Network and Golf Channel), implicating they will still carry NBC Sports programming covered under current contracts (such as the Olympic Games, PGA Tour and WNBA).[3][4][5][6] In November 2025, USA Network and NBC Sports confirmed an agreement was in place to allow NBC Sports produced coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics to air on USA.[7]

In 2025, the new USA Sports began announcing media rights agreements for the first time. On August 12, 2025, Versant announced a broadcasting agreement with United States Golf Association. Golf Channel will remain the primary home of the USGA championships, while USA Network will hold the rights to 35 hours of coverage from the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open.[8] In September 2025, Versant announced a new agreement with the WNBA for 50 regular season games, along with select playoff games. The new deal essentially replaces USA Networks's portion of a previously announced deal between the WNBA and NBC.[9] Also in September 2025, Versant announced an agreement with League One Volleyball to broadcast a "match of the week" on USA Network on Wednesday nights beginning in January 2026. USA Network will also air prime-time coverage of the league’s playoffs, including the 2026 LOVB Championship Match.[10]

In November 2025, USA Sports announced an agreement with the Pac-12 Conference to broadcast 22 regular season college football games, up to 10 regular season women's college basketball games, 50 regular season men's college basketball games, and all games, except the final, of the Pac-12 Conference men's basketball tournament.[11] As with its package on The CW, the telecasts will be produced by the conference's media department Pac-12 Enterprises.[12]

On November 12, 2025, Versant officially announced the USA Sports brand. Versant also confirmed that USA Sports would hold a portion of the rights, previously held by NBC Sports, to the NASCAR Cup Series, PGA Tour, Premier League, WWE SmackDown, The Open Championship and the AIG Women's Open, LPGA Tour, PGA of America, Atlantic 10 Conference and DP World Tour.[13][14][15]

Current rights

See also

References

  1. ^ "Comcast to spin off MSNBC, CNBC and other cable channels". Los Angeles Times. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  2. ^ Spangler, Todd (November 20, 2024). "Comcast Announces Spin-Off of Most Cable Networks Into New Company to 'Set These Businesses Up for Future Growth,' CEO Brian Roberts Says". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  3. ^ Lerner, Drew (November 20, 2024). "NBC Sports president on spinoff: 'We're going to fulfill every obligation'". Awful Announcing. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  4. ^ Awful Announcing Staff. "NBC reveals NBA schedule highlights, new WNBA Finals agreement". awfulannouncing.com. Awful Announcing. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  5. ^ Drew Lerner. "WNBA Finals may air on Versant-owned network next season". awfulannouncing.com. Awful Announcing. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  6. ^ Brendon Kleen. "Cable spinoffs Versant and Discovery Global are punishing sports fans most of all". awfulannouncing.com. Awful Announcing. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  7. ^ "NBC OLYMPICS ANNOUNCES HOSTS FOR 2026 MILAN CORTINA WINTER OLYMPICS COVERAGE ON USA NETWORK AND CNBC". November 24, 2025. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  8. ^ Steinberg, Brian (August 12, 2025). "Versant Keeps Golf Links After NBCU Split". Variety. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  9. ^ Jill Goldsmith (September 30, 2025). "WNBA, Versant's USA Network Set Expanded Rights Deal Through 2036". Deadline Hollywood.
  10. ^ "LOVB Pro Comes to Prime-Time on USA Network". LOVB. September 16, 2025.
  11. ^ "USA Sports selects the new Pac-12 for its premier college sports offering as part of a five-year partnership". Pac-12. November 13, 2025. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  12. ^ "Pac-12, USA Sports ink TV deal through 2030-31". ESPN.com. November 13, 2025. Retrieved January 4, 2026.
  13. ^ Hayes, Dade (November 12, 2025). "Versant Designates USA Sports As Brand For Sports Programming On Golf Channel And USA Network". Deadline. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  14. ^ Steinberg, Brian (November 12, 2025). "Versant Launches USA Sports Unit to House NASCAR, WNBA, WWE and More". Variety. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l ""USA SPORTS" ANNOUNCED AS NEW BRAND AND DIVISION NAME FOR VERSANT'S SPORTS PORTFOLIO". Versant Media. November 12, 2025. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  16. ^ "USA Sports selects the new Pac-12 for its premier college sports offering as part of a five-year partnership". Pac-12. November 13, 2025. Retrieved January 4, 2026.
  17. ^ Karp, Austin (August 11, 2025). "Versant bringing coverage of Cal Ripken Baseball World Series back to live TV". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  18. ^ a b Dachman, Jason (September 16, 2025). "VERSANT Inks Deal for League One Volleyball as Women's Sports Rights Slate Grows". Sports Video Group. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  19. ^ Steinberg, Brian (August 12, 2025). "Versant Keeps Golf Links After NBCU Split". Variety. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  20. ^ Lab, Dee (November 20, 2025). "LPGA Tour Expands 2026 Broadcast Coverage, Sets New Prize Money Record". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
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