Forum Discussion
Don't misunderstand me...I'm just tryin' to help...but it's not "sports" programming" but "regional sports" programming.
The Regional Sports Surcharge is not a government-mandated fee and...alongside the Broadcast TV Surcharge...are the largest increasing costs for cable-TV.
What is it? Regional sports networks charge Cox to transmit their regional sports programs. Cox will then charge you this cost to recoup from you the money it had paid to the regional sports networks. The surcharge is not regulated and is highly arbitrary.
Largest Increasing Costs. Since 2019, the Broadcast TV Surcharge increased $6.00 (60%) and the Regional Sports Surcharge $3.00 (43%). Notice how these surcharges are nicely rounded?
If the USA Network is transmitting regional sports and you've subscribed to a cable-TV package without this surcharge, Cox will remove the network from your package simply because Cox can't recoup money from you. It's just punishment for being a frugal consumer. It's also the rationale to cut-the-cord.
I'm curious to your TV package without the Regional Sports Surcharge. What is it? I may subscribe to it!
I am not aware of any plans by USA Network to show regional sports programming. However, there was a recent announcement to expand the amount of national and international sports coverage on USA Network. See https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2021/11/02/usa-network-broadens-slate-with-addition-of-premium-nbc-sports-content-in-2022/.
USA NETWORK BROADENS SLATE WITH ADDITION OF PREMIUM NBC SPORTS CONTENT IN 2022
Premier League, NASCAR, INDYCAR, USGA and The R&A Golf Championships, and College and Olympic Sports Among Premium Properties and Events Moving to USA Network
USA Network to Feature Premier League Tripleheader on January 1, 2022
USA Network Was #1 Sports and Entertainment Cable Network Throughout the Recent Tokyo Olympics
NBC Sports Content Also Moving to CNBC, Peacock and Other NBCUniversal Platforms
NBCSN to Conclude Programming on Dec. 31, 2021
LOS ANGELES, Calif. and STAMFORD, Conn. – November 2, 2021 – Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, USA Network broadens its slate with the addition of premium NBC Sports events, including coverage from the Premier League, NASCAR, INDYCAR, the Olympic Games, USGA and The R&A Golf Championships, college and Olympic sports, horse racing, cycling and more. In addition, CNBC, Peacock, and other linear platforms will also host a wide variety of live sports.
USA Network will kick off the 2022 sports calendar on Saturday, Jan. 1 at 7 a.m. ET with a New Year’s Day Premier League tripleheader, beginning with Arsenal hosting defending champion Manchester City.
“We are excited to transition the cable coverage of many of our premium sports events to USA Network, Peacock, and other widely-distributed NBCUniversal platforms, which will give us a significant boost in television homes and will put us in an even stronger position as we grow our business,” said Pete Bevacqua, Chairman, NBC Sports.
“USA has always been home to big, iconic characters – on reality shows like ‘Chrisley Knows Best,’ premium scripted dramas like ‘Chucky’ and ‘The Sinner,’ and of course the high-octane energy of our WWE personalities – and larger-than-life pro athletes will fit right in,” said Frances Berwick, Entertainment Networks, NBCUniversal Television & Streaming. “We expect this expansion of our live sports offering will both engage existing fans and bring in new communities to USA, further cementing the network as a top destination for the best and broadest entertainment in all of its many forms.”
During the recent Tokyo Olympics, USA Network televised live coverage of track & field, men’s and women’s beach volleyball, indoor volleyball and softball, and ranked as the #1 sports and entertainment cable network in primetime with an average of 1.6 million viewers. In September, the Manchester United-Newcastle match featuring the return of Cristiano Ronaldo ranked as the most-watched Premier League game on USA Network.
NBC Sports Programming on USA Network in 2022
-
- Atlantic 10 basketball
- Horse Racing
- IMSA
- INDYCAR: Two races
- Monster Jam
- NASCAR: Cup and Xfinity Series races
- Olympic sports
- Premier League
- Supercross
- The R&A – The Open, AIG Women’s Open: Early round and weekend lead-in coverage
- The Winter Olympics
- Tour de France
- USGA – U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open: Early round and weekend lead-in coverage
Note: Many of these sports will continue to have programming on the NBC broadcast network. In addition, all linear coverage can be streamed via authentication on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. (*All PGA TOUR events remain exclusively on NBC or GOLF Channel.)
For streaming fans, Peacock features extensive live sports including Sunday Night Football, all Notre Dame football home games, Premier League, NASCAR, golf, and much more. In 2022, Peacock will continue to offer an array of live sports coverage including Super Bowl LVI and Olympic competition. To learn more about sports on Peacock and how to sign up, visit https://www.peacocktv.com/sports.
Additional sports content will be presented across widely-distributed linear and digital platforms in the NBCUniversal portfolio, including CNBC, E!, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. It was announced earlier this year that NBCSN will cease operations at the end of 2021.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, NBCSN will display a slate to inform viewers about tune-in information. In addition, there will be extensive marketing and social media campaigns as well as content within telecasts to alert viewers about the situation. NBC Sports’ partners will also educate their fan bases about the change. Exact timing of the network’s decommissioning may vary based on distributors.
- Bruce4 years agoHonored Contributor III
I am not aware of any plans by USA Network to show regional sports programming
Regional sports would probably be qualified from your article as the "...and more."
- I_am_Richard4 years agoNew Contributor III
Possibly. In any case, the email did not explicitly state "regional", so the message they conferred was "all sports".
- Bruce4 years agoHonored Contributor III
I think USA Network intentionally omitted it because the eagle-eyed consumer would see "regional" and think..."Ah oh, prices to spike in 2022."
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