USA Sports (2025–present)

Sports division of the USA TV channel in the U.S. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

Network
LaunchedNovember 12, 2025; 8 months ago (2025-11-12)
Country of originUnited States
OwnerVersant
Quick facts Network, Launched ...
USA Sports
Network
LaunchedNovember 12, 2025; 8 months ago (2025-11-12)
Country of originUnited States
OwnerVersant
Key peopleMark Lazarus
(CEO, Versant)
HeadquartersNew York City
Major broadcasting contracts
Official websiteusanetwork.com/sports
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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]

Versant continued to expand its sports programming in Summer 2026. In June, USA Sports announced that 11 WNBA games scheduled to air on USA Network would be simulcast on CNBC. All 11 games will be the second game in a weekday doubleheader.[16] In July, USA Sports announced an agreement with the Pro Padel League to put Sunday championship matches from five PDL events on CNBC.[17] Later in July, Versant announced a five-year agreement with Bundesliga. 30 matches per season will air on USA Network. The remainder of the games will air for free on the Fandango streaming service, marking the first sports to air on the platform.[18]

Current rights

See also

References

External links

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