 | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Maryland Virginia Washington, D.C. Southern Pennsylvania Eastern West Virginia Southern Delaware Hampton Roads Outer Banks National (via satellite) |
| Network | NBC Sports Regional Networks |
| Headquarters | Bethesda, Maryland |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) 480i (SDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Monumental Sports & Entertainment |
| Sister channels | Cable/satellite: NBC Sports Washington Plus |
| History | |
| Launched | April 4, 1984 |
| Replaced | The Comcast Network |
| Former names | Home Team Sports (1984–2001) Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic (2001–2017) |
| Links | |
| Website | www.nbcsports.com/washington |
| Availability (some events may air on overflow feed NBC Sports Washington Plus due to event conflicts) | |
| Streaming media | |
| DirecTV Stream | Internet Protocol television |
| YouTubeTV | Internet Protocol television |
| Hulu Live | Internet Protocol television |
| FuboTV | Internet Protocol television |
NBC Sports Washington is an American regional sports network owned by Ted Leonsis's Monumental Sports & Entertainment, and operates as an affiliate of NBC Sports Regional Networks. Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, the channel broadcasts regional coverage of sports events throughout the Mid-Atlantic, with a focus on professional sports teams based in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., as well as sports news and entertainment programming.
NBC Sports Washington is available on approximately 25 cable television providers throughout Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, as well as parts of Delaware, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and West Virginia; it is also available nationwide on satellite television via DirecTV. The channel reaches more than 4.7 million households in the Mid-Atlantic region.
In June 2023, Monumental Sports & Entertainment announced plans to rebrand the network as Monumental Sports Network in the fall of 2023.[1]
YouTube Encyclopedic
-
1/5Views:43 00226 9926 2731 005867
-
'Disappointing' Washington Football Team fight points to dysfunction | NBC Sports
-
Commanders to start Carson Wentz, bench Taylor Heinicke in Week 17 | Pro Football Talk | NFL on NBC
-
Robert Griffin III believes 'It's time' for Commanders to start Carson Wentz at QB | NBCS Washington
-
NBC Sports Washington - 2020 “Hockey is Back” Capitals Exhibition Intro
-
NBC Sports Washington - 2020 NFL Washington Football Team Kickoff Live Intro
Transcription
History
The network was launched as Home Team Sports (HTS) on April 4, 1984. Originally owned by Westinghouse Broadcasting, it was one of the first regional sports networks in the United States with rights to the Washington Bullets, Washington Capitals and Baltimore Orioles. In 1988, the network affiliated with SportsChannel picking up their NHL package.[2] In 1989, HTS additionally became an affiliate of the Prime Sports Network.
In 1996, the network was folded into CBS Cable, a cable television division formed through Westinghouse Electric Corporation's merger with CBS. In February 1997, Home Team Sports became an affiliate of Fox Sports Networks,[3] a group of regional sports networks formed the previous year through News Corporation's partial acquisition of Prime through a joint venture with that network's parent Liberty Media. In 1996, Fox/Liberty had tried to secure rights to the Bullets, Capitals, and Orioles which would have led to the launch of a new RSN. Fox/Liberty originally outbid HTS but previous contracts gave HTS the right of first refusal. Fox/Liberty filed a lawsuit against HTS which ultimately was settled.[4] News Corporation subsequently purchased a 34% ownership interest in HTS. CBS Corporation, which remained majority owner, eventually merged into Viacom in 1999, in a deal worth $91 billion.
Shortly after Viacom completed its merger with CBS, on June 10, 2000, Viacom announced that it would sell Home Team Sports and Minneapolis-based regional sports network Midwest Sports Channel.[5][6] One month later on July 11, Comcast agreed to acquire a 75% ownership stake in HTS and the Midwest Sports Channel from CBS, in a deal worth approximately $150 million.[7][8] News Corporation, which wanted to acquire full ownership of both networks, filed a lawsuit ten days later on July 21 in an attempt to block the sale of MSC and Home Team Sports.[9][10]
On September 7, 2000, as part of a settlement between the two companies, Comcast traded its equity interest in Midwest Sports Channel to News Corporation in exchange for sole ownership of Home Team Sports.[11] The transaction was completed seven months later in mid-February 2001.[12] The channel was relaunched as Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic on April 4, 2001, exactly seventeen years after the network's original launch.[13] The channel continued to carry national programming supplied by Fox Sports Net after the sale.
In 2010, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic split its website into two regional websites, and rebranded them as "Comcast SportsNet Baltimore" and "Comcast SportsNet Washington". While the websites were rebranded, the network still maintains a singular feed that is transmitted throughout its entire coverage area. 5 years later, CSN Mid-Atlantic consolidated the two regional websites back together again as CSNMidAtlantic.com.
In September 2012, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic and its sister Comcast SportsNet outlets ceased carrying Fox Sports Networks-supplied programming, after failing to reach an agreement to continue carrying FSN's nationally distributed programs.[14]
In October 2016, CSN Mid-Atlantic announced that it would extend its broadcast rights to the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards through a long-term deal with the teams' owner, Ted Leonsis. As a result, Monumental Sports & Entertainment took an equity stake in the network, while NBCUniversal took an equity stake in the Monumental Sports Network—an over-the-top subscription service focusing on other teams owned by the company.[15]
Comcast rebranded the network as NBC Sports Washington on October 2, 2017, as part of a larger rebranding of the Comcast SportsNet networks under the NBC Sports brand.[16]
On August 23, 2022, Monumental announced it would acquire full control of the network from Comcast for an undisclosed price. While Monumental plans to rebrand the network in time for the 2023–24 NBA and NHL seasons, NBCUniversal will provide transitional corporate, technical, and distribution support for up to eighteen months after the sale completion. The Sports Business Journal reported that the sale is a "one-off" transaction for Comcast, which has no interest in selling its other regional sports networks.[17] The sale was completed on September 20, 2022.[18] On June 21, 2023, it was announced that NBC Sports Washington will rebrand as Monumental Sports Network. The name change is expected to take effect in the fall of 2023.[1]
Programming
Live game coverage
NBC Sports Washington televises more than 500 live professional and collegiate sporting events per year. The network holds the exclusive regional cable television rights to the NHL's Washington Capitals and the NBA's Washington Wizards – airing all games that are not nationally exclusive – as well as the Washington Mystics of the WNBA. The network formerly held the television rights to the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League, broadcasting the team's games from 2011 until the UFL folded in 2012. D.C. United previously had its games televised by CSN Mid-Atlantic from the team's first season in 1996 until 2015. after which the team signed a multi-year deal with Sinclair Broadcast Group-owned WJLA-TV and WJLA 24/7 News. The network then aired games again from 2020 until 2022 after which those games moved to Apple TV+.
The network also serves as the official cable partner of the NFL's Washington Commanders, holding the rights to televise the team's preseason games; until the consummation of the 2012 merger between NBC and Comcast, which placed Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic and NBC owned-and-operated station WRC-TV (channel 4) under common ownership, games broadcast on WRC-TV were transmitted in 480i standard-definition television to provide high-definition television exclusivity for the regional network. After the merger, both WRC and CSN Mid-Atlantic carry Commanders games in HD.
The network also airs a variety of collegiate events from James Madison University (JMU), George Washington University (George Washington) and the University of Richmond. The network is also the television home of Towson University football, volleyball and basketball games.[19]
News and entertainment programming
NBC Sports Washington produces news, analysis, opinion and entertainment programs focusing the region's sports landscape. The network also features special pre-game show and post-game show, as well as numerous specials and original programs:
Current
- 106.7 The Fan's Sports Junkies – Television simulcast of the WJFK-FM morning drive radio show; the program airs live from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Former
- Redskins Nation – Hosted by Commanders radio voice Larry Michael, the program is dedicated exclusively to covering the Washington Commanders; the half-hour program airs weekdays at 5:30 and 11:30 p.m.
- Sports Talk Live – A half-hour program featuring a mix of discussions, interviews and feature stories that cover all aspects of the area's sports scene; hosted by former NFL running back Brian Mitchell
- SportsNet Central – The network's flagship program; a daily half-hour news program covering sports headlines and game highlights from across the region, similar to ESPN's SportsCenter
On-air staff
Anchors and reporters
Game announcers
Washington Wizards
- Chris Miller – play-by-play announcer
- Drew Gooden – color analyst
Washington Capitals
- Joe Beninati – play-by-play announcer
- Craig Laughlin – color commentator
- Al Koken – "Inside the Glass" reporter
- Alan May – studio host & analyst
- Brent Johnson – studio analyst
Washington Mystics
- Meghan McPeak – play-by-play announcer
- Christy Winters-Scott – color analyst
- Dan Nolan – sideline reporter
Washington Commanders
- Kenny Albert – play-by-play announcer
- Chick Hernandez – secondary play-by-play announcer
- Joe Theismann – color analyst
- Clinton Portis – sideline reporter
Former on-air staff
- Steve Buckhantz (1996–2019; Wizards play-by-play announcer)
- Scott Hanson (2002–2006; now an anchor/reporter for the NFL Network)
- Sage Steele (2001–2007; now with ESPN)
- Michael Jenkins
- Justin Kutcher (2020–2022; Wizards play–by–play announcer)
Other services
NBC Sports Washington Plus
NBC Sports Washington Plus (formerly the Comcast Network) is an overflow channel of NBC Sports Washington, which broadcasts select sports events that cannot be carried on the main channel due to a concurring live event. NBC Sports Washington Plus is carried by DirecTV, and on most cable providers throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
References
- ^ a b "NBC Sports Washington is Becoming Monumental Sports Network". Washington Capitals. June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ^ Chad, Norman (26 November 1988). "NHL AND SPORTSCHANNEL MORE IS LESS". The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ Kent, Milton (February 7, 1997). "NBC won't be taking offense with All-Star shot approach". Blatimore Sun. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- ^ Kent, Milton (October 12, 1996). "O's to stay with HTS for 10 years Fox/TCI officials vow lawsuit that will claim breach of contract". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- ^ Judd Zulgad (May 12, 2000). "BROADCAST SPORTS; Local teams could be interested in buying MSC.(SPORTS)". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015 – via HighBeam Research.
- ^ Kenneth Bredemeier (May 5, 2000). "Viacom Puts HTS Network on the Block". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015 – via HighBeam Research.
- ^ Mark Guidera (July 12, 2000). "Comcast to buy HTS sports channel". Baltimore Sun.
- ^ Eric Fisher (July 12, 2000). "Purchase of HTS Continues Comcast's Foray into Area Sports". The Washington Times.[dead link]
- ^ Judd Zulgad (July 12, 2000). "Comcast agrees to buy MSC; Announced deal appears to be a setback for Fox Sports Net.(SPORTS)". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015 – via HighBeam Research.
- ^ Linda Moss; R. Thomas Umstead (July 24, 2000). "Fox Sports Net Suing to Block HTS Sell-Off.(Home Team Sports)(Brief Article)". Multichannel News. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015 – via HighBeam Research.
- ^ Judd Zulgad (September 8, 2000). "BROADCAST SPORTS; Fox Sports' agreement to acquire MSC now final.(SPORTS)". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015 – via HighBeam Research.
- ^ Kristine Henry (March 3, 2001). "Nevins leaves PR post for presidency of HTS". Baltimore Sun.
- ^ "HTS now Comcast SportsNet, adding sports news coverage". Baltimore Sun. April 4, 2001.
- ^ John Ourand (August 14, 2012). "NBC Sports Group Drops FSN Programming From Comcast RSNs". Sports Business Journal. Advance Publications. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
- ^ "Capitals, Wizards announce new long-term partnership with CSN Mid-Atlantic". Washington Post. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
- ^ "NBC Sports Regional Networks to align CSN and TCN properties under 'NBC Sports' brand". NBC Sports Regional Networks. August 23, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
- ^ Ourand, John (August 23, 2022). "Ted Leonsis' Monumental to buy NBC Sports Washington". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ^ Monumental Sports & Entertainment (September 20, 2022). "Monumental Sports & Entertainment Completes Acquisition of NBC Sports Washington" (Press release). Retrieved September 20, 2022.
- ^ "Towson Athletics Announces 2023-24 Broadcast Partnership with NBC Sports Washington/Monumental Sports Network". Towson University Athletics. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
External links
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
This page was last edited on 30 August 2023, at 16:46