Why Every Cable Network Is a Sports Channel Now

Story by Alex Weprin

Image from The Hollywood Reporter

scrn logline

As the pay-TV bundle shrinks, cable networks are increasingly turning to sports to stay relevant and defend their rights deals in the face of growing streaming competition.

beat sheet

Comcast's new standalone cable venture, SpinCo, will be anchored by leading sports properties like the Olympics, PGA Tour, Premier League soccer and the WWE, which will be a key driver for the new company.
Warner Bros. Discovery is launching a primetime sports programming block on its TruTV channel, marking a shift from the network's unscripted comedy focus, as the company looks to slow the decline of its linear cable business.

call sheet

Rick Cordella, Mark Lazarus, Jemele Hill, Adam Silver, Comcast, Warner Bros. Discovery, ESPN, NBC Sports, FX, UFC, TruTV, TNT, TBS, Paramount, Nickelodeon, NFL, NBA, Netflix, The Bear, Shogun, Impractical Jokers, Above the Fold

Read the source