The Versant spin transaction will be completed in early January; Space City Home Network introduces a DTC option; and Craig Carton is reportedly finalizing a deal to return to WFAN. Plus news on Rebecca Lowe, Colt Knost, Pamela Maldonado and Katie Woo.
Versant spin transaction to be completed in early January
The spinoff of most NBCUniversal cable networks into Versant will take place following the close of trading on Friday, Jan. 2, officially ushering in the new company to the stock market. The news became official Wednesday after Comcast’s board of directors formally approved the spinoff of USA, Golf Channel, CNBC, MS NOW, Oxygen and various digital businesses. As previously announced, former NBCUniversal executive Mark Lazarus will serve as the CEO of Versant.
Stockholders will receive one share of Versant Class A or Class B common stock for every 25 shares of Comcast Class A or Class B stock owned at the close of business on Tuesday, Dec. 16. Versant will officially start trading on the NASDAQ under the “VSNT” ticker symbol on Monday, Jan. 5.
Versant’s USA Sports division will enter the new year with a suite of media rights deals with entities such as the WNBA, NASCAR, WWE, Premier League, Pac-12 Conference, PGA TOUR and League One Volleyball, along with select Olympic events in February. In addition, the portfolio contains other digital and streaming businesses including Golf Now, SportsEngine and GolfPass. USA Sports president Matt Hong recently said that Versant will contain “about $7 billion in revenue” and “over $2 billion in EBITDA,” conveying that the company is an “excessively well-funded startup.”
Comcast is one of two major media conglomerates currently in the process of spinning off cable networks. Warner Bros. Discovery plans to split its global networks from its streaming/studio properties, the latter of which Comcast is reportedly trying to acquire and merge with NBCUniversal.
Space City Home Network introduces DTC option
Space City Home Network has introduced “SCHN+,” a direct-to-consumer option for fans to view Houston Rockets and Houston Astros games without a traditional pay television subscription. The channel, which the teams acquired from Warner Bros. Discovery upon its exit from the RSN business in 2023, features live game broadcasts for both franchises and other programming.
The new service is also available as a TV Everywhere streaming app and has subscription plans of $19.99/month or $199.99/year. Fans who already receive Space City Home Network as part of their television plans can authenticate within this new application to view content for no additional cost.
Michael Shapiro of the Houston Chronicle reported in April that Space City Home Network had contracts with DirecTV and Comcast through 2032. While introducing a DTC option would not reportedly violate these pacts, Shapiro stated that the companies “would likely have legal standing to ‘tear up the existing deals'” following its launch. From there, they would return to the RSN under new deals at a “vastly lower price.”
The Rockets and Astros were the last teams in their leagues without a direct-to-consumer option despite each having partial ownership of the RSN. Just one month after the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals announced “the final resolution of all issues” regarding a dispute about the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), the entity launched a DTC option of its own. The Nationals, however, are able to pursue alternatives for their television rights beginning next season.
Carton reportedly finalizing deal to make WFAN return
Craig Carton is reportedly finalizing a deal under which he would make his return to WFAN and host in afternoon drive, according to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic. Carton would be returning to the station less than three years after departing for a second time to focus on his FS1 morning program, “The Carton Show,” after having worked on television and radio simultaneously. This would also be Carton’s third stint with the station, the first of which ended with his resignation after being suspended indefinitely following an arrest.
As part of lineup changes at FS1, the network retained Carton but paired him with Danny Parkins and Mark Schlereth on a new program titled “Breakfast Ball.” The morning show aired its last episode this past July before it was replaced by “Wake Up Barstool” as part of a content partnership with the sports digital brand. Carton has since been hosting a show with Fox-owned Red Seat Ventures while continuing his weekly podcast about gambling addiction with Audacy that also airs on WFAN Sunday mornings.
Marchand reported that WFAN overnight host Chris McMonigle is considered to be the leading candidate to partner with Carton on the new show. Evan Roberts, who previously worked with Carton in afternoon drive, would continue his program with Tiki Barber, albeit in middays, and free up the afternoon timeslot.
Current midday hosts Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata will reportedly see their show “cut from the schedule.” The duo addressed the situation on air Wednesday, and Tierney affirmed that there is trust to continue doing “the show the right way.” Tierney added that while Carton’s contract has not yet been signed, he knows that the longtime New York-based sports talk host will be returning to the station.
Plus: Rebecca Lowe, Colt Knost, Pamela Maldonado, Katie Woo
- Rebecca Lowe is joining FIFA World Cup coverage from Fox Sports as a host, the company announced Wednesday. Lowe primarily works for NBC Sports on its coverage of soccer, the Kentucky Derby and Olympic Games, and the company reportedly gave Fox permission to utilize Lowe during the World Cup.
- Colt Knost will be working as an analyst on CBS Sports golf broadcasts next year, the network revealed Wednesday, which comes after Ian Baker-Finch retired last August. Knost, who has served as an on-course reporter for the company since 2019, will be situated in the network Super Tower alongside Jim Nantz, Trevor Immelman and Frank Nobilo.
- ESPN has signed sports betting analyst Pamela Maldonado to a multi-year contract extension under which she will continue to cover multiple sports for the company, primarily contributing to online editorial content. Maldonado’s extension occurs after ESPN began its new partnership with DraftKings this week.
- Katie Woo will be on the beat covering the Los Angeles Dodgers for The Athletic as a staff writer, it was announced Wednesday. Woo first joined the publication in 2021 and has been reporting on the St. Louis Cardinals for the last four seasons.
