The NBC networks will stay on YouTube TV for at least the short-term. Plus: the March Madness brand is expanding to cover the women’s tournament, ESPN is launching a weekly NHL show, and more.
YouTube, NBC, reach short-term extension
YouTube TV (Google) and NBC Universal (Comcast) said late Thursday that they have agreed to a short-term extension that will keep the NBC family of networks on the streaming service as negotiations on a new carriage agreement between the sides continue. YouTube TV was to drop the NBC channels at Midnight ET Friday. NBC has an unusually high-profile NFL game scheduled this weekend, Buccaneers QB Tom Brady’s return to New England.
Per reports, NBC at one point in negotiations was demanding that YouTube TV pay for its streaming service Peacock in addition to the linear NBC channels. [Cordcutters News 9.30, ArsTechnica 9.28]
March Madness brand to include women’s tourney
The NCAA will begin using the “March Madness” brand name on the Division I women’s basketball tournament, it was announced this week. The “March Madness” brand has been used on the women’s tournament in the past, albeit sparingly. Per the New York Times, the NCAA plans to use a slightly different “March Madness” logo for the women’s tournament. [NCAA.com 9.29]
ESPN announces weekly NHL show
ESPN announced this week that it will launch a weekly, one-hour John Buccigross-hosted NHL show called “The Point.” The show will air Thursdays on ESPN2 at 3 PM ET, except for the Opening Week of the season, when it will air Tuesday-Friday on ESPN. “The Point” is ESPN’s second NHL-themed studio show, joining the ESPN+ postgame show “In the Crease.” [ESPN PR]
Plus: Williams, NBA-TNT, Nolan, ESPN extensions
The New York Post reported this week that Jay Williams will not be returning to ESPN’s NBA Countdown this season. Williams joined the show in the 2019-20 season and previously served as an analyst on the basketball version of College Gameday. … Turner Sports announced this week that it has reached a contract extension with NBA studio analyst Candace Parker and formally announced the return of Stan Van Gundy. … ESPN has dropped commentator Katie Nolan, ending her four-year tenure. Per Front Office Sports, ex-ESPN boss John Skipper is interested in both Nolan and Michele Beadle for Meadowlark Media, the new venture he is working on with Dan Le Batard. … ESPN has reached contract extensions with NBA reporter Dave McMenamin and college football analyst Jesse Palmer, it was reported this week.. [NYP 9.27, Turner Sports PR, Front Office Sports 9.30, Awful Announcing 9.26, The Hollywood Reporter 9.28]
