NBCSN’s impending release makes little difference for NBC Sports, PFT Live

The news that NBCSN will end by the end of the year has been greeted by some with confusion and surprise (and, in a few cases, unwanted condolences). After all, NBCSN finished second after ESPN’s mainnet in sports cable ratings in 2018. Without the postponement of the Olympics, NBCSN would have landed in the same place in 2020.

So why unplug a profitable five-letter sports network? This is part of a strategy of growth and expansion, not reduction and surrender.

USA Network will most likely emerge as a force similar to TNT, with a mix of sports and non-sports programming. Already in six million more households than NBCSN, the transfer of certain sporting events to USA Network instantly raises their profile and reinforces USA Network’s reputation.

Then there’s Peacock, the all-new streaming service that continues to grow, thanks in large part to the exclusive presence of all nine seasons of Office – with extended episodes for the entire third season, and other extended episodes to come. Last August, the live edition of Live PFT switched from NBCSN to Peacock as part of this transition to a model that provides access to a lot of sports shows (like Live PFT and its afternoon component, PM PFT) for free, with no cable or satellite plan required.

This is where the live Live PFT the show has been going on for months, and that’s where it will continue to be. It will also be available to be rebroadcast at your convenience.

For those who don’t want to pay for another streaming service, much of the content on Peacock (including the Sports channel with Live PFT, The Dan Patrick show, The Rich Eisen Show, Brother of another, PM PFT and more) is free. For $ 4.99 per month, premium content (including all Office and much more) can be unlocked. For $ 9.99 per month, everything can be consumed ad-free.

But we still don’t want to pay for another streaming service. Well, then don’t do it; try Peacock, then ask yourself, “Do I like it better than any of my other streaming services?”

If you do, keep Peacock and drop one of the others. If you don’t, you can still keep Peacock’s free tier, including free access to our shows.

You can also hear Live PFT and PM PFT live on SiriusXM 211. You can download podcasts wherever you are. You can watch clips of the show on YouTube. Or, if you read these words, you’ll see lots of video chunks attached to most if not all of the stories posted here at PFT.

We haven’t forgotten our oddly strong clientele in the UK and Ireland. Live PFT will still air on Sky Sports NFL at 7:00 p.m. local time. Each Wednesday, PM PFT is currently televised live at 10:00 p.m. local time. (If you want more nights, have more people watch it on Wednesdays.)

So the content is still there and it’s much easier to access than some might suggest. If you have any problems or questions about Peacock (and I know I’ll regret it, but what the heck?), Let me know.