NBC Sports to expand streaming service

US media company NBCUniversal has announced that it will provide live digital streaming of all of its leading sports properties, including the NBC Sports Network and Golf Channel pay-television channels.

The USA Today newspaper said that the NBCSports.com website would stream about 4,000 hours of action from 1,000 events in 2013, up from 300 hours from 110 events in 2012.

Rick Cordella, senior vice-president of digital media for NBC Sports Group, said: “We’re streaming everything where we have the rights to do it.”

Cordella added that NBC had taken the decision after deciding that the fear of online viewing cannibalising television ratings was misplaced.

“We’re not trying to take anybody away from their TVs – this is for folks who can’t get to their couches,” he said.