NBC News Uses Kentucky Derby for New Swing at Sports Coverage
NBC News is stepping into the world of sports coverage with a new digital hub on NBCNews.com. As NBC Sports gets ready to cover the Kentucky Derby this weekend, NBC News is launching a sports hub that will feature content from NBC Sports, access to their free ad-supported streaming channel, and sports coverage from a dedicated team of sports journalists. The hub will also include sports explainers from popular NBC News personality Steve Kornacki.
Rebecca Blumenstein, president of editorial for NBC News, expressed her excitement for the new venture, stating, “We are combining NBC Sports’ deep expertise and exclusive content with the editorial strengths and wide reach of NBC News to establish a destination on NBCNews.com for smart, accessible sports coverage for a broad audience.”
Traditionally, sports coverage has been the domain of a network’s sports division, with little crossover into news programming. However, with the growing influence of sports on American culture, NBC News sees an opportunity to provide comprehensive sports coverage to its audience. This move comes at a time when sports programming is becoming increasingly important to the economics of traditional media outlets.
NBC News is not the only NBC property diving deeper into sports coverage. “Today” show co-anchors Craig Melvin and Savannah Guthrie have been incorporating more sports content into their program, reflecting NBC’s strong ties to the NFL and NBA. CNBC has also launched a vertical dedicated to the business of sports, offering a range of content including a weekly newsletter, events, data, and documentaries.
To bolster their sports coverage, NBC News has assembled an experienced editorial team, including Greg Rosenstein from The Athletic, Rohan Nadkarni from Sports Illustrated, and Andrew Grief, a former sports reporter for the Los Angeles Times. The team is gearing up to cover the Preakness Stakes on May 17, with plans to continue expanding their sports coverage in the future.
With NBC News entering the sports arena, viewers can expect a fresh perspective on sports coverage that combines the expertise of NBC Sports with the editorial strength of NBC News. As interest in sports continues to grow, NBC News is poised to become a go-to destination for sports fans looking for comprehensive and engaging coverage.
