NBC Sports Network: New Network Not an Immediate Threat to the Worldwide Leader

It was fun while it lasted, but Versus is gone now. Fans of the network will have to find a new place to watch...

Um, what exactly did they show on Versus?

Whatever it was, it's a moot point now. Versus is gone, and it has been replaced by the NBC Sports Network, a 24/7 sports network run by one of the oldest and most recognizable networks in the world.

Technically, Versus is not so much being replaced by the NBC Sports Network as it is turning into the NBC Sports Network. Per the Philadelphia Inquirer, NBC had its eyes on a 24/7 sports network when it completed its $30 million union with Comcast in 2010.

Well, that dream became a reality on Monday. NBC Sports Network went live on Monday.

As for what you can expect to see on the NBCSN, the USA Today points out that the network has deals with the National Hockey League and Major League Soccer, and its other meal tickets include the Tour de France and the 2012 Olympics. In addition, NBCSN has plenty of documentaries and talk shows lined up.

In other words, it's going to be a lot like Versus, except with a flashier name and somewhat flashier programming.

The plan, naturally, is for the NBCSN to expand its horizons as time goes along. That will mean doing deals with the major sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NASCAR), which will invariably attract more viewers and make the NBCSN a legit threat to other 24/7 sports networks.

Like, you know, ESPN, which has deals with everyone and rules the sports world like a dictator with an iron fist.

The NBC Sports Network is going to be hard-pressed to catch up with the Worldwide Leader. ESPN has a three-decade head start, and it certainly has brand recognition going for it. 

On the bright side, those in charge of NBC Sports Network seem to have it in mind to cater to all the ESPN haters out there. NBC's Mark Lazarus told the USA Today that the network will feature a daily show that will be centered around "intelligent sports talk" and not highlights being shown while talking heads shout at viewers.

That's a good start, and it helps that the network will have personalities like Bob Costas and Dan Patrick to parade around. Costas has been around forever and is well-respected, and Patrick has become much less of a stooge since he left ESPN.

It's clear that the NBCSN plans to start its TV life catering to more cerebral sports fans, ones who enjoy smart talk and the finer sports that are neglected by the beer-guzzling masses.

It's a smart plan, and there are enough ESPN haters out there to make it work.

But there aren't enough of them out there to make the NBC Sports Network a legit competitor against the worldwide leader. In order for the NBCSN to even stand out amidst ESPN's gigantic shadow, it will have to beat ESPN at its own game.

As I mentioned above, that will start with acquiring games. People know ESPN as a place where they can watch the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball and other professional sports, and the worldwide leader always seems to be showcasing some kind of collegiate event.

Compared to that, what the NBCSN can currently offer just won't cut it. If the network struggles or even fails to expand its horizons, it will remain a niche network.

Which is to say, of course, that it will remain Versus.