Three months into its joint venture with NBCUniversal, Comcast synergies continue to manifest. This time, NBCU regional sports network in the Bay Area, beginning in June, will provide coverage during the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts for NBC's O&O station in San Francisco, KNTV, Channel 11.
Comcast SportsNet Bay Area's 140-person staff will help provide programming for KNTV, known as NBC Bay Area, during the aforementioned newscasts. Moreover, Comcast SportsNet, which has been providing the production of San Francisco Giants baseball games to the station since the 2008 season, will provide documentaries and such special segments as postgame NFL coverage after every Sunday Night Football game, previews of NBC's Triple Crown horse racing events, the 2012 U.S. Open at San Francisco's Olympic Club and annual preview and review specials of teams and players in the area.
As part of the transition, Comcast is building a new set in SportsNet's 37,000 square-foot HD studio in downtown San Francisco.
While this could serve as a model for RSN news contributions in other NBC owned-and-operated stations in Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, it's a template that insiders say is subject to different considerations. In addition to an evaluation of how this move performs in the Bay Area, the equity stakes of the RSNs, news and personnel resources as well as the market positions of the stations would also enter the equation before a similar situation would be implemented.
Noted Comcast SportsNet Bay Area vice president and general manager Ted Griggs: "Comcast SportsNet has made a significant investment to build the largest and most credible multiplatform sports news team in the market. Partnering with NBC Bay Area allows us to leverage our assets for the benefit of both outlets, consistent with our commitment to serve fans wherever they turn for sports developments."
"The Bay Area has eight professional franchises, six Division I college teams and millions of passionate, loyal fans," added Richard Cerussi, NBC Bay Area president and general Manager. "This is one of the country's greatest sports markets, and the partnership between our two organizations will enable NBC Bay Area to bring our audience more sports content and coverage than ever before."
