NBC To Air Select NHL Playoff Games On USA Network In Effort To Boost Net's Ratings

NBC Sports Group yesterday confirmed previously announced plans to "air some Stanley Cup playoff games on USA Network this year," according to Jon Lafayette of BROADCASTING & CABLE. NBC "puts all of the hockey playoff games on national channels and has used networks including CNBC as an outlet for overflow games during the early rounds in the past." USA's "last major sporting event was U.S. Open tennis," which it broadcast until '08 until ESPN took over. NBCU and parent company Comcast have said that both sub fees and ad revenues for USA Network "generate less subscriber revenue than comparable networks owned by other media companies." Having sports "could help with negotiations with both cable operators and advertisers at a time when USA -- and other major cable networks -- are suffering lower ratings" (BROADCASTINGCABLE.com, 3/17). ESPN in '14 was the most-watched U.S. cable network in primetime for the first time on record, topping USA Network, which held the top spot the last nine years (THE DAILY).