NBC has told distributors and some sports leagues that it plans to shut down NBCSN by the end of the year. NBC’s most recent affiliate deals with Charter and Dish Network do not include carriage for NBCSN beyond this year, sources said. Plus, sports leagues that have deals with NBC were being told of the changes this week.

The move is in line with the current media trend of consolidating cable channels. For NBC, it also is part of a bigger strategy to grow its Peacock streaming service, while, at the same time, bolstering the programming schedule for other NBC channels like USA Network. Bigger properties, like the NHL, NASCAR and EPL, will move to USA Network while keeping some windows on the broadcast channel. Smaller properties, like car shows, dog shows and some motorsports, will have to find new linear TV outlets.

The big question is how a league like the NHL reacts to the shutting down of a network that has carried its games for the past 15 years. The NHL’s deal with NBC ends after this season, and the league made it clear that it wants to split its rights between at least two TV outlets. NBC has told the NHL that it would carve out regular windows on its broadcast channel and USA Network, which is in 86.2 million homes, plus Peacock. NBC’s other sports channels, Golf Channel and the Olympic Channel, will not be affected, sources said.

Read more here.

ESPN’s current plan “is for Steve Levy, Louis Riddick and Brian Griese to return” to the “MNF” booth in ’21, through the net will talk with Philip Rivers “about joining the network as an NFL analyst,” according to sources. ESPN execs “felt that broadcast booth righted the shaky MNF ship” this past season. However, sources said that the Rivers talk “could take an interesting turn because there is a chance ESPN adds more games in the forthcoming new TV rights deals.” If Rivers “wanted a Monday night gig, they would probably have to think about it" (N.Y. POST, 1/22).

The Packers will admit about 9,000 people into Lambeau Field for Sunday's NFC title game against the Buccaneers, and the team expects attendees to "follow coronavirus safety protocols." After the Jan. 16 Divisional game against the Rams, the Packers "acknowledged concern that there were too many instances of fans not complying with the team's masking, and in some instances, social distancing requirements." Packers President & CEO Mark Murphy: "The protocols are in place for a reason. We are going to enforce those protocols. ... If people don’t comply and continue to refuse to wear the mask, you might have to remove them from the stadium" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 1/22).

NWHL

The NWHL unveiled coverage plans for its bubble season, which starts Saturday in Lake Placid and culminates with the Isobel Cup Final Feb. 5 at Herb Brooks Arena. Of the 24 games in the bubble season, 21 games will be available domestically and globally on Twitch, called remotely in a studio in Ft. Lauderdale. The three final games of the tournament will air on NBCSN for U.S. fans and will be globally streamed on Twitch. Calling the games will be play-by-play voices Steve Goldstein, Josh Appel and Josh Eastern, along with analysts Erica Ayala, Alexis Pearson and Katie Gaus.

MORE INITIATIVES: In addition, the league’s 120 players across all six teams will wear a patch throughout the NWHL season that declares “End Racism”....Finally, the NWHL is partnering with the Headway Foundation on programs in support of concussion awareness (THE DAILY).

Therabody

Flames LW Johnny Gaudreau is now the first NHL ambassador for tech wellness company Therabody. Terms of the multiyear endorsement were not disclosed. Three Point Sports President Corey Gross brokered the deal on Gaudreau’s behalf. Other athlete ambassadors of Therabody, best known for its Theragun device, include retired tennis player Maria Sharapova, Clippers F Paul George and teen tennis star Amanda Anisimova.

NBC will kick off its '21 horse racing coverage Saturday by broadcasting the $4M Pegasus Cup Int'l from Gulfstream Park in South Florida, beginning at 4:30pm ET. Ahmed Fareed will host the event from NBC Sports studios in Stamford, Conn., alongside analysts Randy Moss and HOF jockey Jerry Bailey. Reporters Britney Eurton and Matt Bernier will report on-site from Gulfstream Park. All coverage of the 90-minute show will be streamed live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. NBC, which owns the rights to horse racing's Triple Crown, will continue its coverage of the sport in March.

Ben Fischer tells us what went into the NFL deciding that 22,000 fans would be the limit for the Super Bowl.

NFLers including Deshaun Watson, Jamal Adams, Budda Baker, DeAndre Hopkins, Jalen Ramsey, Cameron Jordan and Myles Garrett will participate in "NFL Pro Bowl VERZUZ presented by Verizon" Jan. 26-29 at 8:00pm ET on multiple social media platforms. Pro Football HOFer Deion Sanders and NFL Network's MJ Acosta-Ruiz will host (NFL).

USHL President & Commissioner Tom Garrity will step down, effective June 30 (USHL).

The Galaxy renewed their partnership with wireless audio hardware company JLab Audio, in an "expanded, multi-year deal." JLab Audio "becomes a new official partner" of the Galaxy’s eMLS team (ESPORTSOBSERVER, 1/22).

MLS expansion club Austin FC will unveil its stadium naming-rights sponsor on Monday (Mult., 1/22).

"I am forever grateful for Hank’s impact on our sport and the society it represents, and he will always occupy a special place in the history of our game" -- Excerpt from MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's statement on the passing of Baseball HOFer Hank Aaron (MLB).

“Getting the approval and getting the NFL to believe in us and invest in us and be like, ‘OK, we will support this. We will allow the license to happen.’ ... It was really jumping into the deep end. We did a very soft launch last year. … It kind of just blew up before our very eyes last season” -- Fox Sports’ Erin Andrews, on launching her sports-themed women’s clothing line, Wear (NRF ’21, 1/22).

The Washington Football Team is the first team in the NFL to have minorities as head coach (Ron Rivera), GM (Martin Mayhew) and president (Jason Wright), AND the first to have a Black woman as a full-time assistant coach (Jennifer King).

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 22, 2021

Tennessee chancellor Donde Plowman on if Parker Executive Search will be used for the coaching search: "That's up to Danny."

— David Ubben (@davidubben) January 22, 2021

#HankAaron hit his then-record breaking 715th home run off Al Downing of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Downing said after that he no longer told the time as “seven-fifteen,” but as “quarter after seven.”

— Ken Fang -- Wear a mask and Stay home! (@fangsbites) January 22, 2021

Jill Hobbs, who worked 43 years for the Bucs, has passed away. She was the team's player benefits and alumni program manager.

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) January 22, 2021

Relive Hank Aaron's historic 715th home, as called by Vin Scully in '74.

Also, MLB Network produced its own obituary on Aaron, with more coverage coming on "MLB Tonight" at 5:00pm ET, "Studio 42 with Bob Costas" at 9:00pm and Aaron-related programming throughout the day tomorrow.

For more on the late Hammerin' Hank's indelible impact on the game, see the segment from Ken Burns' "Baseball" about Aaron's pursuit of Babe Ruth's record. (Warning: this section of the documentary includes some of the vile language from threatening letters sent to Aaron).

Charles Barkley will appear Friday on the syndicated "Ellen DeGeneres Show."

7,730 -- The number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday (DEADLINE.com, 1/21).