Combining three groups

A new NBC Sports arm has launched combining sports betting, prediction, and gaming technology products. On Monday, the Digital Consumer Businesses division of NBC Sports announced the start of NBC Sports Next, bringing together three different segments: Youth & Recreational Sports, Golf, and Betting, and Gaming & Emerging Media. In all, this new business unit aims to reach over 30 million people across 40 countries with more than 25 sports solution products.

help improve fan engagement with the likes of sports betting and gaming

Market leaders GolfNow and SportsEngine will come together through the creation of NBC Sports Next. High-growth gaming, betting, and content products portfolio NBC Sports Enterprises will also join this same arm. The goal of NBC Sports Next is to help improve fan engagement with the likes of sports betting and gaming, as well as to bring greater value to partners who want to connect with the core audiences that are a part of the NBC Sports Next portfolio.

The specifics of the new arm

The Youth & Recreational Sports segment of NBC Sports Next is made up of the GoMotion, TeamUnify, TourneyMachine, and SportsEngine technology platforms. These offerings allow team administrators, coaches, parents, and athletes in the youth and recreational spaces to manage all aspects of the playing experience. This includes the sharing of schedules, collection of payments, and management of organizations.

The Golf segment brings together GolfPass, TeeOff, and GolfNow. These are offerings that connect golf facilities and golfers globally through leveraging powerful services and technology. Finally, the Betting, Gaming & Emerging Media segment includes sports betting, prediction, and gaming resources. This includes NBC Sports Predictor, NBC Sports Audio, and NBC Sports EDGE (previously Rotoworld).

Striving to be the best

Speaking about the launch of this new arm was NBC Sports Next executive vice president Will McIntosh. He spoke about how NBC Sports has always tried to be a leader at the crossroads of technology and sports. He said: “We’re proud to bring our top products and teams together under one integrated brand that will serve as a permanent home for opportunities across applications and technologies.”

unparalleled experiences for our partners, advertisers, customers, athletes and fans”

NBC Sports Next chief customer officer Jody Vogelaar also touched upon the launch of this arm and how it aims to continually strive towards offering the most engaging and immersive sporting experiences. He said: “NBC Sports Next’s portfolio of mobile and digital applications in the sports and entertainment space provides unparalleled experiences for our partners, advertisers, customers, athletes and fans.”

NBC Sports already has some exposure to the burgeoning US sports betting sector. In August 2020, it signed a five-year media partnership deal with sportsbook operator PointsBet. The deal is expected to net NBC Sports about $500m and includes a 4.9% stake in PointsBet.