NBC Sports Network evolves toward NBCSN

Increased migration efforts coincide with launch of Premier League this week

Coinciding with the launch of its Premier League coverage on Saturday, NBC Sports Network will significantly increase its efforts this week to gradually change the name of the network to NBCSN.

Starting with the Liverpool-Stoke City match - coverage begins at 7 a.m. on Saturday - NBC Sports Network will increasingly be referred to by commentators and within on-screen graphics as NBCSN. Viewers will see and hear NBCSN with greater frequency across all NBC Sports Group platforms and marketing initiatives in the months leading up to the 2014 Sochi Olympics in February.

"The high-profile nature of our Premier League launch is the perfect platform to increase our campaign of branding NBC Sports Network as NBCSN. This is a natural evolution from the longer channel name to the acronym, as NBCSN is streamlined visually and a faster read," said John Miller, CMO, NBC Sports Group. "Premier League coverage will feature NBCSN as its primary mark. By the Winter Olympics in February, the transformation will be complete, and the Games will be used to solidify NBCSN as the network's name and brand."

The NBC Sports Network hallmark - a brand-identifying message shown at the start of programming blocks - is a promotional example of the evolution. This weekend, the hallmark will show and say NBC Sports Network, followed by a dissolve to the NBCSN logo and a NBCSN voiceover. Eventually, the hallmark will only include the NBCSN portion.

By February, NBC Sports Network, which was re-rebranded from VERSUS on Jan. 2, 2012, will still be seen and heard occasionally, but with much less frequency.

NBCSN, part of the NBC Sports Group, is dedicated to serving passionate sports fans. Now in more than 80 million homes, the Emmy Award-winning network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League, Premier League, Formula One, Major League Soccer, IZOD IndyCar Series, Tour de France, the 34th America's Cup, and, beginning in 2015, NASCAR. In addition, NBCSN features college football, college basketball, college hockey, cycling, outdoor programming, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup, "Fight Night" boxing, Ironman, the Dew Action Sports Tour and USA Sevens Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such as "Costas Tonight," "The Crossover," "NFL Turning Point," "Pro Football Talk" and "The Dan Patrick Show." NBCSN is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the U.S.