CNBC to wade further into live sports with 11 simulcast WNBA games

The WNBA is increasing its footprint to CNBC.

CNBC mum or dad Versant introduced Wednesday that the enterprise information community will simulcast 11 WNBA games this season. The matchups will even air on Versant’s USA Community.

Final September, Versant and the WNBA introduced an 11-year media rights settlement that features each regular-season and postseason games. As a part of that deal, USA Community will air at the least 50 games yearly.

Protection on CNBC begins Wednesday evening with the defending champion Las Vegas Aces taking up the Phoenix Mercury at 10 p.m. ET. That sport is the second of a doubleheader that kicks off with the New York Liberty and Chicago Sky at 8 p.m. ET on USA Community.

The purpose of the simulcasts is to be certain that followers do not miss any of the motion, in accordance to USA Sports President Matt Hong. As doubleheaders can often run lengthy, the simulcast will permit viewers to select which sport to tune into in the event that they overlap.

The simulcast will even expose the WNBA to an prosperous viewers on CNBC because the league seeks to capitalize on booming recognition.

“It is actually a promise that we make to not solely the WNBA, however all our league companions that we’ll search for new audiences for them,” Hong stated Wednesday on CNBC’s “Squawk Field.”

Wednesday additionally marks the debut of Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham as an athlete contributor for Versant. She shall be concerned in studio protection for each games of the doubleheader on each networks.

The simulcast settlement marks a recent chapter for CNBC because it explores new income streams and navigates a company spinout from its former mum or dad, Comcast.

Whereas CNBC has beforehand carried Olympic occasions and occasional golf occasions, the WNBA simulcast represents a further push into live sports for the cable channel.

“Sports is clearly must-see tv. I would put live information and live monetary information in that class as effectively,” stated Hong.

That would assist Versant in future distribution offers with pay TV suppliers. Versant is now negotiating these carriage offers by itself after beforehand tying its programming to NBCUniversal when it was a part of Comcast.

Versant’s manufacturers additionally embrace MS NOW, E!, SyFy and Oxygen, as well as to digital platforms Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow and GolfPass.

Since information of Versant’s spin-off, Hong has signed 5 new, expanded or prolonged rights offers.

The corporate has offers with a number of different skilled sports leagues together with NASCAR, the PGA Tour, LPGA, and Pac-12 soccer and basketball.

Disclosure: Versant is the mum or dad firm of CNBC.