Versant Strikes 11-Year Rights Deal With WNBA as It Splits From NBC

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Versant and the WNBA announced on Tuesday an 11-year rights deal that grants the USA Network a series of regular-season and playoff games, an agreement that solidifies the new media company as a sports rights player as it separates from NBCUniversal. The deal will allow the USA Network to air at least 50 regular-season and playoff games every year, most of which will be Wednesday doubleheaders, along with select coverage of its semifinals and WNBA Finals games in some years. The arrangement expands the number of games USA was expected to air when the NBA struck a rights agreement with NBC last year, ahead of the spinoff announcement. “Partnering with VERSANT and USA Network marks another significant milestone for the WNBA’s continued growth,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. MSNBC has hired dozens of journalists as it fleshes out its own newsroom, including some from NBC News.