The Streaming Divide: How NBCU’s Entertainment Networks Ended Up On Different Sides In Comcast Spinoff After Years Of Integration

deadline.com:

Comcast’s decision to spin off most of its cable networks has split NBCUniversal‘s linear networks into two groups, with NBC and Bravo (as well as Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo) staying within Comcast alongside streamer Peacock and the TV studios, and the rest, including USA Network, Syfy, E!

and Oxygen as well as MSNBC, CNBC and the Golf Channel, moving to stand-alone offshoot SpinCo led by NBCUniversal Media Group chairman Mark Lazarus.

As for how the lines were drawn among the English-language networks, a simplistic answer would be paraphrasing James Carville’s 1992 quip, “it’s the streaming, stupid.” One look at Peacock’s list of Top 10 shows provides a clue into the decision — it is dominated by NBC and Bravo titles like Law & Order: SVU and the Chicago, Real Housewives and Below Deck franchises.

The two networks’ volume of original content has the scale and does so well on Peacock, they are the only two NBCU linear brands that have a next-day deal with the streamer for their shows.