Latest news with #ErinCalhoun
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Versant Keeps Golf Links After NBCU Split
The U.S. Golf Association will help the new media company known as Versant keep swinging into sports after it is spun off from NBCUniversal. USA Network and Golf Channel will get rights to present live coverage of 11 USGA championships through 2032 — including the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open — featuring live event and studio coverage of the championships across the networks struck under a new deal that is unveiled at the same time as a USGA renewal with NBCU. More from Variety Versant Hires Paramount's Erin Calhoun and MLB's Steve Arocho as Communications Executives Hulu Sale Boosts Comcast Q2 Despite Cord Cutting, Ad Sales Downturn Meghan Rafferty, 'NBC Nightly News' EP, to Join Versant Under terms of the new deal, USA will present about 35 hours of live U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open coverage each year. Golf Channel will carry expanded live coverage of the USGA championships, serving as the exclusive home of the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women's Amateur, U.S. Junior Amateur., U.S. Girls' Junior., U.S. Senior Women's Open, U.S. Adaptive Open, Walker Cup, and Curtis Cup. NBCUniversal's new rights deal with the USGA also lasts through 2032, with the NBC broadcast network continuing to serve as the exclusive broadcast home of the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open, and U.S. Senior Open. The Versant spin off is expected to take place between late 2025 and early 2026. NBCU initially won the USGA rights in 2020 after the golf group broke up with Fox Sports, which was unable to come up with hours for telecasts after schedule shifts prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. 'We're incredibly proud of the partnership we've built over the years with NBCU and Versant, and we're equally excited to continue building on that legacy through our shared passion and dedication – alongside people we're proud to call our friends,' said USGA CEO Mike Whan, in a prepared statement. 'The value NBCU and Versant place on the USGA brand is evident, and this agreement enables the USGA to further advance our mission to positively impact the game, while providing the most expansive coverage and broadest reach to showcase USGA championships.' The pact shows Versant working to maintain sports contracts its networks have held for years. USA is still home to some WWE broadcasts, and both USA and CNBC have served as home to dozens of hours of Olympics contests. The new elements of the agreement will begin in 2027 following the conclusion of the current agreement in 2026. USA Network began its coverage of the USGA championships in 2022 with the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open. Meanwhile, Golf Channel first presented live coverage of the USGA championships in 1995 — the year it launched as the first single-sport cable network in television history. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in August 2025
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Versant Communications Team Adds Erin Calhoun As SVP, Steve Arocho As VP
Former top Paramount TV communications executive Erin Calhoun has joined Versant, the spun-off company housing most of NBCUniversal's cable networks, as SVP of Entertainment, Sports Communications. Additionally, Steve Arocho has been hired as VP of Corporate Communications, rounding out the team led by Versant Chief Communications Officer Keith Cocozza. Based in Los Angeles, Calhoun will oversee communications and manage day-to-day press activities for Versant's portfolio of sports and entertainment brands, including USA Network, Oxygen, E!, SyFy, Golf Channel, GolfNow, Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes and Sports Engine. More from Deadline NBC News Names Deputy D.C. Bureau Chief; MSNBC Makes Additional Washington Hires Epic Universe, 'How To Train Your Dragon' Buoy Comcast Q2 As Company Posts Gain On Sale Of Hulu Stake Versant Taps 'NBC Nightly News' EP Meghan Rafferty As Its Vice President Of News Standards She spent seven years at Paramount Global, most recently as EVP of Communications for Paramount Streaming & Paramount+ with Showtime and Cross-Company Publicity. Prior to that, she was EVP of Communications for Showtime and Paramount Television Studios. This marks a return to familiar territory for Calhoun who earlier in her career served as VP of Corporate Communications for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, working with USA Network and SyFy. Arocho will lead corporate social responsibility and digital communications for Versant. A 20-year communications veteran, he most recently worked at Major League Baseball across Social Responsibility, Community Affairs, Baseball & Softball Development, Youth Engagement, and Multicultural Outreach. Along with Calhoun and Arocho, the rest of Cocozza's Versant communications team includes: Lauren Skowronski, SVP of Global Communications for CNBCRichard Hudock, SVP of Communications for MSNBCDiana Rocco, VP of Internal Communications for VersantHollie Tracz, VP of Media Relations for Versant Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Emmys, Oscars, Grammys & More
