View source for NBC Sports California

{{more citations needed|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name              = NBC Sports California
| logo              = NBC Sports California 2023.svg
| logo_size         = 200px
| logo_caption      =
| logo_alt          = 
| image             = 
| launch_date       = {{Start date|2004|10|}} {{specify|date=August 2013}}
| closed_date       = 
| picture_format    = [[1080i]] ([[High-definition television|HDTV]])<br>[[480i]] ([[Standard-definition television|SDTV]])
| network           = [[NBC Sports Regional Networks]]
| owner             = [[NBC Sports Group]]
| country           = [[United States]]
| language          = English<br>Spanish (via [[Second audio program|SAP]])
| area              = [[San Francisco Bay Area]]<br>[[Sacramento]]<br>[[Northern California]]<br>[[Greater Los Angeles]]<br>[[San Diego]]<br>[[Southern California]] (via NBCSports)<br>Portions of [[Oregon]]<br>Western [[Nevada]]<br>National (via satellite)
| headquarters      = San Francisco
| former_names      = Comcast SportsNet West (2004–2008)<br>Comcast SportsNet California (2008–2017)
| replaced          = 
| replaced_by       = 
| sister_channels   = '''Cable/satellite:'''<br>[[NBC Sports Bay Area]]<br>'''Broadcast:'''<br>[[KNTV]]/San Jose<br>[[KSTS]]/[[San Francisco]]<br>[[KCSO-LD|KCSO]]/[[Sacramento]]<br>[[KNBC]]/[[Los Angeles]]<br>[[KVEA]]/[[Corona, California|Corona]]
| timeshift_service = 
| website           = {{URL|http://www.nbcsportscalifornia.com|www.nbcsportscalifornia.com}}
| online_serv_1 = Affiliated Streaming Service(s)
| online_chan_1 = [[Peacock TV|Peacock]]
| online_serv_2     = [[DirecTV Stream]]
| online_chan_2     = [[IPTV|Internet Protocol television]]
| online_serv_3     = [[YouTubeTV]]
| online_chan_3     = [[IPTV|Internet Protocol television]]
| online_serv_4     = [[Hulu Live]]
| online_chan_4     = [[IPTV|Internet Protocol television]]
| online_serv_5     = [[FuboTV]]
| online_chan_5     = [[IPTV|Internet Protocol television]]
}}

'''NBC Sports California''' (sometimes abbreviated as '''NBCS California''') is an American [[regional sports network]] owned by the [[NBC Sports Group]] unit of [[NBCUniversal]], and operates as an affiliate of [[NBC Sports Regional Networks]]. The channel broadcasts regional coverage of professional and college sports events throughout [[Northern California]], as well as original sports-related news, discussion and entertainment programming.

NBC Sports California is available on cable and [[optical fiber|fiber optic]] television providers throughout northern and southern California, and portions of [[Oregon]] and western [[Nevada]]. It is also available nationwide on [[direct broadcast satellite|satellite]] via [[DirecTV]]. The network maintains main studios and offices headquartered with sister network [[NBC Sports Bay Area]] in [[San Francisco]], California.

==History==
[[File:CSNCalifornia.png|thumb|right|Comcast SportsNet California logo from October 1, 2008, to April 1, 2017]]
In summer 2003, Comcast acquired the regional television rights to broadcast regular-season and early-round playoff games from the [[Sacramento Kings]]. Previously, the team's game broadcasts were only available either via [[pay-per-view]] sports packages and on an alternate feed of then Cablevision-owned [[SportsChannel]] Bay Area. As a result, Comcast created a new regional sports network to broadcast the team's games; the network launched as '''Comcast SportsNet West''' in October 2004, coinciding with the start of the Kings' [[2004–05 Sacramento Kings season|regular season]].

Although the network originally focused on the [[Northern California]] region, it began expanding its coverage to serve as a complement to Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. This began with the network's rebranding to '''Comcast SportsNet California''' in September 2008; it subsequently became the official broadcaster of the [[Oakland Athletics]] (which previously broadcast their games on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, in addition to the [[San Francisco Giants]]) for the [[2009 Major League Baseball season]], broadcasting 145 regular-season games that year (an increase by 37 telecasts from the 2008 season).<ref>{{cite web |title=COMCAST SPORTS NET CALIFORNIA ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL OAKLAND ATHLETICS TELECAST SCHEDULE |url=http://bayarea.comcastsportsnet.com/about-us/press-releases/inaugural-oakland-athletics-telecast-schedule/ |website=Comcast SportsNet Bay Area |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215182553/http://bayarea.comcastsportsnet.com/about-us/press-releases/inaugural-oakland-athletics-telecast-schedule/ |archive-date=2009-02-15 }}</ref> The [[San Jose Sharks]] followed the A's from CSN Bay Area for the [[2009–10 NHL season]], seeing a similar increase in game broadcasts with 75 games being shown overall (50 of which were televised in [[High-definition television|high definition]]).<ref>{{cite web|title=Comcast SportsNet California Announces Inaugural San Jose Sharks Telecast Schedule|url=http://www.csnbayarea.com/pages/landing?span-stylecolor-rgb255-0-0-Comcast-Sport=1&blockID=75533&feedID=2539|website=Comcast SportsNet California|date=September 16, 2009|access-date=September 17, 2009}}</ref> With the relaunch, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and California merged editorial coverage on their respective regional websites. Many cable providers in the [[San Francisco Bay Area]] that previously carried CSN California via [[digital cable]] have since moved the network to basic cable tiers.

In September 2009, CSN California's carriage agreement with [[Dish Network]] expired; however, the satellite provider continued to carry the network in the interim while the two parties attempted to reach a renewed contract. Negotiations went on for months, leading Dish to file a request with the [[Federal Communications Commission]] to enter into arbitration hearings to formalize a deal. Dish Network lost its case and dropped Comcast SportsNet California from its lineup on November 24, 2010.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dish Disconnects CSN California After Losing Arbitration Decision|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/policy/updated-dish-disconnects-csn-california-after-losing-arbitration-decision/265654|author=Mike Reynolds|periodical=[[Multichannel News]]|publisher=[[NewBay Media]]|date=November 24, 2010}}</ref> On February 3, 2011, Dish Network restored CSN California after the satellite provider reached an agreement to carry the channel without any legal arbitration.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dish Network, Comcast SportsNet California Reach Carriage Agreement|url=http://www.nba.com/kings/news/dish_comcast_release_2011_02_03.html|website=Sacramento Kings|date=February 3, 2011}}</ref>

In September 2012, Comcast SportsNet California and its sister Comcast SportsNet outlets ceased carrying Fox Sports Networks-supplied programming, after failing to reach an agreement to continue carrying FSN's nationally distributed programs.<ref>{{cite news|title=NBC Sports Group Drops FSN Programming From Comcast RSNs|url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Morning-Buzz/2012/08/14/NBC.aspx?hl=Comcast%20SportsNet%20FSN%20Chicago&sc=0|author=John Ourand|website=Sports Business Journal|publisher=[[Advance Publications]]|date=August 14, 2012|access-date=April 9, 2015}}</ref>

In July 2014, CSN California reached a new 20-year deal for regional rights to the Sacramento Kings beginning in the 2013–14 season, estimated to be worth nearly $700 million over the length of the contract. The contract increased the number of games CSN broadcasts per-season from 70 to 80 over the previous season (where a package was syndicated to terrestrial television), saw the network take over advertising sales during the telecasts, and commit to broadcasting an increased amount of team-related programming (including pre- and post-game shows, and a monthly ''Kings Central'' program).<ref name="sbd-kingsdeal">{{cite web|date=July 28, 2014|title=Sacramento Kings sign lucrative TV extension|url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2014/07/28/Media/Kings-CSN.aspx|website=Sports Business Journal|publisher=Advance Publications|access-date=March 22, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sacramento Kings and Comcast negotiate new, lucrative 20 year deal|url=http://www.sactownroyalty.com/2014/7/28/5945465/sacramento-kings-comcast-sports-net-television-rights-extension|website=Sactown Royalty (SBNation)|publisher=Vox Media|date=July 28, 2014|access-date=March 16, 2015}}</ref>

[[File:NBC Sports California.png|thumb|Logo of NBC Sports Bay Area used from April 2, 2017 until 2023]]
On March 22, 2017, Comcast announced that CSN California would be rebranded '''NBC Sports California''' on April 2, 2017, in a move meant to "better associate the prestigious NBC Sports legacy with the strength of our Comcast Sports Networks' local sports coverage in Northern California".<ref name="svg-rebranding">{{cite web|date=March 22, 2017|title=CSN Bay Area, CSN California To Be Rebranded Under 'NBC Sports' Moniker|url=http://www.sportsvideo.org/2017/03/22/csn-bay-area-csn-california-to-be-rebranded-under-nbc-sports-moniker/|website=Sports Video Group|access-date=March 22, 2017}}</ref>

==Programming==

===Sports coverage===
NBC Sports California holds the regional cable television rights to the [[Athletics (baseball)|Athletics]] of [[Major League Baseball]], the [[National Hockey League|NHL]]'s [[San Jose Sharks]], and the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]'s [[Sacramento Kings]]. The network produces its [[pre-game show|pre-game]] and [[post-game show]]s for the Sacramento Athletics either on-site during home games, or on the ''SportsNet Central'' set at the NBC Sports Bay Area studios during road games. The station also airs ''Shark Byte'', a magazine program focusing on the San Jose Sharks that originated on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.

The network also simulcasts NBC Sports Bay Area-produced telecasts of games involving the [[San Francisco Giants]] Major League Baseball franchise and the [[San Jose Earthquakes]] of [[Major League Soccer]]. The network also carries games from the [[San Jose Barracuda]] of the [[American Hockey League]]. It formerly broadcast games from the [[Women's National Basketball Association|WNBA]]'s [[Sacramento Monarchs]] until the team folded in 2009; the [[Sacramento Mountain Lions]] from 2009 until the [[United Football League (2009–2012)|United Football League]] folded; the [[Professional Arena Soccer League|PASL]]'s [[California Cougars|Stockton Cougars]] until that team folded in 2011, and the [[Arena Football League|AFL]]'s [[San Jose SaberCats]]. The network also carries programming related to the [[National Football League|NFL]]'s [[Las Vegas Raiders]] in a carryover from when the team played in Oakland.

NBC Sports California also televises college sports involving Northern California schools, including [[Saint Mary's Gaels|St. Mary's College]], the [[San Francisco Dons|University of San Francisco]], the [[Pacific Tigers|University of the Pacific]], and [[Santa Clara Broncos|Santa Clara University]]. The channel formerly broadcast sporting events involving the [[California Golden Bears]] and [[Stanford Cardinal]] that were not on national television until the formation of the [[Pac-12 Network]] in August 2012.  Select high school sports events are also occasionally broadcast on the network, including weekly [[high school football]] games on Friday nights during the fall.<ref>{{cite news|title=Welcome to Comcast SportsNet - California<!-- Bot generated title -->|url=http://west.comcastsportsnet.com/extra.asp|website=Comcast SportsNet West}}</ref>

===Other programming===
NBC Sports California currently carries the NBC Sports Bay Area original program ''Chronicle Live'', a sports discussion program produced in conjunction with the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'', each weeknight at 12:00&nbsp;a.m. The network also carries a live video simulcast of ''The [[Gary Radnich]] Show'' (hosted by the longtime sports anchor at [[MyNetworkTV]] affiliate [[KRON-TV]]) from [[KNBR (AM)|KNBR]] (680 and 1050 AM) in San Francisco each weekday from 9:00&nbsp;a.m. to 12:00&nbsp;p.m., except on rare occasions when it is pre-empted by a live sporting event on either outlet. NBC Sports California previously also broadcast the "Raiders Report", a weekly show featuring news and game highlights on the [[Oakland Raiders]]. In September 2009, the program was replaced by a live post-game show airing immediately after network telecasts of Raiders games.

==On-air staff==

===Current on-air staff===
* [[Shooty Babitt]] – Athletics studio analyst
* [[Roxy Bernstein]] – Athletics alternate play-by-play announcer
* [[Dallas Braden]] – Athletics color commentator
* [[Chris Caray]] – Athletics alternate play-by-play announcer
* [[Jenny Cavnar]] – Athletics play–by–play announcer
* [[Vince Cotroneo]] – Athletics alternate play-by-play announcer
* [[Kayte Christensen]] – Sacramento Kings color commentator
* [[Jason Demers]] - Sharks alternate color commentator
* [[Johnny Doskow]] – Athletics alternate play-by-play announcer
* Kyle Draper – Sacramento Kings studio host / substitute play-by-play announcer
* [[Randy Hahn]] – Sharks play-by-play announcer
* [[Scott Hannan]] - Sharks alternate color commentator
* Alan Hoshida - Sharks studio host
* [[Drew Remenda]] – Sharks lead color commentator
* [[Mark Jones (sportscaster)|Mark Jones]] – Kings play-by-play announcer
* [[Ken Korach]] – Athletics alternate play-by-play announcer
* [[Jamal Mayers]] - Sharks alternate color commentator
* [[Danielle Slaton]] – Earthquakes sideline reporter
* [[Mark Smith (ice hockey)|Mark Smith]] - Sharks studio analyst
* [[Alex Stalock]] - Sharks alternate color commentator

==Related services==

===NBC Sports California HD===
'''NBC Sports California HD''' is a [[1080i]] [[High-definition television|high-definition]] simulcast feed of Comcast SportsNet California. The feed broadcasts all Sacramento Kings home game telecasts, as well as all home and some road games involving the San Jose Sharks in HD. In 2010, CSN California began broadcasting all Athletics games in high definition.<ref>{{cite news|title=OAKLAND A's TV SCHEDULE|url=http://www.csncalifornia.com/pages/schedule_athletics|website=Comcast SportsNet California}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea}}

{{SF TV}}
{{Sacramento TV}}
{{LA TV}}
{{San Diego–Tijuana Television}}
{{NBC Universal}}
{{NBC Sports}}
{{Sacramento Kings}}
{{Oakland Athletics}}
{{San Francisco Giants}}
{{San Jose Sharks}}
{{San Jose Earthquakes}}
{{Major League Baseball on NBC}}
{{NHL on NBC}}
{{NBA on NBC}}
{{U.S. regional sports networks}}

[[Category:NBC Sports Regional Networks|California]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2004]]
[[Category:2004 establishments in California]]