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{{Short description|US sports television network}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Use American English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name              = New England Sports Network
| logo              = NESN logo 2019.png
| logo_size         = 200px
| type              = [[Regional sports network]]
| country           = [[United States]]
| area              = [[New England]] (except [[Fairfield County, Connecticut|Fairfield County, CT]])<br>Nationwide (via satellite, select cable providers)
| network           =
| slogan            =
| headquarters      = [[Watertown, Massachusetts]]
| language          = [[English language|English]]
| picture_format    = [[480i]] ([[Standard-definition television|SDTV]])<br>[[1080i]] ([[High-definition television|HDTV]])<br>[[4K resolution#2160p resolution|2160p]] ([[Ultra-high-definition television|4K UHD]])
| owner             = [[Fenway Sports Group]] (80%)<br>[[Delaware North]] (20%)
| key_people        =
| sister_channels   = [[SportsNet Pittsburgh]]
| founded           =
| founder           =
| launch_date       = {{Start date|1984|04|04}}
| terr_serv_1       = [[DirecTV]]
| terr_chan_1       = 628<br>628-1 <small>([[NESN#NESN+|NESN+]])</small>
| online_serv_1     = NESN 360
| online_chan_1     = {{URL|https://nesn.com/nesn360/}}
| online_serv_2     = [[DirecTV Stream]]
| online_chan_2     = [[Internet Protocol television]]
| online_serv_3     = [[FuboTV]]
| online_chan_3     = [[Internet Protocol television]]
| availability_note =
| website           = {{URL|NESN.com}}
| webcast           = 
}}

'''New England Sports Network''', popularly known as '''NESN''' {{IPAc-en|n|ɛ|s|.|ɛ|n}}, is an American [[regional sports network|regional sports]] [[cable television|cable]] and [[satellite television|satellite]] [[television network]] owned by a [[joint venture]] of [[Fenway Sports Group]] (which owns a controlling 80% interest, and is the owner of the [[Boston Red Sox]], [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool Football Club]], and the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]]) and [[Delaware North]] (which owns the remaining 20% interest in the network as well as the [[Boston Bruins]] and [[TD Garden]], home of the Bruins and the [[Boston Celtics]]). Headquartered in [[Watertown, Massachusetts]], the network is primarily carried on cable providers throughout [[New England]] (except in [[Fairfield County, Connecticut]], which is part of the greater New York City media market). NESN is also distributed nationally on satellite providers [[DirecTV]] and as '''NESN National''' via select cable providers.

NESN is the primary broadcaster of the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Bruins – serving as the exclusive home for all games that are not televised by a national network. NESN also carries [[minor league baseball]] games, regional college sports events, various outdoor and sports talk shows. The network has become synonymous with local sports in New England, and is considered a local institution.

==History==
[[File:New England Sports Network (logo).png|thumb|right|NESN's logo from 1990 to 2019.]]
The New England Sports Network launched on April 4, 1984,<ref>{{cite journal |title=Regional sports on Satcom l -R |journal=Broadcasting Magazine |date=April 2, 1984 |page=10 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/84-OCR/BC-1984-04-02-OCR-Page-0010.pdf |access-date=24 June 2021}}</ref> originally operating as a joint-venture of the [[Boston Red Sox]], [[Boston Bruins]], and [[Storer Communications]] (the owner of [[WSBK-TV]]). The new service which featured 90 Red Sox and 40 Bruins games during its first year was sold as a [[Pay television in the United States#Programming|premium channel]] with prices ranging from $7.50 to $10 per month. A number of these games were previously aired on WSBK.<ref>{{cite journal |title=New TV contracts push baseball.. |journal=Broadcasting Magazine |date=February 27, 1984 |page=46 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/84-OCR/BC-1984-02-27-OCR-Page-0046.pdf |access-date=24 June 2021}}</ref>

In 1996, NESN became the New England affiliate of [[Fox Sports Networks|Fox Sports Net]] (FSN), carrying the network's national sports and magazine programs; this lasted until 1999. In January 1998, then-FSN parent [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] acquired partial ownership of [[Cablevision]]-owned SportsChannel New England (and its sister networks), turning it into [[NBC Sports Boston|Fox Sports Net New England]] (now NBC Sports Boston). However, despite the name change Fox Sports New England was blocked from carrying any FSN programming due to NESN's existing affiliation agreement.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fox Sports Networks Inc 1998 Annual Report S-K Item 405 10-K405 |url=https://sec.report/Document/0000944209-99-000425/ |website=SEC.gov |publisher=UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |access-date=3 July 2021 |language=en |date=March 31, 1999}}</ref> Fox had hoped to negotiate an early termination of that agreement, but had to wait until it expired on December 31, 1999.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fox Sports Networks Inc 2000 Annual Report S-K Item 405 10-K405 |url=https://sec.report/Document/0000944209-00-001542/ |website=SEC.gov |publisher=SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |access-date=3 July 2021 |language=en |date=September 28, 2000}}</ref>

NESN converted into a [[Cable television in the United States#Basic cable|basic cable]] service in 2001, a model that has since been copied by other companies through their respective launches of new regional sports networks as well as similar conversions (many of which predate NESN's transition) of those that began as pay services. Afterwards, until early 2006, NESN carried simulcasts of [[ESPNews]] during the afternoon and overnight hours. NESN has carried regional [[Atlantic Coast Conference]] [[college basketball]] games since [[Boston College]] joined the conference, including games distributed for national broadcast for and by Fox Sports Networks.

In September 2003, NESN began producing Red Sox games in [[High-definition television|high definition]]. In April 2006, NESN launched a full-time HD feed, after having re-located its operations from Fenway Park to a newly built studio in [[Watertown, Massachusetts|Watertown]] with expanded production capabilities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Susan |date=2006-07-01 |title=NESN hits a home run with its new HD facility |url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/opinions/nesn-hits-a-home-run-with-its-new-hd-facility |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=TVTechnology |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author1=Geoff Poister |date=2006-04-03 |title=NESN Goes All HD |url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/nesn-goes-all-hd |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=TVTechnology |language=en}}</ref>

In 2013, NESN (through Fenway Sports Group) placed a bid to acquire the [[List of assets owned by The New York Times Company#New England Media Group|New England Media Group]] from [[The New York Times Company]], which would have placed it under the common ownership of ''[[The Boston Globe]]''; Fenway dropped out of the bidding in July.<ref>{{cite news|title=Red Sox owner John Henry launches solo bid to buy Globe|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/07/31/red-sox-owner-john-henry-launches-solo-bid-buy-boston-globe/l7t0spormDxdOUtPOHnC6O/story.html?comments=all&sort=HIGHEST_RATING|author=Beth Healy|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=July 31, 2013|access-date=November 10, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Report: Red Sox owner John Henry wants to buy Boston Globe solo after group drops out|url=http://www.masslive.com/redsox/index.ssf/2013/07/report_red_sox_owner_john_henr.html|author=Evan Drellich|newspaper=[[The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts)|The Republican]]|date=July 31, 2013|access-date=August 2, 2013}}</ref>

On August 30, 2014, the network became a charter cable affiliate of the [[American Sports Network]], a sports syndication service founded by the [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]], with its first ASN broadcast being a [[college football]] game between the [[Old Dominion Monarchs football|Old Dominion Monarchs]] and the [[Hampton Pirates football|Hampton Pirates]].<ref name=htr>{{cite news|title=ODU's opener with Hampton to be televised in 66 markets|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2014/08/odus-opener-hampton-be-televised-66-markets|author=Harry Minium|newspaper=[[The Virginian-Pilot]]|date=August 27, 2014|access-date=September 8, 2014|archive-date=September 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909034313/http://hamptonroads.com/2014/08/odus-opener-hampton-be-televised-66-markets|url-status=dead}}</ref> NESN and NESN National also agreed to carry certain games from the inaugural season of the [[Fall Experimental Football League]] in October and November 2014.<ref name=nrn>{{cite press release|title=FXFL To Be Carried on ESPN3|url=http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/26681849/fxfl-to-be-carried-on-espn3|agency=[[PR Newswire]]|publisher=FXFL|via=NBC Right Now|date=October 1, 2014|access-date=October 20, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021025920/http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/26681849/fxfl-to-be-carried-on-espn3|archive-date=October 21, 2014}}</ref>

On June 1, 2022, NESN became the first U.S. regional sports network to offer its content on a direct-to-consumer basis.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Frankel |first=Daniel |date=2022-06-01 |title=Red Sox Channel Becomes First RSN to Offer Standalone Streaming Service |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/red-sox-rsn-to-offer-standalone-streaming-service |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=NextTV |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-01 |title=NESN becomes first U.S. RSN to launch full OTT service |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/local-networks/nesn-360-ott-price.html |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref>

On February 24, 2023, [[Warner Bros. Discovery]], owners of [[AT&T SportsNet]], announced that it would leave the RSN business. This included AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, the broadcasting home of the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]], which were purchased by FSG in late 2021. In August 2023, in a move predicted by sportswriters after the initial announcement,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Penguins, Pirates reportedly may find new TV home with Boston teams via Fenway Sports Group-owned NESN |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2023/03/15/at-t-sportsnet-collapse-penguins-tv-contract-fenway-sports-group-nesn/stories/202303140131 |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kaplan |first=Daniel |title=RSN armageddon? What fans can expect as likely Bally Sports bankruptcy looms |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4307996/2023/03/14/rsn-diamond-sports-bally-sports-bankruptcy/ |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}</ref> the Penguins announced that they would acquire the channel and relaunch it as [[SportsNet Pittsburgh]] in October 2023, with NESN operating the channel as a sister network.<ref name="sale">{{Cite web |title=Penguins Announce 'SportsNet Pittsburgh' as Regional Sports Network |url=https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-announce-sportsnet-pittsburgh-as-regional-sports-network/c-345709464 |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=NHL.com |date=August 31, 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Sports coverage==

===Boston Red Sox===
NESN has provided coverage of the Boston Red Sox's [[Major League Baseball]] games since the network's initial spring training game broadcast upon its March 21, 1984, launch. NESN now carries full coverage of Red Sox games (with the exception of some games nationally broadcast on [[Major League Baseball on Fox|Fox]] and [[Major League Baseball on ESPN|ESPN]]) as well as in-depth [[pre-game show|pre-game]] and [[post-game show]]s.  For its first two decades, NESN split coverage with [[terrestrial television|broadcast television]] stations in the team's market territory, with an increasing number of games moving to NESN.  Since 2006, NESN is the exclusive home of all Red Sox games that are not nationally televised, using the slogan "One Nation, One Network" to signify this. In 2006, NESN became the first regional sports network to broadcast all Major League Baseball games in [[High-definition television|high definition]] (however, spring training games continued to be broadcast in [[standard-definition television|standard definition]] until 2012), through the launch of its simulcast feed NESN HD.

On August 25, 2015, NESN announced that [[Don Orsillo]], a Red Sox announcer since 2001, would not return following the 2015 season, and that his replacement would be [[Dave O'Brien (sportscaster)|Dave O'Brien]], who had been a [[Red Sox Radio Network]] voice since 2007.<ref>{{cite news |last=Finn |first=Chad |date=August 25, 2015 |title=Don Orsillo will not return on Red Sox telecasts next season |newspaper=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/08/25/don-orsillo-will-not-return-red-sox-telecasts-next-season/DdTqPTwN4jepexaUXIKImK/story.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=August 25, 2015 |title=Dave O'Brien Named NESN's Red Sox Play-By-Play Voice For 2016 Season |url=http://nesn.com/2015/08/dave-obrien-named-nesns-red-sox-play-by-play-voice-for-2016-season/ |work=NESN.com}}</ref> NESN's decision to replace Orsillo, a fan-favorite and Massachusetts native, was met with considerable outrage and disappointment by Red Sox fans.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bonesteel |first=Matt |title=Red Sox Nation outraged after team-owned TV network fires announcer Don Orsillo |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2015/08/26/red-sox-nation-outraged-after-team-owned-tv-network-fires-announcer-don-orsillo/ |access-date=2021-04-13 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=2015-09-05 |title=Ouster of Don Orsillo, Beloved TV Announcer, Fuels a Red Sox Firestorm |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/05/sports/baseball/don-orsillos-ouster-for-dave-o-brien-fuels-a-red-sox-firestorm.html |access-date=2021-04-13 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shaughnessy |first=Dan |date=August 31, 2015 |title=Don Orsillo makes his return to Fenway Park |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/08/31/fenway-fans-support-don-orsillo/ScULnnDWTdf3xopyJzQ7dP/story.html |access-date=2021-04-14 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Orsillo's broadcast partner, the late [[Jerry Remy]], was emotional following the announcement, calling the previous 15 years "an absolute pleasure [...] I've been very fortunate because I've worked with a lot of good people, and he's right at the top of the list."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-08-26 |title=Emotional Jerry Remy salutes fired Don Orsillo: 'I love him' |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/boston/red-sox/post/_/id/46447/emotional-jerry-remy-salutes-fired-don-orsillo-i-love-him |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> [[Fox Sports San Diego]] subsequently announced that Orsillo had been hired as the new play-by-play voice of the [[San Diego Padres]], succeeding [[Dick Enberg]] (who would be retiring after the 2016 season).<ref name="sdut-orsillopadres">{{cite web |last=Lin |first=Dennis |date=15 Apr 2016 |title=Don Orsillo begins new chapter with Padres |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/apr/15/padres-orsillo-ready-new-chapter-san-diego/ |access-date=29 May 2016 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune}}</ref>

For Red Sox game broadcasts, Dave O'Brien currently serves as play-by-play announcer, with [[Kevin Youkilis]] as his primary color commentator, and Jahmai Webster serving as the field reporter. Other former Red Sox players such as [[Lou Merloni]], [[Will Middlebrooks]], and [[Kevin Millar]] also contribute as color commentators.

In 2021, NESN produced all Red Sox home games in [[4K resolution|4K]] with [[HDR video|HDR]], making it the second team (behind the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] and [[Sportsnet]]), and first U.S. team, to produce their home games in 4K.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dachman|first=Jason|date=26 January 2021|title=NESN Keeps Its Eye on the 4K HDR Ball With Launch of New Studio|url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2021/01/26/nesn-keeps-its-eye-on-the-4k-hdr-ball-with-launch-of-new-studio/|access-date=2021-01-29|website=Sports Video Group|language=en}}</ref>

====Post-game====
Following each game telecast, NESN airs ''[[W.B. Mason]]'s Extra Innings'' and ''Red Sox Final'', in which Tom Caron and one or more of the studio analysts from the pre-game show deliver a wrap-up of that night's game from the studio. The team presents highlights and statistics from the preceding game and often have a team member of the Red Sox on hand to get their take on the game. This hour of coverage also focuses on the game to be played next on the preseason/seasonal game schedule, as well as news from the league. The post-game is usually not covered if the Red Sox play a game held on the [[West Coast of the United States|west coast]]; ''NESN Sports Today'' immediately follows the game in those instances. Since 2006, NESN has broadcast the postgame show from its Watertown studios; it had previously been broadcast from its Fenway Park studio.<ref>[http://broadcastengineering.com/infrastructure/broadcasting_nesn_hits_home/]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112134212/http://broadcastengineering.com/infrastructure/broadcasting_nesn_hits_home/|date=November 12, 2007}}</ref>

===College sports coverage===

* [[Hockey East]] men's and women's ice hockey regular season, postseason, and championships<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hockey East Unveils 2023-24 NESN Schedule - Hockey East Association |url=https://hockeyeastonline.com/articles/2023/10/hockey-east-unveils-2023-24-nesn-schedule.php |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=hockeyeastonline.com |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Holy Cross Crusaders]] men's and women's ice hockey<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-12 |title=NESN+ to broadcast select men's and women's ice hockey games |url=https://goholycross.com/news/2023/10/12/mens-ice-hockey-nesn-to-broadcast-select-mens-and-womens-ice-hockey-games.aspx |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Holy Cross Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
* [[UMass Minutemen and Minutewomen]] men's and women's basketball and insider programming<ref>{{Cite web |title=UMass Sports Insider Returns For 2023-24 |url=https://umassathletics.com/news/2023/10/25/athletics-department-umass-sports-insider-returns-for-2023-24 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=University of Massachusetts Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Northeastern Huskies]] men's and women's basketball and insider programming<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-25 |title=Huskies Release Men's And Women's Basketball NESN Slate |url=https://nuhuskies.com/news/2023/11/6/mens-basketball-huskies-release-mens-and-womens-basketball-nesn-slate.aspx |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Northeastern University Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Merrimack Warriors]] men's and women's basketball
* [[Ivy League]] athletics, including football, men's and women's basketball, and Olympic sporting events
* [[Beanpot (ice hockey)|Beanpot]] college ice hockey tournament
* [[Boston College Eagles]] insider programming
* [[Northeast Conference]] men's and women's basketball (also airs on NESN Nation)<ref name=nec2025>{{Cite web |date=December 4, 2024 |title=Northeast Conference Announces 2024–25 Basketball Television Schedule |url=https://northeastconference.org/news/2024/11/28/MBB_WBB_TV_Release_2425.aspx |access-date=December 5, 2024 |website=Northeast Conference |language=en}}</ref>
NESN was a former affiliate of the [[ACC on Regional Sports Networks]] package, which included football, men’s and women’s basketball, and Olympic sporting events from all 15 [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] schools, including  Boston College locally. These games have since been moved to The CW as of 2023. Through the late 2010’s, the network served as an affiliate of [[Fox Sports Networks]] and the [[American Sports Network]], giving it access to collegiate sports events from the [[Atlantic Hockey|AHA]], [[American Athletic Conference]], [[Atlantic 10 Conference|Atlantic 10]], [[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]], [[Big East Conference|Big East]], [[Coastal Athletic Association|CAA]], [[Conference USA]], [[ECAC Hockey|ECAC]], [[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]], and [[Patriot League]], among other conferences. Additional collegiate programming formerly carried by NESN includes [[Southern New Hampshire University]] athletics, [[UMass Minutemen football|UMass football]], and the Coaches vs. Cancer annual basketball event held at [[TD Garden]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Mike |date=2014-08-21 |title=Coaches vs. Cancer Tripleheader Returns To TD Garden; Tickets On Sale Friday |url=https://nesn.com/2014/08/coaches-vs-cancer-tripleheader-returns-to-td-garden-tickets-on-sale-friday/ |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=NESN.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-09-26 |title=SNHU Announces Expanded NESN Broadcast Package for 2016-17 |url=https://snhupenmen.com/news/2016/9/26/9_26_2016_1497 |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=Southern New Hampshire University |language=en}}</ref>

===Other sports events===
NESN airs several [[minor league baseball]] games from the [[Worcester Red Sox]] (a [[Triple-A (baseball)|AAA]] affiliate of the Red Sox) each season, as well as Futures at Fenway, a doubleheader featuring the WooSox and the [[Portland Sea Dogs]]. Tom Caron handles the play-by-play with [[Bob Montgomery (baseball)|Bob Montgomery]] as color commentator. Futures at Fenway hasn't been played in 10 years since 2014.

Since 2019, NESN has also aired a package of games involving the [[Cape Cod Baseball League]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://capecodbaseball.org/news/index.html?article_id=3275|title=Cape League Returns to NESN in 2023|website=capecodbaseball.org}}</ref>

For many years, NESN has aired several [[Minor league|minor]] [[professional ice hockey]] games from the [[Providence Bruins]] (an [[American Hockey League|AHL]] affiliate of the Bruins).{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

From 2008 to 2014, NESN aired the [[Little League World Series (New England Region)|New England Regional]] of the [[Little League World Series]] each August. Coverage ended after [[ESPN]] acquired the rights to the entirety of the regional tournaments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2013/08/26/Media/LLWS.aspx|title=ESPN completes deal to lock up LLWS through '22|date=August 26, 2013|website=www.sportsbusinessjournal.com}}</ref>

From November 2015 to March 2023, NESN aired the home games of the [[Boston Pride]] of the [[National Women's Hockey League]].

In October 2023, NESN showed coverage of the [[British Basketball League]], airing what was to be the final season of that competition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Callum |date=October 20, 2023 |title=NESN to broadcast British Basketball League in the US |url=https://insidersport.com/2023/10/20/nesn-british-basketball-league-in-us/ |access-date=January 29, 2024 |website=Insider Sports}}</ref>

In December 2023, NESN and [[Rhode Island FC]] of the [[USL Championship]] announced a multi-year partnership to broadcast select matches starting in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rhode Island FC Multi-Year Partnership with NESN |url=https://www.rhodeislandfc.com/news/rhode-island-fc-multi-year-partnership-with-nesn/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Rhode Island FC |language=en-US}}</ref>

As of 2024, NESN became the official broadcast partner of the [[Professional Women's Hockey League]] (PWHL).

In 2024, NESN and NESN+ also began televising a package of games involving the [[Hartford Yard Goats]] (a [[Double-A (baseball)|AA]] affiliate of the [[Colorado Rockies]]).<ref>{{cite web |title=Hartford Yard Goats to Air Live on NESN This Season |url=https://www.milb.com/hartford/news/hartford-yard-goats-to-air-live-on-nesn-this-season |publisher=[[Minor League Baseball]] |access-date=18 June 2024}}</ref>

In 2025, NESN announced that they would broadcast select home matches of the [[USL League One]] soccer team [[Portland Hearts of Pine]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Where to Watch |url=https://www.heartsofpine.com/where-to-watch/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Hearts of Pine |language=en-US}}</ref>

NESN also airs various soccer and tennis matches.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

As of 2025, NESN became the official broadcast partner of the [[Athletes Unlimited Softball League]] (AUSL).

== Programming ==

=== Current ===
* ''Bruins Classics'' – A showcase of vintage Boston Bruins games condensed to fit a one-hour time slot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nesn.com/nesn-shows/|title=NESN Shows|website=NESN.com|access-date=April 15, 2015}}</ref>
* ''Celebrity Spotlight''
* ''Charlie Moore Outdoors'' – A fishing and outdoors show, hosted by [[Charlie Moore (television personality)|Charlie Moore]].
* ''Dirty Water TV –'' A lifestyle show covering the best parties, hottest venues, and coolest destinations in New England nightlife<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dirtywatermedia.com/category/dirty-water-tv/|title=Dirty Water TV Archives|website=Dirty Water Media|language=en-CA|access-date=2019-08-02}}</ref>
* ''Dining Playbook'' – A sports-themed look at the New England food and dining scene featuring celebrity chefs and favorite restaurants of local athletes
* ''Friday Night Fenway'' – a half-hour program that airs before the Red Sox pregame show on Friday nights when the Red Sox play a home game. Tom Caron serves as host, along with a rotating group of analysts.
* ''Golf Destination''
* ''NESN Clubhouse'' – A live Red Sox pregame show aimed at children; airs on Sundays when NESN is scheduled to broadcast a Red Sox game.
* ''The Brick's'' – An awards show showcasing the top moments and players from the first half of the Bruins' season; a postseason edition of the show is also broadcast.
* ''Red Sox Classics'' – A showcase of old Red Sox games that have been deemed classics because of an event of significance that occurred in the game or a player achieving a certain record. ''Walk Off Sox'' is essentially identical, but incorporating games that featured a [[walk-off home run|walk-off]] win by the Red Sox.
* ''The Red Sox Report'' – A Red Sox analysis program hosted by Tom Caron.
* ''The Remy's'' – An awards show showcasing the top moments and players from the first half of the Red Sox's season; a postseason edition is also broadcast. [[Jonathan Papelbon]] was named the inaugural "Top Dawg" recipient in 2006.
* ''Sox in 2''/''Bruins in 2'' – A two-hour replay of the previous night's game, usually aired at 12:00&nbsp;a.m. and on the following day in the early afternoon (it is not aired when the Red Sox and Bruins play a game in the [[Pacific Time Zone]]).
* ''The Ultimate Red Sox Show'' – A weekly show recapping the week in Red Sox Nation.
* ''Wicked Bites'' – A show focusing on some of the more fun and unique food destinations throughout New England.
* ''NESN Shuffle'' -a 30-minute show airing a mix of highlights from NESN's first 4 decades; hosted by [[Jahmai Webster]] and [[Sophia Jurksztowicz]] on an alternating basis.
* ''NESN Rundown'' -a 30-60 minute show featuring the best segments from NESN-produced podcasts.  The show is hosted by a rotating group of NESN personalities.
* ''Unobstructed Views'' -a periodic "alt-cast" series on NESN+ for Red Sox games(hosted by [[Jared Carrabis]], [[Jonathan Papelbon]] and [[Alanna Rizzo]]) and Bruins games(hosted by [[Patrice Bergeron]], [[Tuukka Rask]] and [[Andrew Raycroft]]).

===Former===
* ''The Big Bad Bruins Live'' – A weekly look into the happenings of the Boston Bruins, focusing on the top stories of the week surrounding the team, with segments about its history. The show is hosted by Dale Arnold and features a rotating panel of expert analysts.
* ''The Instigators Live'' – A debate show featuring Bruins analysts that focuses on the latest hockey news, hosted by Jack Edwards, Andy Brickley and Billy Jaffe. The program was originally hosted by Edwards, Brickley and Mike Milbury; with [[Bob Beers (ice hockey)|Bob Beers]] and [[Lyndon Byers]] as substitutes.
* ''NESN Live'' – Nightly sports news program featuring live reports and coverage of all of the major sports teams in the Boston area, cancelled in February 2018.
* ''Breakfast with the Sox''/''Breakfast with the Bruins'' – A one-hour replay of the previous night's Red Sox or Bruins game. Originally aired when the Red Sox played a game on the west coast, it was later expanded to air every morning after a game; a version focusing on Bruins games debuted in 2007. The program ended in November 2010 when NESN began airing a simulcast of ''Dennis and Callahan''.
* ''[[Dennis and Callahan]]'' – A three-hour simulcast of a [[WEEI-FM|WEEI]] weekday morning sports talk show hosted by [[John Dennis (talk show host)|John Dennis]] and [[Gerry Callahan]].
* ''NESN After Hours'' – A weeknight one hour infotainment program that debuted on December 2, 2019, replacing NESN Sports Today, typically airing between 10p-12a and repeated at 2AM and 5AM the following morning. Shortened to a half-hour, solo anchor format by November 2021 following the departure of co-host Emerson Lotzia, Jr. Cancelled March 11, 2022
* ''NESN's Comedy All Stars'' – A half-hour series featuring various stand-up comics; most of the jokes are geared towards Boston sports.
* ''NESN Daily'' – A nightly half-hour sports news program that debuted on August 6, 2010, replacing ''SportsDesk''; the program ended on June 10, 2013.
* ''NESN Sports Today'' - A nightly half-hour sports news program that replaced ''NESN Daily'' in June 2013 and was replaced by ''NESN After Hours'' in December 2019
* ''NESN Sports Update'' – A 30-minute sports news show pre-recorded the night before repeated throughout the 6-10 AM time period (6-9 AM Saturdays and Sundays.) Cancelled March 11, 2022
* ''NESN Sports Weekend'' - A 30-minute sports news show that airs from 10PM-12AM Saturdays and Sundays and repeated on Sunday and Monday mornings from 4-6 AM. Cancelled March 11, 2022
* ''Pocket Money'' – A half-hour game show, hosted by Paul "Fitzy" Fitzgerald (played by Nick Stevens), that took place on the streets of Boston, in which fans were asked sports trivia questions. [[SportsTime Ohio]] and [[SportsNet New York]] air a similar program called ''Beer Money''.
* ''Red Sox Hot Stove'' – A Red Sox program airing during the Major League Baseball offseason; hosted by Tom Caron, the program also features appearances from many guest stars such as [[Gordon Edes]], Nick Cafardo and [[Jerry Remy]].
* ''[[Ring of Honor Wrestling]]'' 
* ''[[Sox Appeal]]'' – A Red Sox-themed [[reality television|reality]] [[dating game show|dating show]] that debuted in August 2007, which followed a man or woman during three, two-inning-long [[blind date]]s that take place over the course of one of the team's games.
* ''SportsDesk'' – A twice-daily half-hour program that featured reports on teams of importance to New England viewers and their players. It was generally shown during the evening after Red Sox or Bruins game coverage. NESN also reran the program in half-hour blocks from 5:00 to 8:00&nbsp;a.m. (or 9:00&nbsp;a.m. on mornings when the Bruins or Red Sox did not play). [[Jade McCarthy]] and Cole Wright were the lead anchors; Jayme Parker served as a reporter. Regular contributors included [[Tony Massarotti]], former Celtic [[Dana Barros]], former Patriot [[Ted Johnson]], [[Mike Adams (Radio)|Mike Adams]] and James Murphy.
* ''SportsDesk Lights Out'' – A weekly wrap-up program that aired Sundays at 10:00&nbsp;p.m. with a rebroadcast at 11:00&nbsp;p.m. It was hosted by Cole Wright or Jade McCarthy, and generally covered the top sports stories of the week.
* ''[[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]] Wired''
* [[World Wrestling Federation]] monthly television specials from [[Boston Garden]].

==On-air staff==

===Current on-air staff===
* [[Judd Sirott]] - Bruins play by play announcer
* [[Andy Brickley]] – Bruins color commentator and host of ''On Course with Andy Brickley''
* [[Tom Caron]] – Red Sox studio host and Hockey East play-by-play
* [[Lenny DiNardo]] – Red Sox studio analyst
* [[Billy Jaffe]] – Bruins studio analyst
* Sophia Jurksztowicz – Bruins rinkside reporter and ''NESN Shuffle'' host
* George Balekji - host, reporter and rinkside
* [[Darnell McDonald]]  – Red Sox studio analyst
* [[Lou Merloni]] – Red Sox color analyst
* [[Will Middlebrooks]] – Red Sox color and studio analyst
* [[Kevin Millar]] – Red Sox color analyst
* [[Mike Monaco]]  – Red Sox secondary play-by-play
* [[Charlie Moore (television personality)|Charlie Moore]] – host of ''Charlie Moore Outdoors'' and ''Bruins Academy''
* [[Dave O'Brien (sportscaster)|Dave O'Brien]] – Red Sox play-by-play
* [[Jonathan Papelbon]]  – Red Sox studio analyst/co-host of "Unobstructed Views"(Red Sox ver)
* [[Barry Pederson]] – Bruins studio analyst
* Adam Pellerin – Red Sox fill-in studio host and ''NESN Clubhouse'' host
* [[Andrew Raycroft]] – Bruins studio analyst
* [[Jim Rice]] – Red Sox studio analyst
* Jahmai Webster – Red Sox sideline reporter and ''NESN Shuffle'' host
* [[Kevin Youkilis]] – Red Sox color analyst
*[[Alanna Rizzo]]-Red Sox reporter/co-host of "Unobstructed Views"(Red Sox version)
*Jared Carrabis-co-host of "Unobstructed Views"(Red Sox version)

===Notable former on-air staff===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Mike Andrews]]
* [[Guerin Austin]]
* [[Dana Barros]]
* Robyn Brown
* [[Ellis Burks]]
* [[Steve Burton (sports journalist)|Steve Burton]] (now at [[WBZ-TV]] in [[Boston]])
* [[Lyndon Byers]]
* [[Tina Cervasio]] (now at [[WNYW]] in [[New York City]] and [[CBS Sports Network]])
* John Chandler (now at [[WNBC]] in [[New York City]]<ref>{{cite news|title=NESN is trying to solve a chemistry problem |url=http://www.boston.com/yourtown/newton/articles/2010/03/19/nesn_is_trying_to_solve_a_chemistry_problem/|author=Chad Finn|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=March 19, 2010|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref>
* [[Jim Corsi (baseball)|Jim Corsi]]
* [[Fred Cusick]]
* [[Jenny Dell]] (now at CBS Sports Network)
* [[Kent Derdivanis]]
* [[Dennis Eckersley]]
* [[Jack Edwards (sportscaster)|Jack Edwards]]
* [[Jamie Erdahl]] (now at [[CBS Sports]])
* [[Alex Faust]]
* [[Eric Frede]]
* [[Naoko Funayama]]
* [[Peter Gammons]] (now at [[MLB Network]])
* [[Glenn Geffner]]
* Cealey Godwin - former host of ''NESN After Hours''
* [[Jonny Gomes]]
* [[Kara Henderson]]
* [[Ted Johnson]]
* [[Camille Kostek]] – ''Dirty Water TV'' (2016–2017)
* [[Gord Kluzak]] – former Bruins studio analyst
* [[Bob Kurtz (broadcaster)|Bob Kurtz]]
* [[Tom Larson (sportscaster)|Tom Larson]]
* Emerson Lotzia, Jr. (now at [[DraftKings]])
* [[Steve Lyons (baseball)|Steve Lyons]]
* [[Hazel Mae]]
* [[Ken Macha]]
* [[Ned Martin]]
* [[Tony Massarotti]]
* [[Jade McCarthy]]
* [[David McCarty]]
* [[Sean McDonough]] (now at [[ESPN]])
* [[Mike Milbury]]
* [[Dawn Mitchell]]
* [[Bob Montgomery (baseball)|Bob Montgomery]]
* [[Mark Mowers]]
* [[Wendi Nix]] (now at ESPN)
* [[Don Orsillo]] (now announcing on the [[San Diego Padres]] syndicated network)
* [[Eric Reid (television announcer)|Eric Reid]]
* [[Jerry Remy]] (died in 2021)
* [[Bob Rodgers]]
* [[Derek Sanderson]]
* [[Randy Scott (sportscaster)|Randy Scott]]
* [[Dave Shea (Broadcaster)|Dave Shea]]
* Rob Simpson<ref>{{cite news|title=NESN, Bruins on Breakaway|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/content/nesn-bruins-breakaway/368508|periodical=[[Multichannel News]]|publisher=[[Reed Business Information]]|date=November 13, 2005|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref>
* [[Al Skinner]]
* [[Matt Stairs]]
* [[Amy Stone]]
* [[Gary Striewski]]
* [[Kathryn Tappen]] (now at [[NBC Sports]])
* [[Debbi Taylor]]
* [[Mo Vaughn]]
* [[Tim Wakefield]] (died in 2023)
* [[Heidi Watney]] (now [[Apple TV+]] reporter)
* [[Jermaine Wiggins]] (now analyst at [[NBC Sports Boston]] and talk show host at [[WEEI-FM|WEEI]])
* Cole Wright<ref>{{cite news|title=Signoff for NESN's Wright|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/articles/2010/11/05/signoff_for_nesns_wright/|author=Chad Finn|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=November 5, 2010|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==Related services==

=== NESN 360 ===
'''NESN 360''' (formerly '''NESNgo''') is NESN's streaming platform, [[TV Everywhere|allowing NESN subscribers]] to stream live and video on demand content (including classic games and game replays) from the network. It first launched in May 2017.<ref name="masslive-nesn">{{cite web |title=NESN live streaming Boston Red Sox games now in-market per NESNgo |url=http://www.masslive.com/redsox/index.ssf/2017/05/nesn_live_streaming_boston_red.html |access-date=23 May 2017 |website=MassLive|date=23 May 2017 }}</ref>

On June 1, 2022, NESNgo was relaunched as NESN 360, an [[Over-the-top media service|over-the-top]] streaming platform allowing viewers to subscribe to NESN as a standalone service. The service made NESN the first U.S. regional sports network to offer its content on a direct-to-consumer basis. The service was priced at $29.99 per-month and $329.99 per-year, with the latter also including eight tickets to Red Sox games as a promotional offer. NESN 360 uses the same architecture previously used by NESNgo,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> and remains available at no additional charge to those who subscribe to NESN through a traditional television provider. Due to regional rights restrictions, the service is only available to users in New England. (Excluding Fairfield County, CT)<ref name=":0" />

===NESN+===
'''NESN+''', also styled as '''NESNPlus''', is a companion channel to NESN that operates mostly in the event that two sports events NESN has the rights to are subject to scheduling conflicts. Originally, Comcast systems in the region utilized [[New England Cable News]] or [[CN8]] to carry the NESNPlus broadcasts, while other systems placed NESNPlus on an otherwise unused or local [[public-access television|public access]] channel. DirecTV added NESNPlus in both standard definition and high definition on April 11, 2009.

Collegiate events, including [[ACC on Regional Sports Networks|Atlantic Coast Conference telecasts]], [[UMass Minutemen football|Umass football]] and [[Hockey East]] telecasts, as well as NESN's coverage of the minor league [[Worcester Red Sox]] and NESN's coverage of the [[WNBA]]'s [[Connecticut Sun]] are often moved to NESN+ in the event of a conflict with NESN's Red Sox or Bruins coverage.

===NESN National===
'''NESN National''' is a separate feed of NESN for cable systems located outside of New England. It carries alternate programming during Red Sox and Bruins games, but does air the network's pre-game and post-game shows. Launched in September 2010, [[Time Warner Cable]] became the first provider to carry the national feed, initially on its systems in [[North Carolina|North]] and [[South Carolina]].<ref>{{cite web|title=NESN Goes National|url=https://blogs.forbes.com/sportsmoney/2010/09/09/nesn-goes-national/?boxes=businesschannelsections|author=Kristi Dosh|periodical=[[Forbes]]|date=September 9, 2010}}</ref> [[Bright House Networks]] added NESN National on its [[Michigan]] systems on November 1, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bright House Bows NESN National In Michigan|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/cable-operators/bright-house-bows-nesn-national-michigan/328280|author=Mike Reynolds|periodical=Multichannel News|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=November 1, 2010|access-date=April 15, 2015}}</ref> [[Verizon Fios]] added it in New Jersey in December of that year. NESN National differs from the regular feed of NESN that is available nationally on DirecTV in which Red Sox and/or Bruins games are viewable outside of New England with a subscription to [[MLB Extra Innings]] and/or [[NHL Center Ice]].

=== NESN Nation ===
'''NESN Nation''' is a [[Free ad-supported streaming television|FAST]] channel launched in 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportico.com/business/media/2024/red-sox-bruins-rsn-prep-fast-channel-nesn-nation-1234817277|title=Red Sox, Bruins RSN to Launch NESN Nation, a New FAST Channel|website=Sportico|last=Crupi|first=Anthony|date=November 25, 2024|access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref> {{as of|January 2025}}, NESN Nation was available on [[The Roku Channel]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cordcuttersnews.com/the-roku-channel-adds-11-new-free-channels-including-content-from-hallmark-britbox|title=The Roku Channel Adds 11 New Free Channels Including Content from Hallmark & Britbox|website=Cord Cutter News|last=Bouma|first=Luke|date=January 23, 2025|access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref> and [[Plex Inc.|Plex]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://watch.plex.tv/live-tv/channel/nesn-nation|title=NESN Nation|website=Plex|access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref> NESN Nation agreed to broadcast four [[Northeast Conference]] college basketball games in 2025. The games include one men's regular-season game featuring [[2024–25 Mercyhurst Lakers men's basketball team|Mercyhurst]] at [[2024–25 Stonehill Skyhawks men's basketball team|Stonehill]] on February 15, one semifinal game of the [[2025 Northeast Conference men's basketball tournament|NEC men's tournament]], one women's regular-season game featuring [[Wagner Seahawks women's basketball|Wagner]] at [[Saint Francis Red Flash women's basketball|Saint Francis]] and one semifinal game of the [[2025 Northeast Conference women's basketball tournament|NEC women's tournament]].<ref name=nec2025/>

=== NESN.com ===
NESN.com generally contains [[sportswriting]], with a minimum of video content, compiling general Boston team and national sports news, along with other sections involving [[professional wrestling]], [[mixed martial arts]], automotive, [[fantasy sports]] and [[sports betting]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nesn.com/|title=NESN.com|website=NESN.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-29}}</ref> The site is affiliated with the Fox Sports website, and syndicates some content.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sportsvideo.org/2010/12/16/fox-sports-nesn-announce-partner-up-on-digital-content/|title=Fox Sports, NESN Partner Up on Digital Content|first=Jason |last=Dachman|work=Sports Video Group|access-date=2018-03-29|language=en}}</ref>

The site's set up is in a focused manner that divides it into separate sections where different sports writers cover each scene. In this way, NESN reporters produce original content that develops in their field areas. Some reporters are full time exclusively to NESN.com while other stories are contributed by NESN reporters from other fields of NESN, such as broadcasting.

The content and construction of the articles themselves vary drastically. Some provide in-depth analysis of current events happening with Boston teams, while others provide quick updates with videos. A majority of the articles, however, are purely factual and present interviews with players and coaches. Some articles also focus on new trade rumors or free agent pick ups. The primary subscriber and reader of NESN.com is male.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/nesn.com|title=Nesn.com Traffic, Demographics and Competitors - Alexa|website=www.alexa.com|language=en|access-date=2018-03-29|archive-date=2018-03-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330143734/https://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/nesn.com|url-status=dead}}</ref> NESN.com is the most recently added product that contributed to NESN being "the eighth-most valuable sports brand in the world in 2013."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/05/22/years-nesn-has-gone-from-nowhere-everywhere/ijxQgsdHlc3xKLZQaQdD8L/story.html|title=How NESN has changed in 30 years - The Boston Globe|work=BostonGlobe.com|access-date=2018-03-29}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Sports in New England]]
* [[MASN]], a similar network operating in the Mid-Atlantic
* [[SportsNet Pittsburgh]], a sister network operating in Western Pennsylvania

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://nesn.com NESN.com] – NESN official website

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