NBC plans to shutter NBC Sports Network by end of year

Comcast Corp.-owned NBC has told distributors and some sports leagues that it plans to shut down its NBCSN sports channel by the end of the year. NBC’s most recent affiliate deals with Charter and Dish Network do not include carriage for NBCSN beyond this year, sources said. Plus, sports leagues that have deals with NBC were being told of the changes this week. The move is in line with the current media trend of consolidating cable channels. For NBC, it also is part of a bigger strategy to grow…