Universally beneficial: DirecTV adds NBC cable channel

Westlake Village-based Universal Sports Network, one of NBC's primary cable channels to carry Olympic-related sports programming, will have a home on DirecTV's satellite dish menu starting in August.

In a multi-year, multi-platform distribution announcement, the two companies said Universal Sports will be part of the DirecTV "Sprots Pack" as well as other packages on Oct. 1, after it is offered as a free preview starting in late August, and will be available on DirecTV's new Internet, mobile devices and tablets coming soon.

NBC will likely use Universal Sports Network as a channel in its 2012 London Summer Olympics package. DirecTV is available to 19.4 million customers. More info: UniversalSports.com.