Can NBC Sports Network challenge ESPN?

ESPN has made me sick these past few weeks with their impartiality going out the window in order to push for the ratings of a rematch. We've all bitched about ESPN for one reason or another but what can you do as a sports fan? The essentially have a monopoly on all things sports. Its hard to turn elsewhere.

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I was just reading through that article and they raise some good points about why NBC Sports could rise to prominence and give the world wide leader some competition which is always a good thing. Among them:

~NBC is a prominent name. VS is already in 70 million homes and it won't be hard to make people aware of the NBC Sports Net.

~Some people are ready to look elsewhere and move on from the ESPN bias and slant. Perhaps NBCSN could provide coverage on teams other than Yankees, Pats, Lakers, Sox and Lebron?

~The Big East is looking to score a new TV deal for basketball. As arguably one of the nation's top basketball conferences, an NBCSN deal could be a solid foot in the door to live college sports.

~NHL. VS already owns the rights to NHL games and while its hockey isn't a powerhouse in American Sports, theres still a market to draw in.

~NBC has the television rights to the Olympics. Its only a once every few years thing but its a HUGE draw and you know ESPN would love to get their hands on it.

~Notre Dame. If ND returns to prominence, NBC's patience in sticking with them during the down years may be rewarded. Notre Dame is still a huge name with a national following. NBC has already announced that 1 or 2 of their games in 2012 will be moved to NBC-SN.

~NBC Sports is already a partner of the NFL. With the NFL going to a full season's worth of Thursday night games in 2012, the league has put up the first half of those games for bid and NBC SN has a good chance of winning the bid which would be a huge win for the network.

~MLB's TV contracts are up in 2013. NBC may be able to get into the mix here. Perhaps a weekly Sunday afternoon game?

NBC has the money to go up against ESPN and if they do this thing right, the world wide leader might finally have a legit competitor to keep them honest. Thoughts?