UPDATE: Comcast Sports Group Approaches Relocation Deadline

Comcast Sports Group—formally rebranded as NBC Sports Regional Networks after the Comcast acquisition of NBC—employees in Philadelphia have the weekend to make their final considerations about relocating to the company's new corporate headquarters in Stamford, CT.

The move is part of an internal, regional reorganization at the company, and does not affect the CSN Philly sports broadcast teams that produce such entertainment as Daily News Live, SportsNite, and related programs.

In contrast to initial reports, a source at the company reports that Comcast had notified employees of the decision to relocate the business in 2011, and that the move was not an end-of-week surprise.

"They had to make an initial declaration this past summer," said Tim Fitzpatrick, a spokesperson for the NBC Sports Regional Networks. "They need to confirm their decision with the company."

Fitzpatrick also provided an official statement from the company regarding the reorganization:

As announced a year ago, next spring the NBC Sports Regional Networks office in Philadelphia is relocating to a new state-of-the-art facility in Stamford, CT as part of the integration of NBC Sports offices.

Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia is not affected. The company has been communicating with employees continually throughout this ongoing process. After making an initial declaration this past summer about whether they intend to move, employees are being asked to formally confirm their intentions on Monday.

Every employee is being offered a comparable position in Stamford. Employees that relocate are being offered relocation benefits and assistance and employees that do not relocate are being offered severance and other benefits.

Employees who take the offer will have their positions in the new office, and those who do not are encouraged to apply for other work within the company and will also be offered severance packages.

Sports Business Daily reported that the move will put all of NBC Sports under one roof, and that a more favorable tax climate and cheaper rents in Connecticut helped spur the reorganization.

Bristol, CT is also home to the chief competitor of Comcast Sports Group, ESPN.