America's Cup- TV deal cut again with NBC covering US viewers

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com on 10 Feb 2015 The America’s Cup has selected NBC Sports Group as its partner for the upcoming edition of the America’s Cup - including the America’s Cup World Series events (2015-16), and the America’s Cup Qualifiers, Playoffs and America’s Cup Finals (2017).

The announcement of the TV deal comes ahead of the announcement of the venue for the America's Cup Qualifiers on February 15, 2015, as required by the Protocol governing the 35th America's Cup.

The two venues for the Qualifiers are believed to be Bermuda, already selected for the America's Cup Match to be sailed in June 2017, and Auckland. A possible bid may be in for Sydney.

No details of the TV coverage for international viewers has been announced.

'We are delighted to announce this agreement with NBC Sports Group,' said Harvey Schiller, the Commercial Commissioner of the America’s Cup, in a media statement. 'This is a great deal for the America’s Cup, our teams and our partners. NBC Sports Group’s continued interest reflects the growing popularity, as well as potential additional growth, of the America’s Cup as a major television sport.'

NBC and NBCSN were the US television home for the last America’s Cup, in which Oracle Team USA staged one of the greatest comebacks in sport to retain the trophy for the United States. The television coverage was widely acclaimed and saw the development of the Emmy Award-winning on screen graphics package, AC LiveLine, which enhanced the viewing experience by making the sport more engaging and more easily understood, especially for new fans.

'We are excited to once again showcase the best sailing in the world to a national audience,' said Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC and NBCSN. 'The 2013 America’s Cup served as the setting for one of the greatest comebacks in recent sports history, and we will again leverage the full collection of broadcast, cable and online platforms of the NBC Sports Group to present the race for the oldest trophy in international sports.'

Highlights of the agreement between NBC Sports Group and the America’s Cup include:
* Live coverage on NBC on both weekends of the America’s Cup Finals 2017
* Extensive live coverage of the America’s Cup Playoffs (and additional America’s Cup Finals racing) on NBC and NBCSN
* Coverage of all America’s Cup World Series events in 2015 and 2016 on NBCSN
* Live-streaming of all NBC and NBCSN telecasts on NBC Sports Live Extra

'It’s encouraging to have a partner like NBC who is highly motivated to return and help build and promote the event and increase the profile of our athletes and our teams. I have no doubt that over the next three years we will touch more viewers, in more ways, through the reach of NBC Sports Group’s platforms.' Schiller concluded.

Competition in the next America’s Cup begins in June 2015, with the first event of the America’s Cup World Series, in Cagliari, Italy, with racing on June 6-7.