NBC Renews Ryder Cup Rights Through 2030

In a long-term deal, NBC has retained the Cup, the Ryder Cup that in a contract that keeps at least the weekend portion of the event on the Peacock through 2030. ESPN currently holds the cable rights for the first day of competition through 2014.

For this deal, NBC will continue to air Days 2 and 3 of the event. The total amount of Ryder Cups under this contract will total eight. Golf Channel will get some Ryder Cup shoulder programming including updates, a documentary series and the Captain Selection Show.

In addition, Golf Channel and NBC will air the Senior PGA Championship and Golf Channel will air the PGA Professional National Championship.

Here’s the official announcement.

NBC Sports Group 2THE PGA OF AMERICA AND NBC SPORTS GROUP REACH HISTORIC AGREEMENT

Ryder CupMost Far-Reaching Agreement in Professional Sports Extends NBC’s Ryder Cup & Senior PGA Championship Rights Until 2030;Partnership Celebrates the Game and Raises the Profile of PGA Professionals Across the Networks of NBC and Golf Channel

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – October 10, 2013 – In an unprecedented agreement, The PGA of America and NBC Sports Group today unveiled a historic partnership to further raise the profile of the Ryder Cup, the Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, and PGA Professionals across the networks of NBC and Golf Channel beginning in 2015. The partnership, which extends through 2030, and includes eight additional Ryder Cups on NBC, was announced today by PGA of America President Ted Bishop and CEO Pete Bevacqua, and NBC Sports Group Chairman Mark Lazarus. The agreement also includes all-language and simultaneous streaming rights for NBC’s Ryder Cup coverage.

The Ryder Cup, one of the most prestigious events in all of sports, has been televised by NBC since 1991. In 2012, the Ryder Cup was televised to nearly one-half billion households globally.

This agreement features a wave of new programming and special coverage of the Ryder Cup including: regular Ryder Cup preview shows, vignettes, features, reports and points updates on NBC and Golf Channel; a Ryder Cup Documentary Series on both networks; live coverage of practice rounds (for the first time ever) and the Ryder Cup Captain Selection Show on Golf Channel; and new Ryder Cup highlight programming on Telemundo and Mun2 to expand Hispanic viewership opportunities.

With this agreement, the Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid will also continue to air live on Golf Channel (weekday coverage) and NBC (weekend coverage) through 2030. Additionally, Golf Channel will continue live coverage of all four rounds of the PGA Professional National Championship.

The relationship between The PGA of America and NBC Sports Group expands a powerful partnership that is designed to grow the game of golf and celebrate the PGA Professional by:

  • Expanding the relationship of the Ryder Cup beyond the week of the biennial event
  • Growing participation in the game of golf, especially with new golfers (both adult and youth)
  • Elevating the stature of PGA Professionals in their leadership role of growing the game

This agreement will showcase the important role that PGA Professionals serve in instruction, equipment selection and Rules knowledge, all of which will benefit golf fans and golfers. New instructional programming and original series will be developed in conjunction with the PGA of America featuring PGA Professionals. Host PGA Professionals also will be featured during Golf Channel’s weekly coverage of PGA Tour, Champions Tour and LPGA Tour events.

“In many ways, this is a transformational deal for The PGA of America,” said Bevacqua. “We are not only excited about the continued excellent coverage and treatment of the Ryder Cup, Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid and other PGA of America events by the NBC Sports Group, but we are eager to work with the networks of NBC, including Golf Channel, on celebrating the unique role of the PGA Professional in the game. Golf Channel is the daily voice of golf in this country. There are wonderful synergies that will be explored between that voice and The PGA of America, as we work together to honor PGA Professionals, draw upon their expertise and expand their relevance among those who already play the game and those who aspire to play.”

Programming will also be designed to promote growth-of-the-game initiatives, such as Get Golf Ready, where a PGA Professional will appear on a regular basis on Golf Channel and NBC’s regional sports networks, offering advice on how beginning golfers can experience the game in a variety of ways.

“We’re excited to continue our longstanding relationship with The PGA of America and renew the Ryder Cup, one of the most prestigious properties in sports, through 2030,” said Lazarus. “This multi-platform agreement allows our broadcast, cable, digital and regional platforms to work with The PGA on their prestigious events and important initiatives.”

That’s all.

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013. He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television. Fang celebrates the three Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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