NBC Sports, MJC Extend Preakness Agreement
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NBC Sports Group and the Maryland Jockey Club have reached a long-term agreement extending NBC Sports Group's exclusive rights to the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), it was announced Aug. 10.
The renewal extends the partnership for the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, which began in 2001. The extension includes multiplatform rights to the Preakness, undercard on Preakness Saturday, and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) during Preakness week, which will be televised on NBC and NBCSN and featured on NBC's digital platforms.
NBC Sports Group now has exclusive, long-term media agreements for all of the Triple Crown races —Kentucky Derby (gr. I), Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
NBC Sports International will continue to distribute NBC's coverage of the Preakness Stakes globally through the term of the deal. NBC Sports Radio will broadcast the Preakness Stakes through the term of the deal as well.
"We are excited to extend our partnership with the Maryland Jockey Club for the Preakness Stakes," said NBC Sports Group chairman Mark Lazarus. "The second jewel of the Triple Crown is integral to our championship season, and now gives us long-term agreements with all of the Triple Crown races. This extension is a testament to the strength of the relationship between the Maryland Jockey Club and NBC Sports Group, and underscores NBC's commitment to the sport of horse racing."
"The Stronach Group is delighted to continue its long relationship with the NBC Sports Group," said Alon Ossip, CEO of The Stronach Group, parent company of the Maryland Jockey Club. "This long-term agreement will allow us to build the Preakness, Black-Eyed Susan, Pimlico Special, and Preakness week activities through multiple channels to reach a wider audience. The Stronach Group is committed to growing the sport of Thoroughbred racing, and we believe our relationship with NBC is another step in that direction."
"We are thrilled to continue our relationship as the TV home of the Preakness Stakes," said Jon Miller, president of programming for NBC Sports and NBCSN. "Coming to this agreement was a rewarding process from start to finish. We look forward to working with our partners with the Maryland Jockey Club and The Stronach Group for years to come."
The 2015 Preakness on NBC, featuring American Pharoah's victory enroute to the first Triple Crown in 37 years, averaged 8.9 million viewers, the seventh consecutive year the Preakness topped eight million viewers. In 12 of the 15 years it has been on NBC, the Preakness has been the most-watched sporting event of the weekend it was contested.