Breeders' Cup goes back to NBC
 

http://www.breederscup.com/content.aspx?id=47117

Breeders' Cup to NBC; Classic To Be Shown In Primetime

This year's $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic will be aired in prime time on NBC Sports as part of a new, multi-year partnership between the NBC Sports Group and the Breeders' Cup, it was announced this morning.

NBC and NBC Sports Network will combine to present 9 ½ hours of live coverage of the 2012 Breeders' Cup from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California Nov. 2 and 3, including live primetime coverage of the Breeders' Cup Classic on NBC on Saturday, Nov. 3 (8-9 p.m. ET). This will mark the first time in its history that the Classic will be broacast live in primetime. It also marks the return of the Breeders' Cup to NBC, where it was broadcast from its inception in 1984 through 2005. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.

“Everyone here is delighted that the Breeders' Cup has returned home,” said Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. “Bringing back this prestigious event, combined with our long-term partnerships for the Triple Crown with Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, in addition to the Preakness and Belmont cements the NBC Sports Group as the home of horse racing.”

“We are extremely excited to begin our new relationship with NBC and the NBC Sports Group in televising the Breeders' Cup World Championships as the finale to its expanded commitment to Thoroughbred racing,” said Craig Fravel, President and CEO of Breeders' Cup Ltd. “In addition to fans enjoying the best in international competition over the two days of the Championships on NBC Sports Network, we look forward to NBC showcasing the Breeders' Cup Classic in primetime.”

It's more like NBC Sports network will carry 8 1/2 hours of coverage, while NBC will pick up the classic for an hour.

That is the way it should be

I don't expect NBC to cover the entire event, but I just hoped that maybe they could pick up the late pick 4.

Notre Dame has a home game on the 3rd, and they usually start at 3:30. I'm sure this wasn't the only factor in keeping the coverage on NBC Sports for most of the day, hell it may not have been a factor at all, but at least keeping it on cable avoids the possible overrun problems we've seen with ABC/ESPN in the past.

I'm sure we've heard the last of Trevor Denman as well.

Nick, why do you say that?

Trevor's deal is with the network, not the BC. Thus, he has no deal with NBC. If NBC wanted him then they could have him continue to do it, but NBC showed no interest in having him call the TC and has already employed Trevor for a period of time.

That was the nature of the problem when the BC went to ESPN in 2006 and Durkin was out of the loop. NBC does not want their Triple Crown announcer to call races on national TV on a different network. That's why ESPN had Denman do it.

Thank you for the explination.

from your mouth to gods ears...well, someone's ears.

Can we really be that lucky?

Battalia waiting in the wings to make the BC classic call. "and they're off.......for the lead....":zz:

Wonder what the numbers of national households that have NBCSports versus ESPN? I believe on most cable operators that NBCSports is part of a sports premium versus ESPN which is basic cable?

Comcast has NBC Sports on basic cable, but Comcast also owns NBC Sports.

:eek: Noooooo!

Don't worry. :rolleyes:

I think NBC Sports (Versus) is pretty widly distributed on basic cable in the northeast and midwest because they have been carrying the NHL for a few years now. Not sure about the rest of the country.

I don't think thats the issue though. Speaking for myself, I have a handful of channels that I'll always flick through (The ESPN's, MSG, YES, NFL net. TVG etc.) and NBC Sports isn't on the list. I'm guessing that's the case for a lot of other people too, because besides hockey what else does the channel have to offer? So if it was carried on ESPN, you might possibly gain some viewers who stumble across it as opposed to NBC Sports network. I know it's a real stretch, but I just feel like it has a better chance of picking up viewers (and being seen by advertisements) on ESPN, then on NBC sports.

i expect nbc will have a fair amount of advertising, just like they do for the olympics. well, maybe not quite as much as for the olympics. but they seem to want to make their sports network work, so they have to push it a lot. yes, i tune in there for hockey. but i know if i want to watch a sports news show, i go to theirs, as i can't stand the pomposity of espn these days.
and i think the belmont moving back to nbc in '11 gave it higher ratings then in past years...

Well if NBCsports is Versus that makes me happy as that is basic programming on Dish Network.