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Archives for February 2024

WORLD SURF LEAGUE AND NBC SPORTS PARTNER ON OLYMPIC DOCUMENTARY SERIES: TAHITI BOUND

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    • Six-episode Series Tracks WSL Athletes on Their Journey to the Olympic Games
    • First episode to debut on Sunday, March 3, at 1 p.m. ET on CNBC and Peacock
    • Paris Olympic Recap Show to air Sunday, Oct. 13, at 1 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock
    • Presented on CNBC, Peacock, NBC Sports YouTube Channel
    • More Available at WorldSurfLeague.com

 

LOS ANGELES, Calif., USA (Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024) – The World Surf League (WSL), the global home of competitive surfing, is thrilled to announce a collaboration with NBC Sports, the official broadcaster of the 2024 Paris Olympics, to produce an Olympic documentary series, Tahiti Bound.

With surfing making its return to the Olympic stage this year in Paris, the WSL and NBC Sports have partnered on a new series that will feature the stories and journeys of qualified Olympians and Team USA athletes on this season’s WSL Championship Tour and the road to the 2024 Olympic surfing competition in Tahiti.

CNBC and Peacock will present six action-packed 44-minute episodes, highlighting the world-class athletes on their journeys to Teahupo’o, with the first installment set to premiere this Sunday, March 3, at 1 p.m. ET on CNBC and Peacock.

Additionally, there will also be a single highlight show recapping the Olympic Games and the 2024 WSL CT results, Tahiti to Trestles, airing Sunday, Oct. 13, at 1 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. All seven episodes will also be available on the NBC Sports YouTube Channel. To view the entire schedule, see the chart at the bottom of the release.

“Paris is re-imagining the presentation of the Olympics in so many exciting ways, and staging the surfing competition in Tahiti will provide one of the most evocative backdrops imaginable,” said Joe Gesue, Senior Vice President of Olympic Programming and Executive Editor, NBC Sports. “Partnering with the WSL for such in-depth access to the athletes’ personal journeys to this unique Olympic setting aligns perfectly with our commitment to storytelling.”

“2024 is set to be a transformative year for the sport thanks, in large part, to the Olympic Games, which is the biggest stage in the world,” said Cherie Cohen, WSL Chief Revenue Officer. “The WSL is in an ideal position to provide content, access, and insights that will significantly enhance NBC’s coverage of the Games. This partnership is also a fantastic opportunity to bring the compelling stories of our athletes on the road to Tahiti to NBC’s audience.”

Throughout the series, fans will get insights into the lives of surfing’s biggest stars, such as reigning Olympic champion and five-time world champion Carissa Moore, two-time world champion John John Florence, and 2023 world champion Caroline Marks, as well as up-and-comers Griffin Colapinto and surfing phenomenon Caity Simmers.

The next stop on the 2024 WSL Championship Tour is the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, opening on March 6, 2024, and holding a competition window through March 16. The event will broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Check out all the new ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

World Surf League Tahiti Bound Episode Schedule

Date Time (ET) Platform Episode
Sun., March 3 1-2 p.m. CNBC Pipeline Pro – Oahu, Hawaii
Sun., March 17 2-3 p.m. CNBC Sunset Beach – Oahu, Hawaii
Sun., April 7 3-4 p.m. CNBC Peniche, Leiria, Portugal
Sun., April 28 2-3 p.m. CNBC Bells Beach – Victoria, Australia
Sun., May 12 2-3 p.m. CNBC Margaret River, Western Australia
Sunday, June 23 2-3 p.m. CNBC Tahiti
Sun., Oct. 13 1-2 p.m. NBC Season Recap

*All episodes also available on Peacock and NBC Sports YouTube

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WSL Contact: press@worldsurfleague.com

About NBC Sports

NBC Sports connects people to the moments that matter most and serves sports fans 24/7 with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. As the sports division of NBCUniversal, NBC Sports presents premier content across linear platforms NBC, USA Network, Golf Channel, as well numerous digital sites, including Peacock. NBC Sports possesses an unparalleled collection of media rights agreements, partnering with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee and United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the NFL, Big Ten Conference, NASCAR, INDYCAR, PGA TOUR, Notre Dame, The R&A, PGA of America, USGA, Churchill Downs, Premier League, MLB, Tour de France, Roland-Garros, and many more. It also consists of NBC Sports Next, a subdivision of NBC Sports and home to all NBCUniversal digital applications in sports and technology within its three groups: Youth & Recreational Sports, Golf, and Betting & Gaming.

About the World Surf League (WSL)

The World Surf League (WSL) is the global home of competitive surfing, crowning World Champions since 1976 and showcasing the world’s best surfing. The WSL oversees surfing’s global competitive landscape and sets the standard for elite performance in the most dynamic playing field in all of sports. With a firm commitment to its values, the WSL prioritizes the protection of the ocean, equality, and the sport’s rich heritage, while championing progression and innovation.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Exclusively on PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+: TOUR’s Florida Swing Begins at Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches

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The PGA TOUR’s Florida Swing begins with live, four-feed coverage of the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches this week at PGA National Resort, exclusively on PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+.

The post Exclusively on PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+: TOUR’s Florida Swing Begins at Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

ESPN Unveils Second Creator Network Class with All-Female Roster and First Time Sponsor adidas

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ESPN will be launching its second iteration of the Creator Network, consisting of an all female roster. This innovative program, with first time sponsor adidas, continues ESPN’s commitment to cultivating authentic and diverse voices in the world of sports content creation.

The post ESPN Unveils Second Creator Network Class with All-Female Roster and First Time Sponsor adidas appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

NBC SPORTS, USGA AND CAMPFIRE STUDIOS ANNOUNCE DREAM BIG: THE MICHELLE WIE STORY – DOCUMENTARY ON THE LIFE AND HISTORIC CAREER OF GOLF TRAILBLAZER MICHELLE WIE WEST

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The Definitive and Authorized Documentary will Premiere on NBC in May 2024 and Stream on Peacock

Maura Anderson Set to Direct; Produced in Association with Excel Media, Victory Sports Media, Show B, Highly Flammable and Ellevest

 

STAMFORD, Conn. – February 27, 2024 – Golf icon Michelle Wie West, the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open champion and the youngest woman ever to compete on the PGA TOUR, will be the subject of Dream Big: The Michelle Wie Story, a new documentary from NBC Sports, the USGA and Campfire Studios (Netflix’s Neymar: The Perfect Chaos; Hulu’s WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn). The film will debut in May 2024 on NBC and stream on Peacock ahead of this year’s U.S. Women’s Open.

From filmmaker Maura Anderson (2022’s Kickback), the definitive and authorized documentary will track the life and storied career of a golf prodigy. Wie West began playing golf at the age of four; six years later, she became the youngest player ever to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship. At 13, she was the youngest player to make an LPGA Tour cut and the youngest to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open. By 16, she was a professional, garnering sponsorship deals from the likes of Nike and Sony. Five LPGA Tour wins later, including a U.S. Women’s Open title, Wie West officially retired from professional golf in July 2023.

The upcoming documentary is a Campfire Studios production, in association with Excel Media (part of Excel Sports Management), Victory Sports Media, Show B, Highly Flammable and Ellevest. Maura Anderson and Ross Dinerstein are the producers. Rebecca Evans, Ross Girard, Ryan Holcomb, Rupak Deven Parikh, Parag Parikh and Jai Khanna are the executive producers. GOLF Channel’s Israel DeHerrera is the coordinating producer. International rights to the film will be handled by Vertigo Releasing.

“After stepping back and reflecting on the peaks and valleys of my career, I felt a profound sense of gratitude and fulfillment, and I want savor all of the lessons I learned and resilience I gained along the way,” said Wie West. “I was deeply flattered by the opportunity to work with Maura and the team, and my hope is that viewers, especially young athletes, can gain an understanding of some of the challenges, and also draw some inspiration and encouragement from my story.”

Said Anderson, “Michelle never allowed anyone to put her in a box, whether it was her age, gender, race or what tournament she played in. She’s always been guided by her own core principles and what was right for her, despite any criticism. That was an incredibly inspirational story to me, and I am honored that Michelle has entrusted us with telling it.”

“Michelle Wie West is one of the most influential and recognizable golfers in recent history and we’re excited to partner with the USGA and Campfire Studios to tell her story,” said Tom Knapp, EVP of Golf, NBC Sports. “Few moments in golf were more inspirational than Michelle teeing it up at the 2004 Sony Open as a 14-year-old. Michelle showed countless numbers of young girls and boys what is possible and her impact on the sport will endure for decades.”

Said Dinerstein, “In addition to being one of the greatest, most accomplished athletes alive, Michelle’s journey from teenage golf prodigy to LPGA legend is a uniquely compelling one. We’re proud to be working with her, Maura and the NBC Sports team on this project.”

ABOUT CAMPFIRE STUDIOS

Campfire Studios is an Emmy Award-winning production company founded by CEO Ross Dinerstein. Part of Brent Montgomery’s Wheelhouse, Campfire is known for its broad bench of content across scripted and non-fiction, for both feature film and TV/streaming platforms. Over the last 20 years, Dinerstein has produced or executive produced 50+ series and films, including debuts at Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, Hot Docs and TIFF. Campfire and Dinerstein’s notable projects include Netflix’s Muscles & Mayhem: An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators and Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food; Hulu’s Emmy-winning feature documentary WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn; Max’s Smartless: On the Road, Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty, The Way Down and Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults; FX’s Hysterical and The Most Dangerous Animal of All; feature documentaries Jiro Dreams of Sushi, Silicon Cowboys and A Glitch in the Matrix (Official Selection 2021 Sundance Film Festival); Netflix’s The Innocent Man, Neymar: The Perfect Chaos, and the streamer’s Emmy-nominated scripted series Special, along with David Fincher’s VOIR, and Netflix Original films Rattlesnake, Stephen King’s 1922, The Package, Rebirth and 6 Balloons. Campfire’s latest doc features also include PBS’s TikTok, Boom, which world premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, and Rudy! A Documusical, which premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival. The company’s first podcast is the Webby Award-winning series Abuse of Power.

 

ABOUT NBC SPORTS

NBC Sports connects people to the moments that matter most and serves sports fans 24/7 with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. As the sports division of NBCUniversal, NBC Sports presents premier content across linear platforms NBC, USA Network, Golf Channel, as well numerous digital sites, including Peacock. NBC Sports possesses an unparalleled collection of media rights agreements, partnering with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee and United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the NFL, Big Ten Conference, NASCAR, INDYCAR, PGA TOUR, Notre Dame, The R&A, PGA of America, USGA, Churchill Downs, Premier League, MLB, Tour de France, Roland-Garros, and many more. It also consists of NBC Sports Next, a subdivision of NBC Sports and home to all NBCUniversal digital applications in sports and technology within its three groups: Youth & Recreational Sports, Golf, and Betting & Gaming.

 

 

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CAITLIN CLARK AND NO. 6 IOWA VISIT MINNESOTA TOMORROW AT 9 P.M. ET, HEADLINING BIG TEN BASKETBALL ON PEACOCK THIS WEEK

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Clark, Women’s NCAA All-Time Scoring Leader, Needs 33 Points to Surpass Lynette Woodard and 51 Points to Surpass Pete Maravich’s NCAA Division I College Basketball Scoring Record

Tim Layden Writes on Clark and Maravich Meeting Across Generations of Basketball History

Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tonight on Peacock: B1G College Countdown Pregame Coverage Begins at 6:30 p.m. ET Followed by Indiana Hosting Wisconsin at 7 p.m. ET

Big Ten Women’s Basketball Doubleheader on Peacock Tomorrow: Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State (7 p.m. ET) and No. 6 Iowa at Minnesota (9 p.m. ET)

Eligible Students Can Sign-Up to Receive Special Peacock Student Discount Offer for $1.99/Month

STAMFORD, Conn. – Feb. 27, 2024 – Caitlin Clark, the NCAA women’s all-time scoring leader, and No. 6 Iowa visit Minnesota tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 9 p.m. ET, headlining this week’s Big Ten basketball coverage exclusively on Peacock.

Tonight’s Big Ten men’s basketball action on Peacock begins with the B1G College Countdown pregame show at 6:30 p.m. ET, featuring host Ahmed Fareed and analysts Jordan Cornette and Josh Pastner, leading into Indiana hosting Wisconsin at 7 p.m. ET.

Tomorrow, Big Ten women’s basketball continues on Peacock with a doubleheader as No. 2 Ohio State hosts Michigan at 7 p.m. ET and No. 6 Iowa visits Minnesota at 9 p.m. ET. Tomorrow’s B1G College Countdown pregame show begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on Peacock, featuring host Carolyn Manno alongside analysts Aliyah Boston and Aja Ellison.

Click here to read Tim Layden’s article on Caitlin Clark and Basketball Hall of Famer Pete Maravich, who holds the NCAA Division I all-time scoring record with 3,667 career points (1967-70), 50 ahead of Clark (3,617).

February 15’s Iowa-Michigan game exclusively on Peacock — featuring Caitlin Clark becoming the NCAA women’s all-time scoring leader — was NBCUniversal’s most-streamed college basketball game ever.

Peacock’s exclusive slate of Big Ten men’s and women’s basketball  features 50+ games streaming live this season.

Tonight at 7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Men’s Basketball: Wisconsin at Indiana

Wisconsin (18-9) defeated Maryland, 74-70, last week as forward Tyler Wahl (18 points) and guard Max Klesmit (16 points) led the Badgers to the home win.

Indiana (14-13) lost to Penn State, 83-74, on Saturday. Sophomore forward Malik Reneau scored 27 points and had six rebounds against the Nittany Lions, marking his seventh 20-point performance of the season.

Noah Eagle (play-by-play) and Robbie Hummel (analyst), a three-time First-Team All-Big Ten honoree at Purdue from 2007-12, will call the action live from Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.

Tonight’s coverage begins on Peacock with the B1G College Countdown pregame show at 6:30 p.m. ET, featuring host Ahmed Fareed and analysts Jordan Cornette and Josh Pastner.

Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Women’s Basketball: Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State

Michigan (17-11) snapped a two-game losing streak with a 74-60 victory over Northwestern on Saturday, led by forward Laila Phelia’s 16-point, 10-rebound double-double.

No. 2 Ohio State (24-3), who are in first place in the Big Ten with a 15-1 conference record, won their 14th consecutive game on Sunday with a 79-66 victory over Maryland. All five Buckeyes starters scored in double digits in the win as guard Celeste Taylor led the team with 20 points. With Sunday’s win, Ohio State clinched at least a share of the Big Ten title and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.

Calling tomorrow’s game from The Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, are Zora Stephenson (play-by-play) and Meghan McKeown (analyst).

Tomorrow’s coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET with the B1G College Countdown pregame show featuring host Carolyn Manno alongside analysts Aliyah Boston and Aja Ellison.

Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 9 p.m. ET, Big Ten Women’s Basketball: No. 6 Iowa at Minnesota

No. 6 Iowa (24-4) defeated Illinois, 101-85, on Sunday as guard Caitlin Clark notched her 16th career triple-double with 24 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, and forward Hannah Stuelke scored 20 points.

Clark, who recently became the NCAA women’s all-time scoring leader, has 3,617 career points and needs 33 points to surpass Lynette Woodard (3,649 at Kansas from 1977-81). Clark is 50 points behind Pete Maravich’s NCAA Division I record of 3,667 career points.

Minnesota (15-12) fell to Nebraska, 70-51, on Saturday as forward Mallory Heyer led the Golden Gophers with a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds).

Calling tomorrow’s game from Williams Center in Minneapolis, Minn., are Cindy Brunson (play-by-play) and Julianne Viani (analyst).

Sunday, March 3, at 3 p.m. ET, Big Ten Women’s Basketball: Maryland at Indiana

Maryland (16-11) lost to No. 2 Ohio State, 79-66, on Sunday. No. 14 Indiana (22-4), who are third in the Big Ten, defeated then-No. 4 Iowa, 86-69, last Thursday.

Sunday’s coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ET with the B1G College Countdown pregame show on Peacock, featuring host Carolyn Manno with analyst Aliyah Boston.

Sloan Martin and Aja Ellison will call the game live from Assembly Hall on Sunday.

Big Ten Basketball Exclusively on Peacock this Week:

Date Time (ET) Game Commentators
Tues., Feb. 27 6:30 p.m. B1G College Countdown Ahmed Fareed, Jordan Cornette, Josh Pastner
7 p.m. Wisconsin at Indiana (men’s) Noah Eagle, Robbie Hummel
Wed., Feb. 28 6:30 p.m. B1G College Countdown Carolyn Manno, Aliyah Boston, Aja Ellison
7 p.m. Michigan at Ohio State (women’s) Zora Stephenson, Meghan McKeown
9 p.m. Iowa at Minnesota (women’s) Cindy Brunson, Julianne Viani
 
Sun., March 3 2:30 p.m. B1G College Countdown Carolyn Manno, Aliyah Boston
3 p.m. Maryland at Indiana (women’s) Sloan Marin, Aja Ellison

 

BIG TEN ON PEACOCK

Peacock is the exclusive home of more than 50 Big Ten Men’s and Women’s Basketball games in 2023-24. Click here for more.

Eligible students can sign-up for Peacock’s Student Discount offer, available for $1.99/month. For more information and to sign-up, click here.

Peacock’s expansive programming features live coverage including Big Ten Football and Basketball, Notre Dame Football, Sunday Night Football, Olympic and Paralympic Games, Premier League, NASCAR, NTT IndyCar Series, and much more. Peacock also offers daily sports programming on the NBC Sports channel.

PEACOCK’S REMAINING EXCLUSIVE SCHEDULE FOR THE 2023-24 BIG TEN MEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON:

Date Time (ET) Matchup
Tues., Feb. 27 7 p.m. Wisconsin vs. Indiana
Tues., Mar. 5 7 p.m. Purdue vs. Illinois
Wed., Mar. 13 6:30 p.m. Big Ten Tournament
Wed., Mar. 13 9 p.m. Big Ten Tournament

 

PEACOCK’S EXCLUSIVE SCHEDULE FOR THE 2023-24 BIG TEN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON:

Date Time (ET) Matchup
Wed., Feb. 28 7 p.m. Michigan at Ohio State
Wed., Feb. 28 9 p.m. Iowa at Minnesota
Sun., Mar. 3 3 p.m. Maryland at Indiana
Wed., Mar. 6 6:30 p.m. Big Ten Tournament
Wed., Mar. 6 9 p.m. Big Ten Tournament

 

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