NBC Sports Films

Documentary Chronicles Media Pioneer Ted Turner’s Quest to Win the 1977 America’s Cup

One-Hour Film Features Interviews With Turner, Crew Members of Courageous, As Well Sailing Historians and Experts

Courageous Debuts Immediately Following Race 1 of the 2017 America’s Cup Finals on NBC

Stamford, Conn – December 22, 2016 – NBC Sports Films will premiere Courageous, a one-hour documentary which chronicles media pioneer and sailing maverick Ted Turner’s quest to win the 1977 America’s Cup, on Saturday, June 17 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC. The special will air immediately following NBC’s coverage of Race 1 of the 2017 America’s Cup Finals.

Courageous, named for the boat that Turner captained, examines his journey to win and defend the America’s Cup, and explores his tireless pursuit throughout the decade to build the iconic Turner media and sports empire which included CNN, TBS, the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, and Goodwill Games.

While suspended from running the Braves and working through the infancy and challenges of early cable television with his SuperStation, Turner became fixated with winning the 1977 America’s Cup. The unconventional pioneer bet his reputation and image on the victory, and saw glory in a 4-year-old boat and a crew that others had written off.

“The story of Courageous and Ted Turner’s victory in 1977 is one of the most remarkable and unusual chapters in sports history,” said Mark Levy, Senior Vice President, Original Productions and Creative, NBC Sports Group. “Turner’s unconventional approach on and off the high seas made for headlines across the globe. Courageous will not only excite dedicated sailing fans watching our broadcast of the 35th America’s Cup, but will also appeal to admirers of the Turner legacy, and anyone who loves one-of-a-kind stories.”

Courageous features interviews with Turner, his America’s Cup crew members, and sailing historians. Additionally the film includes archival footage from the 1977 America’s Cup and Turner’s multifaceted career.

For a preview of Courageous, click here.

Courageous complements NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the 35^th America’s Cup.

As the exclusive U.S. media rights holder for the 2017 America’s Cup Finals and America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs, NBC, NBCSN, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will combine to provide more than 35 hours of coverage of both events.

NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the 2017 America’s Cup marks its second consecutive presentation of the event. It televised the 2013 America’s Cup, in which ORACLE TEAM USA staged a dramatic comeback, winning eight consecutive races to come from behind and defeat Emirates Team New Zealand, 9-8.

For more information about NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the America’s Cup, click here.

Courageous is the latest project produced by NBC Sports Films and NBC Olympics. Additional films include More Than Gold: Jesse Owens and the 1936 Berlin Olympics, which aired leading up to the Rio Olympic Games; Center of Attention: The Unreal Life of Derek Sanderson, which aired during the 2015 Stanley Cup Final; Lokomotiv, Space Race, and Nancy & Tonya, which all aired during the 2014 Sochi Olympics; and Their Finest Hour, which aired during the 2012 London Olympics.

Courageous is produced by Mark Levy, Senior Vice President, Original Productions and Creative, NBC Sports Group; David Michaels, Coordinating Producer, NBC Sports Group; and Matthew Allen, Senior Features Producer, NBC Sports Group.

ABOUT NBC SPORTS FILMS

NBC Sports Films, a division of NBC Sports Group, was founded in 2015 and produces sports documentaries that air across NBC, NBCSN, NBC Sports Regional Networks, and NBC Sports Digital’s platforms. Using the story telling abilities of the Emmy Award-winning production units that produce NBC Sport’s coverage of the Olympics, Sunday Night Football, and the Stanley Cup Final, NBC Sports Films shines a spotlight on historical moments and compelling stories that stem from the myriad of signature sports properties in the NBC Sports Group portfolio.

—NBC SPORTS GROUP—

New Initiative Will Produce Sports Documentaries to Air Across NBC Sports Group’s Multiple Platforms

Debut Project Center of Attention: The Unreal Life of Derek Sanderson to Premiere Monday, June 8 on NBCSN, Following Game 3 of 2015 Stanley Cup Final

One-Hour Documentary Chronicles Two-Time Stanley Cup Champion’s Journey from World’s Highest-Paid Athlete to Homeless Alcoholic to Respected Financial Adviser

Center of Attention Features Interviews With Eight Hockey Hall of Famers Including Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito

Boston Native, Emmy Award-Nominee and Mad Men Star John Slattery Narrates Center of Attention

Stamford, Conn – May 27, 2015 – NBC Sports Group announced today the launch of NBC Sports Films, a new initiative that will leverage NBC Olympics’ Emmy Award-winning storytelling heritage and personnel to produce sports documentaries that will air across NBC Sports Group’s multiple platforms. NBC Sports Films will annually produce multiple long-form projects to be presented across NBC, NBCSN, NBC Sports Regional Networks and NBC Sports Digital.

NBC Sports Films’ first project, Center of Attention: The Unreal Life of Derek Sanderson, a one-hour documentary that chronicles the remarkable life of former NHL star and two-time Stanley Cup Champion Derek Sanderson, will premiere on NBCSN on Monday, June 8, following Game 3 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final.

“Storytelling has always been a prominent component of NBC Sports’ coverage of signature events. We are excited to expand those efforts and further serve our audience by providing additional long-form content across all NBC Sports Group platforms,” said Mark Levy, Senior Vice President, Original Productions and Creative, NBC Sports Group. “Our debut film, Center of Attention, is a compelling portrait of the extraordinary life of Derek Sanderson, who has lived the highest of highs and the most challenging lows a life in the spotlight can produce.”

Narrated by Boston native, Primetime Emmy Award-nominee and star of Mad Men John Slattery, Center of Attention follows Sanderson’s journey from humble beginnings, to becoming the highest paid athlete of his time, only to eventually end up homeless, broke and addicted to drugs and alcohol. Through interviews with former teammates, coaches, friends, rivals, and Sanderson himself, viewers get an inside look into his eccentric and reckless life that ultimately features a fourth act fitting of a Hollywood screenplay, as Sanderson is able to get clean and become a respected financial adviser for top athletes.

In his book Crossing The Line, Sanderson said of his life: “In the span of an extraordinary life, I made the National Hockey League, won two Stanley Cup championships, became a trendsetter, gained celebrity status, became a millionaire, descended into addiction, was homeless, almost died, asked for salvation, kicked booze, drugs and cigarettes, climbed back from the wreckage, met an amazing woman who gave us two great sons, taught kids about the evils of addiction, was a broadcaster and now advise athletes about their finances. That’s a lot to pack into one life!”

Center of Attention features interviews with eight members of the Hockey Hall of Fame, including Sanderson’s teammates Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Rod Gilbert, Gerry Cheevers Brad Park, Bernie Parent and coaches Harry Sinden and Emile Francis.

In the glory days of his playing career, Sanderson was a national sensation. He won the Calder Trophy, as the NHL’s top rookie in 1967-68, and was a two-time Stanley Cup champion before his 26^th birthday. Off the ice, the man known as “Turk” was an iconoclast who went into the nightclub business with Joe Namath, was regularly seen with beautiful women, drove around town in a Rolls Royce, and was quoted as saying his pregame meal was “a steak and a blonde.”

In 1972, Sanderson left the Bruins and the NHL to sign with the Philadelphia Blazers of the World Hockey Association. His $2.65 million contract made Sanderson the highest-paid professional athlete in the world at the time, but within months, poor play, a back injury and his lavish contract led the Blazers’ owners to buy out Sanderson’s deal for $1 million.

At age 27, after making it back to the NHL, Sanderson’s drinking increased and he developed an addiction to drugs. Sanderson ended up broke and homeless, at one point sleeping on a bench in New York City’s Central Park. By 1978, when he was 32, his hockey career was over.

In 1980, after more than a dozen trips to rehab, Sanderson was able to get clean and start a new life. He was hired by then Mayor of Boston Ray Flynn to serve as a drug and alcohol awareness speaker at Boston area schools, worked as a lead television analyst for the Boston Bruins, became a financial adviser, and started a sports group to help protect athletes from themselves and from those who could take advantage of them.

ABOUT NBC SPORTS FILMS

Formed in 2015, NBC Sports Films produces sports documentaries that air across NBC Sports Group’s multiple platforms. NBC Sports Films, a division of NBC Sports Group, will annually produce multiple long-form projects to be presented across NBC, NBCSN, NBC Sports Regional Networks and NBC Sports Digital. NBC Sports Films’ debut project, Center of Attention: The Unreal Life of Derek Sanderson, will premiere on Monday, June 8, following Game 3 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final.

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–

NBC SPORTS FILMS TO PREMIERE “COURAGEOUS” SATURDAY, JUNE 17, 2017 AT 2:30 P.M. ET ON NBC

NBC SPORTS GROUP LAUNCHES NBC SPORTS FILMS