1,200 Hours of Paralympic Programming from Tokyo, Including First-Ever Primetime Coverage on NBC

Exclusive Sponsors of NBCUniversal’s Coverage are Toyota, Nike, United Healthcare, Salesforce and Eli Lilly

Social Media Partnerships with Twitter and NowThis to Grow Storytelling Around the Paralympic Movement

STAMFORD, Conn. – July 27, 2021 – With less than one month to go until the start of the Tokyo Paralympic Games, unprecedented corporate support and wide-ranging partnerships are allowing NBCUniversal to present a record 1,200 hours of programming around the Tokyo Paralympic Games, taking place August 24-September 5, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.

In its most ambitious effort ever, NBCU’s 1,200 hours of Paralympic Games coverage will include more than 200 hours of television coverage, the first-ever primetime hours on NBC, live coverage of the Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony on NBCSN, and exclusive streaming coverage on NBC Sports digital platforms and Peacock. Click here for more details.

NBCU’s record programming hours for Tokyo is possible because of unparalleled corporate support. Toyota has again signed on as presenting sponsor of NBCUniversal’s Paralympic coverage and will be the exclusive auto advertiser across the linear and digital networks of NBCUniversal. Toyota branding will be included within NBCU’s extensive linear, digital and social media promotional campaigns. Nike, United Healthcare, Salesforce and Eli Lilly join Toyota as exclusive sponsors of NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Tokyo Paralympic Games. Salesforce recently became the newest partner of Team USA and LA28.

“We are looking forward to presenting unprecedented coverage of the Paralympic Games and we could not have done so without the incredible support of our corporate partners,” said Dan Lovinger, Executive Vice President, Sales, NBC Sports Group. “In just a few short weeks, we will follow the stories of the most inspirational athletes in the world across NBCUniversal together in concert with these renowned companies.”

A pair of wide-ranging partnerships with Twitter and NowThis have allowed NBCUniversal to increase storytelling around the Paralympic Movement, continuing through the duration of the Tokyo Paralympic Games. These partnerships include:

• Twitter: daily highlights recap video and special gold medal moments from Team USA and countries across the world via NBCOlympics social platforms
• NowThis: daily highlights recap video via NowThis social platforms

The 16 commentators who will anchor NBCU’s record coverage features NBC Paralympic hosts Ahmed Fareed and Carolyn Manno, play-by-play commentators including Todd Harris and Bill Spaulding, reporters Lewis Johnson, Alana Nichols and Heather Cox, and five analysts with Paralympic experience, including Chris Waddell and Paul Schulte, who collectively have won 30 Paralympic medals. Click here for the full commentator roster.

A complete archive of Tokyo Paralympics press releases can be found here.

–TOKYO PARALYMPICS–

Live Streaming Coverage of Track & Field and Swimming Trials Gets Underway Tomorrow

20+ Hours of Live Coverage to be Presented Thursday-Saturday

NBC to Air Trials Special on Sunday, June 27, at 1:30 p.m. ET

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 16, 2021 – The U.S. Paralympic Team Trials begin tomorrow across NBC Olympics digital platforms and Peacock, featuring more than 20 hours of live coverage of track & field and swimming preliminaries and finals over three days from Minneapolis, Minn.

Swimming coverage features daily preliminaries and finals and is expected to feature 13-time Paralympic gold medalist Jessica Long and two-time Paralympic medalist Mallory Weggemann. Play-by-play commentator Todd Harris will call the action with three-time Paralympic swimming gold medalist Justin Zook.

Track & field coverage is expected to be headlined by 17-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden and 2016 Paralympic gold medalist David Brown. Bill Spaulding (play-by-play), who will be making his play-by-play Paralympic debut this summer, and 13-time Paralympic medalist and Paralympic Hall of Fame member Chris Waddell (analyst) will serve as commentators for track & field.

A 90-minute U.S. Paralympic Team Trials special will air on Sunday, June 27, at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBC. The program, hosted by NBC Sports’ Ahmed Fareed, who will be making his Paralympic debut as a host this summer, will display the highlights of the Trials and the storylines to follow heading into Tokyo.

Highlights from the cycling Trials events, also taking place this weekend, will be presented during streaming coverage and the 90-minute program on NBC on June 27.

NBCUniversal’s record programming of the Tokyo Paralympics will include more than 200 hours of television coverage across NBC, NBCSN and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA; the first-ever primetime hours on NBC; the debut of coverage on NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock; live coverage of the Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony on NBCSN; and comprehensive live streaming coverage on NBC Sports digital platforms. Coverage will be presented by Toyota, while Nike, Salesforce, United Health Group, and Eli Lilly join Toyota as exclusive sponsors of NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Tokyo Paralympics. Click here for more information about programming details. For a complete list of the commentators that will anchor coverage, click here.

Following is NBC Olympics’ coverage schedule of the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials on NBC Olympics digital platforms (NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app) and Peacock:

Date	Event	Start Time (ET)	End Time (ET)
Thurs., June 17	Swimming Preliminaries	10 a.m.	11:30 a.m.
	Swimming Finals	6 p.m.	8 p.m.
	Track & Field	6 p.m.	8:30 p.m.
Fri., June 18	Swimming Preliminaries	10 a.m.	Noon
	Swimming Finals	6 p.m.	8 p.m.
	Track & Field	6 p.m.	8:45 p.m.
Sat., June 19	Swimming Preliminaries	10 a.m.	11:30 a.m.
	Track & Field	11 a.m.	12:45 p.m.
	Track & Field	5 p.m.	7:15 p.m.
	Swimming Finals	6 p.m.	8 p.m.

Peacock is currently available on Google platforms and devices including Android, Android TV devices; Roku; Apple devices including iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD; Chromecast and Chromecast built-in devices; Microsoft’s Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One S and Xbox One X; Sony PlayStation4 and PlayStation 4 Pro; Samsung Smart TVs; VIZIO SmartCast TVs; and LG Smart TVs. Comcast’s eligible Xfinity X1 and Flex customers, as well as eligible Cox Contour customers, enjoy Peacock Premium included with their service at no additional cost.

About Peacock
Peacock is NBCUniversal’s streaming service. Peacock delivers a world-class slate of exclusive originals, on-demand libraries of hit TV shows, plus critically acclaimed films from the vaults of Universal Pictures, Focus Features, DreamWorks Animation, Illumination, and Hollywood’s biggest studios. In addition, Peacock taps into NBCUniversal’s unmatched ability to deliver a broad range of compelling topical content across news, sports, late-night, Spanish-language, and reality. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

–TOKYO PARALYMPICS–

Commentator Roster of 16 to Anchor Record 1,200 Hours of Paralympic Programming and First-Ever Primetime Coverage on NBC

Ahmed Fareed and Carolyn Manno to Host NBCU’s Paralympic Games Coverage

Paralympic Gold Medalists Michelle Konkoly, Mark Zupan and Kari Miller to Make On-Air Debuts as Analysts

NBC News’ TODAY Celebrated 100 Days Until Tokyo Paralympics This Morning

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 17, 2021 – With just under 100 days until the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo Paralympic Games, NBCUniversal announced the 16 commentators who will anchor its record 1,200 hours of coverage this summer. NBCUniversal’s Paralympic Games coverage, which will once again be presented by Toyota, will include more than 200 hours of television programming across NBC, NBCSN and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA and the first-ever primetime hours on NBC, as well as 1,000+ hours of streaming coverage.

Ahmed Fareed and Carolyn Manno will serve as hosts of NBCU’s Paralympics coverage. Fareed will make his Paralympics debut this summer while Manno reprises her hosting role for the fourth consecutive Games. Fareed and Manno will be joined by 14 play-by-play commentators, analysts and reporters. In total, Team NBC has won a total of 30 Paralympic medals.

Three Paralympians will make their debut as analysts. Two-time Paralympic swimming gold medalist Michelle Konkoly will join play-by-play commentator Todd Harris, who returns for his fourth straight Paralympic Games, on swimming. 2008 Paralympic gold medalist Mark Zupan will serve as wheelchair rugby analyst with play-by-play voice Ed Cohen, while 2016 sitting volleyball Paralympic gold medalist Kari Miller will join Tanith White as an analyst for sitting volleyball.

13-time Paralympic medalist and Paralympic Hall of Fame member Chris Waddell (track & field), as well as two-time Paralympic medalist Paul Schulte (wheelchair basketball), return as analysts in their respective sports.

Lewis Johnson returns for his fifth consecutive Paralympics assignment as an on-site reporter for track & field. Six-time Paralympic medalist Alana Nichols (wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby) will make her debut as an on-site reporter in Tokyo, while Heather Cox (swimming) returns as a reporter for her second consecutive Paralympic Summer Games.

Bill Spaulding (track & field), Krista Blunk (wheelchair basketball), and Tanith White (sitting volleyball) make their play-by-play Paralympic debuts this summer. Ed Cohen returns as the play-by-play commentator for wheelchair rugby. NBC Sports host and reporter Corey Robinson will make his Paralympic Games debut as a studio contributor.

100 DAYS UNTIL THE PARALYMPICS

NBC News’ TODAY celebrated 100 days until the Tokyo Paralympics this morning with an appearance by 2016 triathlon Paralympic bronze medalist and Team Toyota athlete Melissa Stockwell. Tonight, 2016 sitting volleyball Paralympic gold medalist Nicky Nieves will be featured on Nightly News with Lester Holt as part of Holt’s “Across America” week. Access Hollywood will also exclusively present a new Paralympics and This Is Us promotion which tells the story of 17-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden, voiced by Chris Sullivan.

To further support the Paralympic Movement and in partnership with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), Toyota announced a first-of-its-kind program offering up to $5 million in monetary support and sponsorship opportunities that will directly impact the lives of eligible U.S. Paralympic athletes aiming to compete at the Tokyo and Beijing Paralympic Games. To learn more, click here.

In association with Toyota’s announcement, Corey Robinson hosted the “Dreams In Motion” virtual panel to discuss inclusivity and equality in adaptive sport and the impact that Toyota will have leading into Tokyo and Beijing with three Team USA and Team Toyota athletes: eight-time Paralympic medalist and two-time Paralympic gold medalist Oksana Masters, a multi-sport athlete who will compete in cycling in Tokyo; 2016 Paralympic gold medalist David Brown (track & field); and two-time Paralympic gold medalist Rico Roman (sled hockey). The panel can be viewed here.

NBC Sports’ Jimmy Roberts interviewed International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons to discuss the Paralympic movement and the preparations that the IPC is undertaking ahead of the Tokyo Paralympic Games. The conversation is available here.

SPORT-BY-SPORT RUNDOWN:

SWIMMING:
Todd Harris, Play-by-Play
Michelle Konkoly, Analyst
Heather Cox, Reporter

TRACK & FIELD:
Bill Spaulding, Play-by-Play
Chris Waddell, Analyst
Lewis Johnson, Reporter

WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL:
Krista Blunk, Play-by-Play
Paul Schulte, Analyst
Alana Nichols, Reporter

WHEELCHAIR RUGBY:
Ed Cohen, Play-by-Play
Mark Zupan, Analyst
Alana Nichols, Reporter

SITTING VOLLEYBALL:
Tanith White, Play-by-Play
Kari Miller, Analyst

STUDIO CONTRIBUTOR:
Corey Robinson

NBCUniversal’s record programming of the Tokyo Paralympics will include more than 200 hours of television coverage across NBC, NBCSN and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA; the first-ever primetime hours on NBC; the debut of coverage on NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock; live coverage of the Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony on NBCSN; and comprehensive live streaming coverage on NBC Sports digital platforms. Click here for more information about programming details.

As part of a robust plan for coverage and promotion leading up to Tokyo this August, NBC will air the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials competition on June 27. Additional Paralympic Team Trials programming details will be announced soon.

–TOKYO PARALYMPICS–

Record 1,200 Hours of Paralympic Programming from Tokyo; First-Ever Primetime Coverage on NBC; First Paralympic Coverage on Peacock

Countdown Began This Morning on NBC News’ TODAY with Celebration of Six Months Until Tokyo Paralympics

Extensive Athlete Profiles, Interviews and Features Shared Across NBCU Linear, Digital and Social Media Platforms

Toyota Returns as Presenting Sponsor of NBCU’s Paralympic Coverage

NBC to Air U.S. Paralympic Team Trials on June 27

STAMFORD, Conn. – Feb. 24, 2021 – NBCUniversal is making an unprecedented commitment to the Paralympics with a record 1,200 hours of programming and six months of promotion for the Tokyo Paralympic Games, which take place August 24-September 5, 2021. In its most ambitious effort ever, NBCUniversal’s Paralympic Games coverage, which will once again be presented by Toyota, will include more than 200 hours of television coverage across NBC, NBCSN and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA; the first-ever primetime hours on NBC; the debut of coverage on NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock; live coverage of the Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony on NBCSN; and comprehensive live streaming coverage on NBC Sports digital platforms.

Primetime broadcasts on NBC will feature the top stories and moments of the Paralympics, as NBC Sports award-winning storytellers weave edited competition coverage with athlete profiles and interviews, taking viewers inside the Games like never before. With a special focus on the athletes of Team USA, the primetime coverage will showcase the athletes’ backstories and training, motivation and performance, as they compete against the world’s best on the biggest stage in Para Sports.

Programming highlights also include:

• On cable, NBCSN will televise the Tokyo Paralympics from 9 p.m. – 9 a.m. ET daily, with additional original hours and extensive replays on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA. NBCSN will present live coverage of the Opening Ceremony on Tuesday, August 24, and live coverage of the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, September 5.
• More than 1,000 hours of Tokyo Paralympic coverage will stream across NBCOlympics.com, the NBC Sports app and Peacock. NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app will live stream all television coverage as well as coverage of Archery, Badminton, Boccia, Canoe, Cycling, Equestrian, Goalball, Judo, Marathon, Rowing, Shooting, Sitting Volleyball, Soccer 5-a-side, Swimming, Table Tennis, Track & Field, Triathlon, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Rugby, and Wheelchair Tennis.
• Peacock will feature medal round action in multiple sports, including men’s and women’s Wheelchair Basketball and Women’s Sitting Volleyball, all three of which were won by Team USA at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, plus Wheelchair Rugby and Marathon races.
• Accessibility features for all television coverage include closed captioning (CC) and video description services (VDS) to assist viewers in experiencing the accomplishments and stories of the Paralympic athletes.
• Additional programming details will be announced at a later date.

The countdown to the Tokyo Paralympic Games ramped up this morning when NBCUniversal marked six months to the Opening Ceremony, starting on NBC News’ TODAY, with appearances from seven Team USA athletes, including 2016 Paralympic gold medalists David Brown (track & field) and Jerome Avery (track & field, guide runner). 13-time Paralympic gold medalist Jessica Long (swimming) is joining Brown and Avery in a virtual media tour today across NBCUniversal programs and platforms.

Promotion will continue with an ongoing series of “Get to Know Team USA” videos published on NBC Olympics’ social and digital platforms, plus additional promotion during NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Tokyo Olympics and in the weeks between the Olympics and Paralympics this summer.

In addition to being the presenting sponsor of NBCUniversal’s Paralympic Games coverage, Toyota will be the exclusive auto advertiser across all linear and digital coverage of the Tokyo Paralympic Games. Nike, United Healthcare, and Eli Lilly join Toyota as exclusive sponsors of NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Tokyo Paralympics.

As part of a robust plan for coverage and promotion leading up to Tokyo this August, NBC will air the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials competition on June 27. Additional Paralympic Team Trials programming details will be announced in the future.

“We are proud to be America’s long-term home of the Paralympics, and Tokyo will mark new heights in our coverage and storytelling,” said Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics. “We are committed to growing our coverage across our platforms and bringing to the American audience the extraordinary achievements of Para athletes well into the future, a vision shared by our Paralympic partners — Toyota, Nike, Eli Lilly and United Healthcare.”

“NBCUniversal’s commitment to the coverage and promotion of the Tokyo Paralympic Games and U.S. Paralympic Team is truly something to celebrate,” said USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland. “This is a great reflection of our combined pledge to creating a path to parity for the Paralympic Movement while bringing the incredible feats of our Para athletes into more American homes than ever before.”

“We are so thrilled to bring the Tokyo Paralympics to a broad audience with the support of our amazing partners,” said Alexa Pritting, coordinating producer for NBCU’s Paralympic coverage. “The athletes are stars both on and off the field and we look forward to telling their stories as they compete on the world’s biggest stage.”

“Our unprecedented six-month ramp up for the Paralympics across the widely-distributed platforms of NBCUniversal will bring to life and amplify the incredible stories of the athletes and the Games like never before,” said Jenny Storms, Chief Marketing Officer, Entertainment and Sports, NBCUniversal.

“It is a pleasure to once again work with NBCUniversal to share the Paralympic Games with American viewers, as there is no better global event for Toyota to reinforce our fervent belief that everyone is entitled to the freedom of movement in an inclusive society,” said Lisa Materazzo, group vice president, Toyota Marketing, Toyota Motor North America. “Paralympic athletes demonstrate that when a person is free to move, anything is possible.”

–TOKYO PARALYMPICS–

More Than 10 Primetime Hours of 2016 Paralympic Games Presented by Toyota Coverage to be Featured Monday-Wednesday, Beginning Nightly at 7 p.m. ET on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

Enhanced Broadcasts to Feature Athlete Interviews, Including Swimmer and Triathlete Brad Snyder, Triathlete Melissa Stockwell, Track & Field Athlete Roderick Townsend, Wheelchair Basketball Player Steve Serio and Alpine Skier Chris Young

Eight-Time Paralympic Medalist Oksana Masters to Make NBC News’ TODAY Appearance on Monday

NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico and Ahmed Fareed to Co-Host 2016 Paralympic Games Coverage

STAMFORD, Conn. – August 21, 2020 – NBC Sports will present more than 10 primetime hours of coverage of the 2016 Paralympic Games Presented by Toyota, with nightly programming beginning at 7 p.m. ET from Monday, August 24, through Wednesday, August 26, on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA. The programming will feature highlights from the 2016 Paralympic Games, where over 4,000 athletes from 159 countries competed, including 17-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden, five-time Paralympic gold medalist Brad Snyder, two-time Paralympic medalist Chuck Aoki and two-time Paralympic gold medalist Roderick Townsend.

Mike Tirico and Ahmed Fareed will co-host coverage of the 2016 Paralympic Games Presented by Toyota on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA. The enhanced broadcasts will feature athlete interviews, including swimmer and triathlete Brad Snyder, triathlete Melissa Stockwell, track & field athlete Roderick Townsend, wheelchair basketball player Steve Serio and alpine skier Chris Young.

Marking one year out from when the Tokyo Paralympics will commence, eight-time Paralympic medalist Oksana Masters will appear on NBC News’ TODAY on Monday, August 24, to look ahead to next year’s Games. In addition, 13-time Paralympic gold medalist Jessica Long and two-time Paralympic medalist Hunter Woodhall will participate in TikTok Lives in partnership with Team USA on Monday.

MONDAY, AUGUST 24 -WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26: 2016 PARALYMPIC GAMES PRESENTED BY TOYOTA

DATE	EVENT	TIME (ET)	NETWORK
Mon., Aug. 24	2016 Rio Paralympic Opening Ceremony	7 p.m.	Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
Tues., Aug. 25	Women’s Wheelchair Basketball: Gold Medal Game	7 p.m.	Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
	Best of Swimming	8:30 p.m.	Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
	Men’s Wheelchair Basketball: Gold Medal Game	9:30 p.m.	Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
Wed., Aug. 26	Women’s Sitting Volleyball: Gold Medal Match	7 p.m.	Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
	Best of Track & Field	8 p.m.	Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
	Wheelchair Rugby: Gold Medal Match	9 p.m.	Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

MONDAY, AUGUST 24

2016 RIO PARALYMPIC OPENING CEREMONY AT 7 P.M. ET

A 3.5-hour presentation of the Opening Ceremony held at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was a special occasion that marked the beginning of the first Paralympic Games to take place in Latin America.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25

WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL: GOLD MEDAL GAME AT 7 P.M. ET

After winning consecutive gold medals at the 2004 and 2008 Paralympics, the United States finished fourth in London. In Rio, the U.S. went undefeated after beating defending Paralympic gold medalists Germany in the final. Becca Murray led the way for the U.S. throughout the tournament and contributed a game-high 33 points in the gold medal game.

BEST OF SWIMMING AT 8:30 P.M. ET

In the pool in Rio, the U.S. won a total of 37 medals, including 14 gold medals. Brad Snyder won four medals, three of which were gold, and broke a 30-year-old world record in the men’s S11 100m freestyle.

The broadcast will feature insight from Snyder on his performance in Rio as well as why he chose to transition to triathlon in 2018.

MEN’S WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL: GOLD MEDAL GAME AT 9:30 P.M. ET

The U.S. men’s team ended a 28-year gold medal drought when they defeated Spain in the final to cap off an undefeated tournament. The U.S. outscored their opponents by a margin of 614 to 349 in Rio. It was the first time that Team USA won gold medals in both the women’s and men’s tournaments since 1988.

Co-captain Steve Serio will join the broadcast and discuss the 2016 Paralympics and look ahead to next summer’s Tokyo Paralympics.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26

WOMEN’S SITTING VOLLEYBALL: GOLD MEDAL MATCH AT 7 P.M. ET

On the penultimate night of competition, the U.S. and China faced off in the women’s sitting volleyball gold medal match for the third straight Games. After finishing runner-up in the first two matchups, the U.S. won the team’s first-ever gold medal in Rio. Captain Heather Erickson was named tournament MVP.

BEST OF TRACK & FIELD AT 8 P.M. ET

The only sport held on all 11 days of the 2016 Games, the U.S. team was led by Tatyana McFadden, who won six medals, including four gold medals.

During the broadcast, Ahmed Fareed will talk with Roderick Townsend, who won gold medals in the long jump and high jump in Rio.

WHEELCHAIR RUGBY: GOLD MEDAL MATCH AT 9 P.M. ET

The U.S. wheelchair rugby team clashed with Australia in the gold medal match. Led by Chuck Aoki, the U.S. narrowly lost to Australia in a thrilling double-overtime matchup to earn the silver medal.

–NBC SPORTS–