Sports Media News

Keeping Up With All The Industry Press Releases

NOTES AND QUOTES – SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER WINS THE 2023 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP ON NBC AND PEACOCK

By

“It was Tiger-esque…he cruised. He controlled the tournament.” – Paul McGinley on Scheffler on Live From The PLAYERS

“He doesn’t care about the other players on the golf course. He doesn’t care who’s playing with him…he just cares about controlling the controllables.” – Brad Faxon on Scheffler

“It was a no-doubter today once he got going.” – Paul Azinger on Scheffler

“This is just bubble golf. He’s playing golf in a bubble. Completely locked in.” – John Wood on Scheffler

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 12, 2023 – NBC Sports presented exclusive final round coverage of The PLAYERS Championship from The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on NBC and Peacock.

Scottie Scheffler (-17) won by five strokes, joining Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as the only players to simultaneously hold PLAYERS Championship and Masters titles.

Golf Central Live From The PLAYERS followed with post-round coverage on GOLF Channel and Peacock.

Mike Tirico hosted coverage while Dan Hicks handled play-by-play duties and Paul Azinger served as analyst. Curt Byrum and Brad Faxon called holes while John Wood, Notah Begay III and Smylie Kaufman served as on-course reporters. Damon Hack handled reports and interviews.

Rich Lerner, Brandel Chamblee and Paul McGinley anchored Live From The PLAYERS post-round coverage. Following are notes and quotes from today’s coverage.

 

PLAYERS Championship – Final Results

Player Total
Scottie Scheffler -17
Tyrrell Hatton -12
Tom Hoge -10
Viktor Hovland -10
Hideki Matsuyama -9

 

ON SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER (-17, Champion)

Paul Azinger: “The way he did it, the way he handled his nerves…what an impressive player that he’s turned out to be. It was a no-doubter today once he got going…we watched him lose that big lead at the Tour Championship and while we don’t root for anyone, it was nice to see him close it out.”

Paul McGinley on Live From: “At risk of using that term too much, it was Tiger-esque…you knew he had another gear. He cruised, he didn’t make mistakes…he controlled the tournament. A classic performance.”

Brandel Chamblee on Live From: “An incredible run that he is on…he’s won six of the last 27 events. He’s changed in ways that statistics can’t really bear out, but it is fun to watch.”

John Wood: “When Hatton made that charge and got in, it really felt like Scottie Scheffler got sharper. Sometimes you can’t help but react to who you’re playing with, but once Hatton got in, it felt like Scottie said, “Ok, now I know what I have to do.’”

Brad Faxon: “He doesn’t care about the other players on the golf course. He doesn’t care who’s playing with him…he just cares about controlling the controllables. I think the round he played with McIlroy at the Tour Championship, he learned he got a little out of sorts playing with Rory.”

Curt Byrum: “Tee to green, Scottie Scheffler has absolutely taken this field apart this week. He’s been so strong and he didn’t even really need his putter this week. It’s been okay, but nothing special.”

Wood following birdie on No. 12 to increase lead to six: “This is just bubble golf. He’s playing golf in a bubble. Completely locked in.”

Dan Hicks on Scheffler’s third birdie in a row on the 10th hole: “Just when you think he’s hearing some noise, he makes his own noise with three in a row.”

ON MIN WOO LEE (-8, T-8th)

Azinger on Lee hitting it in the water on No. 4: “That’s probably the worst wedge shot he’s hit in five years.”

Wood on Lee hitting it in the water on No. 4: “There’s nothing that drives a professional crazy more than making the smart play and then messing it up.”

Hicks following Lee’s drive left on 11: “He just has no confidence in the driver…this championship is spiraling away in a hurry and it came down to the driver. It’s got him in jail on 11.”

ON TYRRELL HATTON (-12, 2nd)

Azinger on Hatton shooting 29 on the back nine: “That’s some of the best pressure golf you will ever see.”

–NBC SPORTS–

NOTES AND QUOTES – THE 2023 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP ON NBC AND PEACOCK (THIRD ROUND)

By

“This will be the most fun walk of his life…look at the crowd. It’s like he hit a home run to win the game.” – Brad Faxon on Aaron Rai’s Hole-In-One on 17th Hole

“What we are seeing right now from Scottie Scheffler is just about as good as golf can get.” – Brandel Chamblee on Live From The PLAYERS

“You want to talk about swagger? This kid has got it.” – Notah Begay III on Min Woo Lee

“I might have a clear shot to actually go for it in two…I don’t see why not, we only live once.” – Ben Griffin During Live Walk-And-Talk Interview on 11th Hole with NBC Broadcast

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 11, 2023 – NBC Sports presented exclusive third round coverage of The PLAYERS Championship from The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on NBC and Peacock. Golf Central Live From The PLAYERS followed with post-round coverage.

Final round coverage on NBC and Peacock begins Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Pre-game coverage on Live From The PLAYERS begins at 9 a.m. ET on GOLF Channel and Peacock.

Mike Tirico hosted coverage while Dan Hicks handled play-by-play duties and Paul Azinger served as analyst. Curt Byrum and Brad Faxon called holes while John Wood, Notah Begay III and Smylie Kaufman served as on-course reporters. Damon Hack handled reports and interviews.

Live third round coverage included a live walk-and-talk interview with Ben Griffin as he played the par-5 11th hole.

Rich Lerner, Brandel Chamblee and Paul McGinley anchored Live From The PLAYERS post-round coverage. Following are notes and quotes from today’s coverage.

 

PLAYERS Championship – Third Round Leaderboard

Player Total
Scottie Scheffler -14
Min Woo Lee -12
Cam Davis -10
Tommy Fleetwood -9
Aaron Rai -9
Chad Ramey -9
Christiaan Bezuidenhout -9

 

ON THIRD ROUND SCORING CONDITIONS

Paul Azinger: “The course is ripe for the taking. The holes are cut in low spots, it’s kind of like 4th of July fireworks in March right now.”

Brandel Chamblee on Live From: “This was great theater. This is the stuff that sports fans love…it was a red letter day, a red number day…this is one of the days that the sports fans here will not soon forget.”

ON SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER (-14, Leader)

Chamblee on Live From: “A lot of back and forth over the past few months on who is the best player in the game – is it Rahm, is it McIlroy? We might walk out of here tomorrow with our answer and it could be Scottie Scheffler…what we are seeing right now from Scottie Scheffler is just about as good as golf can get.”

Paul McGinley on Live From: “We’ve seen a big improvement in his driving this year…the sereneness about how he plays. It’s going to take a lot to shake him tomorrow. That CV is building.”

ON MIN WOO LEE (-12, 2nd)

Azinger: “This guy is really letting it rip. In the commercial break, Notah Begay said to us, ‘I’m getting to watch a show today.’”

Notah Begay III: “You want to talk about swagger? This kid has got it. He’s playing with a lot of commitment and that’s a tough place to get to, everyone out here is trying to get there. When you find it, you’ve got to hold onto it as long as you can.”

Chamblee on Live From: “Explosive player. He’s got plenty of speed, but there’s more to him – he’s really got it all, he doesn’t have a weakness…he’s got every shot in the book.”

ON AARON RAI (-9, T-4th)

Brad Faxon on Rai’s hole-in-one on the 17th hole: “What a scene! You can’t watch these enough. A standing ovation for Aaron Rai…this will be the most fun walk of his life…look at the crowd. It’s like he hit a home run to win the game.”

Dan Hicks: “Fred Couples was the first to do it and he wore no gloves. Now we have ‘Two Gloves Rai.’”

ON BEN GRIFFIN (-6, T-14th)

Griffin to Hicks during his live interview while walking up the 11th hole: “You picked a good hole, I’ve played it +1 this week so far so hopefully I can learn something from you guys on how to play it…it looks like I might have a clear shot to actually go for it in two…I don’t see why not, we only live once.”

ON CHAD RAMEY (-9, T-4th)

Azinger: “You have to be impressed with Chad Ramey. After making a seven (on No. 17 in the second round), he’s still right there with a chance to win.”

–NBC SPORTS–

*PROGRAMMING ALERT* – NBC SPORTS’ COVERAGE OF THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP TO RESUME SATURDAY AT 7 A.M. ET ON GOLF CHANNEL AND PEACOCK

By

Play Was Suspended Due to Inclement Weather

Third Round Coverage Begins Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 10, 2023 – NBC Sports will resume second round coverage of The PLAYERS Championship on Saturday morning at 7 a.m. ET on GOLF Channel and Peacock. Play was suspended due to inclement weather.

Golf Central Live From The PLAYERS will air on GOLF Channel and Peacock following the completion of the second round.

Third round coverage from The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., will begin at 1 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

–NBC SPORTS–

NOTES AND QUOTES – THE 2023 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP ON GOLF CHANNEL AND PEACOCK (SECOND ROUND)

By

What is going on with Rory McIlroy? Pete Dye is smiling knowing he’s sabotaged one of the best players in the game.” – Paul Azinger

“No other hole like it — that can just take the wind out of your sails in a heartbeat and just totally turn the whole feel of the championship around.” – Dan Hicks on Chad Ramey’s quadruple bogey on No. 17

“The weather is going to be a big factor…the players that who didn’t have to finish today caught a break.” – Paul McGinley on Live From The PLAYERS

Second Round Suspended Due to Inclement Weather – Coverage Resumes Saturday at 7 a.m. ET on GOLF Channel and Peacock – Third Round Coverage Begins 1 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 10, 2023 – NBC Sports presented exclusive second round coverage of The PLAYERS Championship from The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on GOLF Channel and Peacock. Golf Central Live From The PLAYERS followed with post-round coverage. Play was suspended at 4:27 p.m. ET due to inclement weather.

Second round coverage will resume Saturday morning at 7 a.m. ET on GOLF Channel and Peacock. Third round coverage will begin at 1 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

Mike Tirico and Dan Hicks handled play-by-play duties, while Brad Faxon, Paul McGinley and Paul Azinger served as analysts. Curt Byrum, Steve Sands and Jimmy Roberts called holes and John Wood, Notah Begay III and Smylie Kaufman served as on-course reporters, while Damon Hack handled reports and interviews.

Rich Lerner, Brandel Chamblee and Paul McGinley anchored Live From The PLAYERS post-round coverage. Following are notes and quotes from today’s coverage.

PLAYERS Championship – Second Round Leaderboard

Player Total
Christiaan Bezuidenhout -8*
Adam Svensson -8*
Collin Morikawa -6*
Min Woo Lee -6*
Ben Griffin -6
Scottie Scheffler -5*
Taylor Pendrith -5*

*second round in progress

ON IMPACT OF JON RAHM’S WITHDRAWL DUE TO ILLNESS

Brad Faxon: “I think this puts Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler at a real disadvantage. Pace of play difference and having to wait.”

John Wood: “As a caddie, when I had found out that Jon Rahm had withdrawn, I would have jumped on the internet to find a few things to talk about today and really get my guy to try and walk slower. I would get some sports stories, whatever my guy was into, because you know you’re going to get into some long waits and long talks.”

ON WEATHER

Paul McGinley on Live From: “I think the weather is going to be a big factor. I think the players that who didn’t have to finish today caught a break. There’s a lot of rain coming…there’s going to be a bit of give in the ground in the morning which will make the course play easier…the wind is still going to come, but the softer conditions will bring the cut back to +1…we may lose the likes of Justin Thomas and Shane Lowry who are sitting on the cut line.”

ON RORY MCILROY (+6, T-112th)

Paul Azinger: “What is going on with Rory McIlroy? Pete Dye is smiling knowing he’s sabotaged one of the best players in the game.”

ON SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER (-5, T-6th)

McGinley on Live From: “He really looks the part. He’s composed, he’s easy, he goes about his business, he’s hitting it well tee-to-green…he’s putting not particularly well, but it’s not bad.”

ON JUSTIN THOMAS (+2, T-68th)

Smylie Kaufman: “What’s weird is that he’s actually hit more fairways than greens. Normally, if Justin is in the fairway, he’s going to be able to attack. It’s very unusual, especially from 84 yards, to see him miss the green. I never see him do that.”

ON CHAD RAMEY (-4, T-8th)

Dan Hicks on Chad Ramey’s quadruple bogey on the 17th hole after two shots in the water: “No other hole like it — that can just take the wind out of your sails in a heartbeat and just totally turn the whole feel of the championship around.”

Rich Lerner on Live From: “Welcome to the House of Horrors at 17.”

–NBC SPORTS–

NBC SPORTS SURROUNDS 2023 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP WITH COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE ACROSS NBC, PEACOCK AND GOLF CHANNEL

By

Comprehensive Coverage Begins Tonight at 7 p.m. ET With Golf Central Live From THE PLAYERS Alongside Iconic 17th Hole at TPC Sawgrass

Peacock Streams All Live Championship and Studio Coverage on NBC and GOLF Channel

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 6, 2023 – NBC Sports will surround the 2023 PLAYERS Championship with comprehensive live championships and studio coverage across NBC, Peacock and GOLF Channel from The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach., Fla., beginning tonight with Golf Central Live From THE PLAYERS at 7 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel and Peacock.

Live championship coverage on GOLF Channel and Peacock begins Thursday and Friday at Noon ET, with NBC and Peacock carrying exclusive live weekend coverage beginning both days at 1 p.m. ET.

All live championship and studio coverage airing on NBC and GOLF Channel will stream live on Peacock.

NBC, GOLF Channel & Peacock Broadcast Team

  • Host/Play by Play: Mike Tirico
  • Play by Play: Dan Hicks
  • Analyst: Paul Azinger / Brad Faxon / Paul McGinley
  • Tower: Curt Byrum / Brad Faxon / Steve Sands
  • On-Course: John Wood / Notah Begay III / Smylie Kaufman
  • Essays: Jimmy Roberts
  • Interview/Reports: Damon Hack

 

How To Watch – Thursday, March 9 – Sunday, March 12 (all times ET)

  • TV – NBC, GOLF Channel
  • Streaming – Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app

 

Day NBC/Peacock GOLF Channel/Peacock
Thursday Noon-6 p.m.
Friday Noon-6 p.m.
Saturday 1-6 p.m.
Sunday 1-6 p.m.

 

NBC Sports will utilize nearly 65 cameras around TPC Sawgrass to provide its more than 20 hours of live tournament coverage. Production elements and enhancements that viewers will see throughout this week’s coverage include:

 

  • A 25-foot-high JitaCam overlooking the 18th tee along with tracing technology, pushing along with tee shots as they are struck to provide an enhanced perspective on the flight of the ball;
  • A FlyCam that will run a span of 225 yards from the 16th green to the buildout behind the 17th hole to showcase the spectacle of the island green;
  • Bunker Cam inside the bunker of the 17th hole island green;
  • Atlas Cam – a depth-of-field camera to focus on specific players walking from shot to shot;
  • Live drone and fixed-wing airplane coverage from high atop TPC Sawgrass;
  • X-mo and super-slo-mo replays, as well as NBC Sports NBCeeIt zoom technology to make sure fans don’t miss a moment.

 

Studio coverage on GOLF Channel begins tonight at 7 p.m. ET with Golf Central Live From THE PLAYERS, followed by full-day coverage on Tuesday and Wednesday which begins at 9 a.m. ET. Sky Sports commentator and former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley joins the primetime Live From team this week at THE PLAYERS, working alongside host Rich Lerner and analyst Brandel Chamblee each night on GOLF Channel.

 

Live From THE PLAYERS Broadcast Team

 

  • Host: Rich Lerner / Cara Banks / Damon Hack / Anna Jackson / George Savaricas
  • Analyst: Brandel Chamblee / Paul McGinley / Mark Rolfing / Notah Begay III / Brad Faxon / Arron Oberholser
  • Reporter: Todd Lewis / Jamie Diaz / Damon Hack / Steve Burkowski / Eamon Lynch

 

Day Golf Central Live From THE PLAYERS
Monday 7-9 p.m.
Tuesday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. / 7-9 p.m.
Wednesday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. / 7-9 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m. – Noon / 6-8 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m. – Noon / 6-8 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. / 6-8 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. / 6-8 p.m.

 

This week’s Golf Central Live From THE PLAYERS studio coverage will be highlighted by a number of feature pieces, including:

 

  • An in-depth conversation with Brandel Chamblee and Columbia Business School professor Mark Broadie, the founder of the Strokes Gained statistic who has been dubbed “The Godfather of Golf Analytics.” Broadie takes Chamblee through the origins of the Strokes Gained statistic using the 4th and 11th holes at TPC Sawgrass to illustrate how it has changed the way in which players and fans view the game;
  • A story on Bandon Dunes caddie Alan “Juggy” Heyn, highlighted by a tribute from his fellow caddies and the amazing event that took place during a round at Bandon on Christmas Day this past year;
  • An ode to ‘The Sound of the Strike,” examining the impact of what we hear in the game of golf – whether it’s a crisp iron, a crushed drive, or the putt rattling to the bottom of the cup.

–NBC SPORTS–

NBC, PEACOCK AND GOLF CHANNEL PRESENT MORE THAN 500 HOURS OF LIVE PGA TOUR COVERAGE FOR SIX STRAIGHT WEEKS BEGINNING WITH THIS WEEK’S HONDA CLASSIC

By

More Than 500 Hours of Live PGA TOUR Tournament and Studio Coverage Across NBC, Peacock and GOLF Channel in Six-Week Span

Studio Coverage Highlighted by Golf Central Live From THE PLAYERS at TPC Sawgrass and On-Site at Arnold Palmer Invitational

Peacock to Stream Tournament and Golf Central Pre- and Post-Round Coverage Airing on NBC and GOLF Channel

Nearly 40 On-Air Commentators to Contribute to PGA TOUR Tournament and Studio Coverage During Next Six Weeks

STAMFORD, Conn. – Feb. 21, 2023 – NBC, Peacock and GOLF Channel will present more than 500 hours of live PGA TOUR tournament and studio coverage exclusively over the next six weeks – averaging more than 12 hours of coverage per day – as the TOUR makes its annual spring swing through Florida and Texas.

Peacock will stream all tournament coverage that airs on NBC and GOLF Channel and all Golf Central pre- and post-round coverage that airs on GOLF Channel.

Coverage kicks off this week at The Honda Classic at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and is punctuated by The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., from March 9-12.

NBC Sports will present coverage of eight PGA TOUR events in the six-week span, including the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill (March 2-5), the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort (March 16-19), the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club (March 22-26), and the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio (March 30-April 2).

Nearly 40 on-air commentators will contribute to NBC Sports’ PGA TOUR tournament and studio coverage over the next six weeks, headlined by host of the PLAYERS Championship Mike Tirico, NBC Sports’ lead golf broadcast booth of Dan Hicks (play-by-play) and Paul Azinger (analyst), holes announcers Curt Byrum and Brad Faxon, and on-course reporters John Wood, Notah Begay III, and Smylie Kaufman. Cara Banks and Damon Hack will conduct interviews. NBC Sports’ tournament production is led by 29-time Emmy Award-winning producer Tommy Roy, alongside co-producer Tom Randolph and director Joe Martin.

Coverage will feature a variety of production enhancements throughout the next six weeks, including:

  • Unique camera positions and locations, including drone cameras and a reverse JitaCam with tracer highlighting the treacherous tee shot on the 18th hole of the PLAYERS Championship;
  • Graphic and technological enhancements including putt-tracers, fairway targets, NBC Sports’ NBCeeIt zoom capabilities, wind gauges, and special wind measurement technology on the 17th hole of the PLAYERS Championship.

Golf Central will provide comprehensive pre- and post-round coverage on GOLF Channel and Peacock, including live on-site coverage from the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Golf Central Live From the PLAYERS Championship will present more than 50 hours of live coverage from TPC Sawgrass, headlined by the primetime broadcast team of host Rich Lerner and analysts Brandel Chamblee and Paul McGinley. More details surrounding NBC Sports’ coverage of The PLAYERS Championship will be released in the days leading into the event.

–NBC SPORTS–

 

ENGLAND V. USA IS SECOND-MOST WATCHED USA GROUP STAGE MATCH IN SPANISH-LANGUAGE HISTORY

By

Match Averages 4.6 Million Viewers, Up 33% vs. Monday’s USA v. Wales Game and Better Than 9 of 10 Most Recent USA Group Stage Matches

Telemundo Averaging 2.4 Million Viewers Through First Six Days, Up 14% vs. 2018

DOHA, QATAR – Nov. 27, 2022 – Friday night’s England v. USA match averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 4.6 million viewers across Telemundo, Peacock and Telemundo streaming platforms, making it the second-most watched World Cup Group Stage match featuring a U.S. team in Spanish-language history. Telemundo is the exclusive Spanish-language media rights holder to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ in the U.S.

Through six days, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ is averaging a TAD of 2.4 million viewers for 20 games, up 14% vs. the 2018 tournament (2.1 million), which took place in Russia in the summer.

The 4.6 million viewers for the 0-0 tie between England and USA — played at 2 p.m. ET on Friday — was up 33% compared to the USA’s first match vs. Wales (3.5 million) on Monday and surpassed nine of the 10 most recent Group Stage matches played by the U.S. team. For the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cups, the only match with higher viewership than Friday night’s match was on June 22, 2014, when the USA tied Portugal 2-2 at FIFA World Cup Brazil. This year’s World Cup is the first to take place in the fall in order to offset Qatar’s extreme summer heat. The USA did not qualify for the tournament in 2018.

England v. USA is now the second-most watched match of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™in Spanish, trailing only Thursday’s Brazil v. Serbia game (5.7 million) played on Thanksgiving afternoon.

The match was also Telemundo’s third-most streamed match of the tournament, averaging an Average Minute Audience (AMA) of 1.27 million viewers on Peacock and Telemundo streaming platforms. England v. USA trails only Thursday’s Brazil v. Serbia match (1.31 million) and Tuesday’s Mexico v. Poland game (1.35 million), which is the most-streamed World Cup game in history, regardless of language.

The streaming success has driven Peacock to the No. 1 spot on the App Store for free iOS apps every day since the tournament began, with the Telemundo Deportes app often breaking into the Top 5.

During the England v. USA match window (1:30-4:00 pm ET), Telemundo ranked as the No. 1 Spanish-language network in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Phoenix,  San Francisco, Orlando, Sacramento, Tampa, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C, Boston and Atlanta.

Viewership figures are based on data from Nielsen and Adobe Analytics. Telemundo is the exclusive Spanish-language media rights holder to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ in the U.S.

—TELEMUNDO DEPORTES—

About NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises: 

NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises leads the media industry in the production and distribution of Spanish-language content for U.S. Hispanics and audiences around the world. The company serves the full spectrum of U.S. Hispanics through its national broadcast network, the cable network Universo, and digital platforms including the Telemundo app and streaming services, such as Peacock, among others. The Telemundo Network offers Spanish-language entertainment, news, and sports content reaching 93% of U.S. Hispanic TV households in 210 markets through 30 owned stations and 56 affiliate stations. Telemundo also owns an independent station serving Puerto Rico. Telemundo is the exclusive U.S. Spanish-language home of the world’s two most popular sporting events, the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games, as well as the Premier League and Mexican soccer team Chivas. The #1 producer of scripted Spanish-language content in the U.S., Telemundo Global Studios includes Telemundo Television Studios, Telemundo Streaming Studios, and Underground Producciones. Telemundo’s new Tplus content brand will launch on Peacock later this year, featuring programming developed for the full spectrum of Hispanics. NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises is a division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

NBCUNIVERSAL’S PEACOCK TO PRESENT FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND NIL OPPORTUNITY AS PART OF MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL GAME BETWEEN BAYLOR UNIVERSITY AND GONZAGA UNIVERSITY IN INAUGURAL ‘PEACOCK CLASSIC’

By

“Peacock Classic” – a Rematch of the 2021 NCAA National Championship Game – to Stream Live Exclusively on Peacock Friday, December 2nd at 8 p.m. ET from the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

In Conjunction with NBC Sports Athlete Direct, Student-Athletes on the Gonzaga and Baylor Men’s Basketball Teams to Have Equal NIL Opportunity to Collaborate with the Event Sponsors

Nov. 16, 2022 (New York, NY) — The inaugural ‘Peacock Classic’ men’s college basketball game featuring a 2021 National Championship rematch between Baylor University and Gonzaga University will be presented live exclusively on Peacock at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 2, from the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Sanford Sports, in collaboration with Complete Sports Management and Range Media Partners, are partnering with NBCUniversal to present the debut event.

In this landmark deal, participating student-athletes from the Baylor and Gonzaga men’s basketball teams will have the opportunity to partner with the event’s sponsors through name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals facilitated by NBC Sports Athlete Direct. The announcement was made today by Complete Sports Management’s Lea Miller and Range Sports president, Will Funk.

Produced by NBC Sports and presented live exclusively on Peacock, the game marks the first time the two schools will meet since the 2021 National Championship Game, where Baylor defeated Gonzaga, 86-70, marking the Bears’ first-ever NCAA men’s basketball title.

NBC Sports Athlete Direct, a NIL community connecting student-athletes, advertisers and fans, will facilitate all aspects of these groundbreaking NIL deals, marking the first time participating student-athletes will have the opportunity to partner with the sponsors of a game they are playing in and be paid the same rate. Each member of the Baylor and Gonzaga men’s basketball teams who opts-in to the campaign and is eligible to participate via NBC Sports Athlete Direct will promote the sponsors via their personal social media channels. Sanford Sports, with Complete Sports Management, will serve as the event organizers, with Range Media Partners handling TV distribution and commercial partnerships.

“Presenting and sponsoring the first-ever ‘Peacock Classic’ is a historic moment for Peacock, providing fans with a must-see matchup featuring two of college basketball’s premier programs,” said Rick Cordella, President, Programming, NBC Sports, Peacock Sports. “In conjunction with NBC Sports Athlete Direct, we’re excited to offer an innovative NIL opportunity that benefits Gonzaga and Baylor student-athletes.”

Funk said, “Our goal is to create the most visible platform for student-athletes and provide them the best opportunities to showcase their skills and build their brands.  With this event, we want to play a key role in the evolution of collegiate athletics by ensuring that the student-athletes, are given opportunities to monetize their name, image, and likeness.”

“Complete Sports Management is proud to partner with Sanford Sports, Range Media and NBCUniversal’s Peacock on this exciting new endeavor,” said Lea Miller-Tooley, President of CSM. “This is unique in the college basketball space, and we are proud to be at the forefront of it.”

“For the past several years, the Sanford Pentagon has become a destination for division I teams,” said Jesse Smith, vice president of Sanford Sports. “We are thrilled to have Baylor and Gonzaga tip-off on our court. Tickets for this game sold out in the first five minutes they were available to the public, so I guarantee the fanbase will be loud and it will just all around be great basketball played in a memorable atmosphere.”

About Range Sports

Range Sports, part of brand marketing, talent representation and cultural capital firm Range Media Partners works synergistically across Range’s existing departments to produce live and on-demand original sports programming, manage and advise best in class sports talent, properties and IP, and invest in the future of sports content and distribution. Range Sports, in collaboration with Range Media Partners’ Unscripted and Scripted entertainment departments, develops nonfiction projects, documentaries, and real-time series about the most compelling sports moments, stories, teams and athletes. Range Sports also advises properties for media rights sales, corporate/brand partnerships and consults for brands with regards to sports strategy and investment.

About Complete Sports Management

Complete Sports Management is an all-encompassing sports marketing agency whose core capabilities include the creation of sporting events, event management, sponsorship, hospitality packages and ticket promotions. A global brand; but, with a personal touch, Complete Sports Management is responsible for the creation of top-tier sporting events such as the Battle 4 Atlantis Basketball Tournament and College Football’s first ever International FBS Bowl Game, The Bahamas Bowl.

In addition to annual events such as the Battle 4 Atlantis and The Bahamas Bowl, Complete Sports Management runs some of the most prestigious Collegiate Basketball and Football Foreign Tours all over the world. While the company’s specialty is considered to be the Islands of the Bahamas, CSM can be seen in different countries on every continent annually.

About Peacock

In addition to the ‘Peacock Classic,’ Peacock’s expansive programming features live sports coverage including Sunday Night Football, Premier League, MLB Sunday Leadoff, NASCAR, INDYCAR, Notre Dame Football, golf, Olympic sports, horse racing, and much more. Peacock also offers daily sports programming on the NBC Sports channel which streams Peacock Original Brother from Another and staples like The Dan Patrick Show and Pro Football Talk Live. Click here to learn more and to sign up.

 

About Sanford Sports

Sanford Sports is the modern athletics arm of Sanford Health, the premier rural health system in the United States. Rooted in science and health care, Sanford Sports offers a combination of programs, services, events, facilities and partnerships intended to make active lifestyles accessible and rewarding for people of all ages and abilities.

Based on the 500-acre Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Sanford Sports has been changing the way athletes play for 25 years. With operations in four states, more than one million athletes use Sanford Sports facilities each year. Visit sanfordsports.com for more information.

 

# # #

PEACOCK TACKLES 2022 NFL SEASON WITH EXCLUSIVE SUNDAY COVERAGE FEATURING DEBUT OF “FANTASY FOOTBALL PREGAME WITH MATTHEW BERRY” & RETURN OF “PEACOCK SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FINAL”

By

Fantasy Football Pregame, Co-Hosted by Berry and Michael Smith, Kicks Off Each Sunday at 11 a.m. ET Exclusively on Peacock, Featuring Latest Fantasy News and Advice

Exclusive Peacock Sunday Night Football Final Postgame Show Returns for its Second Season Following Each SNF Game; Hosted by Kathryn Tappen and Chris Simms

Peacock Continues to Livestream NBC Sunday Night Football & Football Night in America Throughout 2022 NFL Season

Peacock Offers Daily Weekday NFL Programming on the NBC Sports Channel, Including Pro Football Talk, The Dan Patrick Show, Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry, Brother From Another, and More

STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 6, 2022 – Beginning with the first Sunday of the NFL season this weekend (Sept. 11), Peacock will exclusively bookend NFL coverage every Sunday with the debut of Fantasy Football Pregame with Matthew Berry at 11 a.m. ET and the return of its exclusive postgame show, Peacock Sunday Night Football Final.

Fantasy Football Pregame, featuring co-hosts Matthew Berry and Michael Smith, will stream live exclusively on Peacock from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET each Sunday throughout the NFL season, providing the latest fantasy football news and advice to help viewers set their lineup before the early games kickoff just after 1 p.m. ET.

The show will also feature Jay Croucher, who co-hosts the daily “Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry” program on Peacock (Monday-Friday, Noon ET) and will provide sports betting advice. Additionally, Rotoworld analysts Patrick ‘RotoPat’ Daugherty, Denny Carter, and more will join the show as regular guests. Berry, the celebrated fantasy football commentator and industry pioneer, made his NBC Sports debut earlier this month on a special Football Night in America ahead of the 2022 Hall of Fame Game on NBC and Peacock. Smith is also the co-host of Peacock original Brother from Another.

This season also marks the return of Peacock’s exclusive postgame show, Peacock Sunday Night Football Final, following each Sunday Night Football game. Peacock Sunday Night Football Final, which debuted last season, provides instant reactions to each Sunday game along with highlights and interviews. Returning as co-hosts are NBC Sports’ Kathryn Tappen and Chris Simms.

Football Night in America commentators Jac Collinsworth and Rodney Harrison will also provide recaps and insights into the day’s biggest moments from the site of each week’s SNF game, and Mike Florio will provide injury and news updates. Berry will also join the show to provide advice and an early look at the fantasy waiver wire. Smith will offer his NFL ‘take of the day.’

On Sundays throughout the NFL season, Peacock will continue to livestream every NBC Sunday Night Football game, primetime television’s No. 1 program for an unprecedented 11 consecutive years, and Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports.

On the opening Sunday of the NFL season on Sept. 11, FNIA begins at 7 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock leading into Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visiting Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys on SNF.

Peacock’s Sunday NFL coverage schedule (beginning Week 1):

Time Show
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Fantasy Football Pregame
7 p.m. Football Night in America*
8:20 p.m. Sunday Night Football*
Immediately following SNF Peacock Sunday Night Football Final
*Live NBC simulstream

 

Peacock also offers daily weekday NFL coverage on the NBC Sports channel, including Pro Football Talk at 7 a.m. ET, The Dan Patrick Show at 9 a.m. ET, Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry at Noon ET, Brother from Another at 3 p.m. ET, plus Chris Simms Unbuttoned on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and the weekly The Peter King Podcast. To learn more about the NBC Sports on Peacock channel and how to sign up, click here.

In addition to the NFL, Peacock’s expansive programming features live sports coverage including, Premier League, Notre Dame Football, MLB Sunday Leadoff, golf, INDYCAR, Olympic sports, horse racing, and much more.

2022 NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
     
Thurs. Sept. 8 NFL Kickoff  Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams
Sun. Sept. 11 Week 1   Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys
Sun. Sept. 18 Week 2   Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
Sun. Sept. 25 Week 3   San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos
Sun. Oct. 2 Week 4 Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
*Sun. Oct. 9 Week 5   Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
*Sun. Oct. 16 Week 6 Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
*Sun. Oct. 23 Week 7 Pittsburgh Steelers at Miami Dolphins
*Sun. Oct. 30 Week 8 Green Bay Packers at Buffalo Bills
*Sun. Nov. 6 Week 9 Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs
*Sun. Nov. 13 Week 10 Los Angeles Chargers at San Francisco 49ers
*Sun. Nov. 20 Week 11  Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
**Thurs. Nov. 24 Week 12 New England Patriots at Minnesota Vikings
*Sun. Nov. 27 Week 12 Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles
*Sun. Dec. 4 Week 13 Indianapolis Colts at Dallas Cowboys
*Sun. Dec. 11 Week 14 Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos
*Sun. Dec. 18 Week 15 New England Patriots at Las Vegas Raiders
Sun. Dec. 25 Week 16 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Arizona Cardinals
*Sun. Jan. 1 Week 17 Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers
*Sun. Jan. 8 Week 18 TBD

 

*Flex Week

**Thanksgiving Night Game

 

–NBC SPORTS–

150TH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP AT ST. ANDREWS IS SECOND MOST-WATCHED OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP IN NEARLY A DECADE

By

Total Audience Delivery of 2.516 Million Viewers Across NBC, USA Network and Peacock – Up 16% vs. 2021, Up 27% vs. 2019

Viewership Up 8% vs. 2015, Last Time Open Championship Was Held at St. Andrews

Final Round Total Audience Delivery of 4.725 Million Viewers on NBC and Peacock – Up 12% vs. 2021 – Peak of More Than 7.1 Million Viewers

Led By Peacock, 150th Open Championship is Most-Streamed Golf Event in NBC Sports History

All Four Rounds Were Most-Watched Sports Events of Their Respective Days

STAMFORD, Conn. – July 19, 2022 – NBC Sports comprehensive coverage of the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews across NBC, USA Network and Peacock delivered the second most-watched Open Championship in nearly a decade, averaging a Total Audience Delivery of 2.516 million viewers to make it the second most-watched Open Championship since 2013.

Overall viewership for the 150th Open Championship was up 16% vs. 2021 (2.174 million TAD) and up 27% vs. 2019 (1.983 million TAD).

Sunday’s final round coverage on NBC (9 a.m. – 1:48 p.m. ET) averaged a TAD of 4.725 million viewers – up 12% vs. last year’s final round (4.207 million TAD) – and peaked with more than 7.1 million viewers from 1:30-1:45 p.m. ET, as Cameron Smith completed his come-from-behind victory.

This year’s Open Championship viewership was also up 8% vs. 2015, the last time the event was held at St. Andrews (2.329 million TV-only viewers on ESPN).

Additional viewership highlights from NBC Sports’ 150th Open Championship coverage:

  • Led by Peacock, the 150th Open Championship is the most-streamed golf event in NBC Sports history, totaling 262 million minutes for all four rounds, surpassing 244 million minutes for this year’s U.S. Open and up 95% vs. last year’s Open Championship;

 

  • Saturday’s third-round coverage (9 a.m. – 3:28 p.m. ET) delivered a TAD of 3.426 million viewers across NBC and Peacock – up 14% from last year’s third round coverage (3.018 million TAD);

 

  • All four rounds of the Open Championship were the most-watched sports events of their respective days;

 

  • Live From The Open coverage on GOLF Channel averaged 152,000 to equal last year’s mark as the most-watched Live From The Open since 2017.

 

Total Audience Delivery is based upon live-plus-same day figures from Nielsen and digital data from Adobe Analytics.

 

TOP METERED MARKETS FOR 150th OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP (Final Round)

1. Ft. Myers-Naples 7.2/23
2. West Palm Beach 4.8/16
T3. Dayton 4.6/14
T3. Detroit 4.6/19
5. Richmond 4.3/16
T6. Buffalo 4.2/16
T6. Cincinnati 4.2/16
T6. Greenville 4.2/16
T9. Boston 4.0/19
T9. Louisville 4.0/14
T9. Columbus, OH 4.0/16

 

–NBC SPORTS–