15 May 2018

NBC Sports Group partners with World Rowing Federation, FISA, on an exclusive three-year U.S. media right deal for premier events, the Worldrowing.com website announced yesterday. The content includes World Rowing Cup, European Rowing Championships and World Rowing Championships through 2020. In a press release, FISA writes:

NBC Sports Group and the World Rowing Federation, FISA, have partnered on an exclusive, three-year U.S. media rights agreement for coverage of the three World Rowing Cup regattas, the European Rowing Championships, and the World Rowing Championships through 2020.

NBC Sports Group will present 30 hours of television coverage of the events across NBCSN and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA.

NBCSN coverage also will be streamed via authentication on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA content will be streamed via authentication on NBCSports.com, OlympicChannel.com, the NBC Sports app and the Olympic Channel app.

‘World Rowing is very pleased to announce this step-up of the relationship with the world’s leading Olympic movement broadcaster NBC Sports Group,’ said Matt Smith, FISA Executive Director. ‘There is more viewing interest than ever before in the United States from the growing number of rowers in the country at all levels from high school rowers through to masters rowers and, of course, the tremendous growth in the number of collegiate rowers. This new development will bring the major events of rowing to the living rooms of many, many more potential viewers.’

‘By extending the relationship with NBC Sports Group through the 2020 Olympics, we have the opportunity to showcase our team and athletes to a national audience and to broaden our visibility through our Olympic partners’ multiple platforms, said Patrick McNerney, CEO USRowing.

Coverage kicks off with the first of three World Rowing Cup regattas beginning on 3 June and continues with the European Rowing Championships in August, before wrapping up with the World Rowing Championships in September.

‘Rowing fans are some of the most passionate out there, and we’re proud to bring them our most extensive coverage of the sport’s most prestigious events, said Jim Bell, president, NBC Olympics Production and Programming. ‘We’re thrilled to give these world-class athletes more exposure as we look forward to Tokyo 2020.’

Headlining the U.S. team at the World Rowing Championships will be the women’s eight, which had an unprecedented winning streak that went from 2006 through to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The Americans’ flagship boat won every major event since 2006 and claimed Olympic gold in Rio. The U.S. roster will be confirmed later this summer.

The NBC Sports app is available on Apple iOS, Android and select Samsung devices, as well as on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Win10, and Xbox. Fans can enter their zip code here to find NBCSN and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA in their area.