Enthusiasm for USA Track and Field typically spikes around the Olympics when events typically get prime time coverage. Fans also get a chance to learn who the top runners are and build anticipation for the Games with the Olympic Trials are televised. But if more top track events are broadcast, interest in the sport could become a year-round occurrence.
NBC and USA Track and Field announced a new eight-year deal on Thursday that gives the network exclusive media rights to live competitions through 2024, in addition to its coverage of the Olympics Trials and Games in 2020 and 2024. Beginning in 2017, NBC will televise at least 18 hours of USA Track and Field events, including national championships and the Nike Prefontaine Classic. with eight of those hours to be shown on the main NBC broadcast network. USATF events will also receive coverage on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app, some of which will be produced exclusively for digital programming.
According to the Associated Press’ Eddie Pells, the agreement significantly reduces USATF’s annual operating costs. Most Olympics sports pay production costs for broadcast and cable networks in return for air time.
The eight-year agreement is the longest ever reached between USATF and NBC. The network has U.S. broadcast rights to the Olympic Games through 2032.
“This historic eight-year agreement is a tribute to the longstanding success of American track & field athletes, who earned 32 medals and 13 golds in Rio,” said NBC Olympics president Gary Zenkel in the official announcement. “We look forward to helping build more stars through the next eight years in the lead up to both Tokyo 2020 and the 2024 Games.”
In addition to live competitions, NBC will also broadcast USA Track and Field’s Black Tie & Sneakers Gala, the sport’s annual red-carpet awards function that includes the USATF National Track & Field Hall of Fame Induction ceremony.
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