The
Breeders’ Cup and the NBC Sports Group today announced a multi-year
media rights partnership beginning with the 2012 Breeders’ Cup World
Championships, November 2-3, from Santa Anita Park, featuring the
first-ever running of the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic in
primetime. The agreement was announced by Craig Fravel, Breeders’ Cup
Limited President and CEO, and Jon Miller, President of Programming, NBC
Sports and NBC Sports Network.
NBC
and NBC Sports Network will combine to present 9 ½ hours of live
coverage of the 2012 Breeders’ Cup from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia,
Calif., including live primetime coverage of the Breeders’ Cup Classic
on NBC on Saturday, Nov. 3 (8-9 p.m. ET). This marks the first time in
its history that the Classic is broadcast live in primetime. The
Breeders’ Cup returns to NBC where it was broadcast from its inception
in 1984 through 2005. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.
“Everyone
here is delighted that the Breeders’ Cup has returned home,” said Jon
Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network.
“Bringing back this prestigious event, combined with our long-term
partnerships for the Triple Crown with Churchill Downs for the Kentucky
Derby, in addition to the Preakness and Belmont cements the NBC Sports
Group as the home of horse racing.”
The
Breeders’ Cup, Thoroughbred racing’s most prestigious global racing
event, consists of 15 races held over two-days with over $25 million in
purses at stake. The culminating event of the Breeders’ Cup, the
Breeders’ Cup Classic, is contested at 1 ¼ miles on the main track, for
3-year-olds and older, and is often the determining race for the coveted
Horse of the Year title. Over the years, 11 Classic winners have been
voted Horse of the Year. In 2009 at Santa Anita Park, the great
racemare Zenyatta became the first female to ever win the Classic.
“We
are extremely excited to begin our new relationship with NBC and the
NBC Sports Group in televising the Breeders’ Cup World Championships as
the finale to its expanded commitment to Thoroughbred racing,” said
Craig Fravel, President and CEO of Breeders’ Cup Ltd. “In addition to
fans enjoying the best in international competition over the two days of
the Championships on NBC Sports Network, we look forward to NBC
showcasing the Breeders’ Cup Classic in primetime.”
2012 BREEDERS’ CUP TELEVISION SCHEDULE:
All Times Live, ET
Friday, November 2 4-8 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Saturday, November 3 3:30-8 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Saturday, November 3 8-9 p.m. NBC