NBC To Air Kentucky Derby Through 2025

NBC Sports Group has reached an agreement with Churchill Downs Incorporated giving the network exclusive rights to broadcast the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks through 2025. This 10-year renewal extends the partnership that began in 2001. 
    “We are excited to extend our partnership with Churchill Downs for both the iconic Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby and are proud to have them as signature elements of our Championship Season,” said NBC Sports Group Chairman Mark Lazarus. “This decade-long deal is a testament to the strength of the relationship between Churchill Downs Incorporated and NBC Sports, and underscores NBC’s commitment to the sport of horse racing. We will continue to utilize the wide-ranging media platforms of NBCUniversal to surround the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby with wall-to-wall coverage and extensive promotion.” 
    Three of the last five Kentucky Derbies have recorded at least 16 million viewers on NBC. 
    “This agreement extends our relationship with NBC to 25 years and includes what will be a very special historical moment, the 150th Kentucky Derby in 2024,” said Churchill Downs Chairman and CEO Bob Evans. “We will not only achieve our financial objectives with this deal, but we will also continue to benefit from NBC’s unique media assets and innovative perspective to help us continue to grow the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby brands.”