The organizers of America’s Cup, which is bringing the next iteration of its competition to Bermuda, have announced that they have selected NBC Sports Group as its partner for the upcoming event, including the America’s Cup World Series events [2015-16], and the America’s Cup Qualifiers, Playoffs and America’s Cup Finals [2017].
The oldest international trophy in world sport, the first America’s Cup race was organised by the Royal Yacht Squadron in 1851 and the prize was a silver Cup that was valued at 100 pounds sterling. The race was won by a syndicate from the New York Yacht Club.
The trophy was renamed the America’s Cup after the winning yacht and was donated to the New York Yacht Club under the terms of the Deed of Gift which made the Cup available for perpetual international competition.
“We are delighted to announce this agreement with NBC Sports Group,” said Harvey Schiller, the Commercial Commissioner of the America’s Cup.
“This is a great deal for the America’s Cup, our teams and our partners. NBC Sports Group’s continued interest reflects the growing popularity, as well as potential additional growth, of the America’s Cup as a major television sport.”
The announcement said, “NBC and NBCSN were the US television home for the last America’s Cup, in which Oracle Team USA staged one of the greatest comebacks in sport to retain the trophy for the United States.
“The television coverage was widely acclaimed and saw the development of the Emmy Award-winning on screen graphics package, AC LiveLine, which enhanced the viewing experience by making the sport more engaging and more easily understood, especially for new fans.
“We are excited to once again showcase the best sailing in the world to a national audience,” said Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC and NBCSN.
“The 2013 America’s Cup served as the setting for one of the greatest comebacks in recent sports history, and we will again leverage the full collection of broadcast, cable and online platforms of the NBC Sports Group to present the race for the oldest trophy in international sports.”
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Highlights of the agreement between NBC Sports Group and the America’s Cup include live coverage on NBC on both weekends of the America’s Cup Finals 2017, extensive live coverage of the America’s Cup Playoffs [and additional America’s Cup Finals racing] on NBC and NBCSN, coverage of all America’s Cup World Series events in 2015 and 2016 on NBCSN, and live-streaming of all NBC and NBCSN telecasts on NBC Sports Live Extra.
“It’s encouraging to have a partner like NBC who is highly motivated to return and help build and promote the event and increase the profile of our athletes and our teams. I have no doubt that over the next three years we will touch more viewers, in more ways, through the reach of NBC Sports Group’s platforms.” Schiller concluded.
The defending champion of the America’s Cup is Oracle Team USA, which won the last event with a spectacular comeback over Emirates Team New Zealand, who will return as a challenger, along with Artemis Racing from Sweden, Ben Ainslie Racing from England, Luna Rossa Challenge from Italy and Team France.
In 2017, all teams will compete in their new AC62 catamarans, powered by highly-efficient wingsails and designed to fly above the water on foils at speeds near 50 mph.
Competition in the next America’s Cup begins in June 2015, with the first event of the America’s Cup World Series, in Cagliari, Italy, to take place on June 6-7.
To learn more about the upcoming America’s Cup 2017 in Bermuda, click here.
