NBC Sports secures U.S. media rights for rowing championships

NBC Sports Group and the World Rowing Federation, FISA, announced earlier this week a partnership for the exclusive U.S. media rights for the 2017 World Rowing Championships.

The partnership means the NBC Sports Group will present more than 10 hours of coverage of the event, beginning Sept. 28. The championships are scheduled to take place at Nathan Benderson Park from Sept. 24 through Oct. 1.

“The opportunity to stage our premier event, the World Rowing Championships, in the United States is a huge benefit for our sport as we see the ongoing growth of rowing in the nation,” said Jean-Christophe Rolland, the FISA president. “This partnership with NBC Sports Group recognizes the demand for rowing coverage in the U.S., and World Rowing completely supports the initiative.”

The NBC Sports anticipates using NBCSN, The Olympic Channel, NBCSports.com, the NBC sports app and possibly other platforms to provide more comprehensive U.S. coverage to the championships than ever before. In addition to the two television networks, coverage will include simultaneous streams on desktops, mobile devices, tablets and connected TVs.

“Rowing fans can cheer in unison now that we are presenting one of the sports’ premier events, and our most extensive coverage since the 2016 Rio Olympics,” said Jim Bell, president, NBC Olympics Production and Programming. “As an Olympic sport since the 1900 Summer Games in Paris, we are always thrilled to showcase the stamina, strength and harmony that these world class athletes display every time they race.”

Headlining the U.S. team will be the women’s eight, which is looking to win its 12th straight world or Olympic title. The Americans’ flagship boat has won every major event since 2006.

This story was originally published June 8, 2017 at 6:16 PM with the headline "NBC Sports secures U.S. media rights for rowing championships."