SoccerAmerica - NBC acquires EPL rights in 'perfect match' 10/29/2012

By Paul Kennedy

The English Premier League and NBC each has a lot to be happy about in the three-year deal they announced Sunday.

The deal, which begins with the 2013-14 season, calls for the EPL to receive $250 million -- more than three times what it received under the terms of its current deal with Fox -- and the primary network will be NBC Sports Network -- which is available in about twice as many homes as Fox Soccer.

NBC Sports Group chairman Mark Lazarus said the EPL-NBC deal was a "perfect match" and described the EPL as "on the cusp of exponential popularity growth here in the U.S."

He added the EPL will have "a set of assets that has unique affluent male appeal that's very attractive to advertisers and attractive to cable operators."

Plans call for NBC to air every match -- 380 during the course of the season -- live across a variety of platforms.

-- The backbone of the coverage will be on NBC, NBC Sports Network and NBCSports.com but other games might air on CNBC, MSNBC, Bravo or USA.

-- Games will also air in Spanish on Telemundo and mun2.

-- Games will be available on NBC Sports Live Extra (mobile and tablet users).

-- Remaining games will be available on-demand.

-- Coverage will also include pre- and post-game shows and weekly highlight and magazine shows.

“The NBC Sports Group has an excellent track record in sports broadcasting and will showcase the Barclays Premier League to fans across the USA through its extensive network of channels and high quality production,” said Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore in a statement. “We are extremely pleased that NBC has chosen to invest in the Premier League and look forward to working with them for many years to come.”
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4 comments

Steve Greene

commented on: October 29, 2012 at 9:32 a.m.

Uh oh "-- Remaining games will be available on-demand."

David V

commented on: October 29, 2012 at 10:34 a.m.

NBC always late to the party and wrong again... their channels are always filled with sub par content... After decades, when America is finally realizing the best league in the world is not in England (it's in Spain and is called LFP, or "La Liga" for short), BeIn Sport comes in and takes the top league, and NBC will be left holding the bag again. By the way, for all of you who don't understand, or aren't aware that La Liga is the best league in the world (I constantly hear that that only two good teams are in La Liga), as it has aptly been said, if Barcelona and Real Madrid were in the EPL, it would still be a two horse race. And Yes, Atletico de Madrid, from La Liga, are Europe's Champions, and they are going to play for Club World cup, not Chelsea. Wake up folks, those silly little british accents don't mean they are better... if you were in the first wave of Soccer taking over America (1970-1985) you understand this, you 2nd wavers (1994-present) are slowly coming around... don't be fooled by a brit accent, England doesn't win major tournaments, accept one time the squad got very lucky (1966), and England can thank Portugal for brutalizing Pele and knocking him out of that tournament.

David Sirias

commented on: October 29, 2012 at 11:55 a.m.

I am a big fan of La Liga as well, but to be derisive of NBC's acquisiiton is short sighted. The more high level soccer content easily available to the public (especially young people) the better--for fans and MLS. EPL coverage should transition well into MLS coverage, both physically and cross promotionally. Sure, NBC getting La Liga would have resulted in a better presentation of how good soccer should be played. But we remain a primary English speaking country and will have a natural predilection towards other english speeaking football nations. If anything, watching lots of Norwish v QPR will show the newbie amercan fan that MLS is not that bad by comparison. Remember the show biz analogy--any publicity is goood publicity. I'm certain that's how MLS views this move by NBC.

paul singh

commented on: October 29, 2012 at 11:11 p.m.

Sorry DavidV, you couldn't be more wrong. The EPL is the best league in the world for one reason, the battle at the bottom is just as good as the battle at the top. As evidence from last year, all 3 promoted teams missed the drop, unlike La Liga, the same 4-5 teams are relegated/promoted every year. If you think La Liga isn't between Barca and Real your kidding yourself. Look how many goals they scored last year more than double that of 3rd place. Yeah Barca and Real would breeze through the EPL, at home, but away to stoke, everton, teams who actually play defense? I think not. And Atletico aren't in the club world cup, just cuz they won the super cup (nothing to do with club world cup) doesnt mean they play in Japan. Chelsea are the champions of europe as much as it hurts me to say. Would love to see what NBC has in store for EPL, Fox Soccer's analysts are so boring and annoying. Can't wait for Champions League to go back to espn.

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