FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 1st, 2014

NBCUNIVERSAL SURROUNDS THE KENTUCKY DERBY

TODAY Show Segments Live from Churchill Downs Friday and Saturday

The Weather Channel & CNBC Live from Churchill Downs on Friday

Features and Segments from NBCUniversal Properties Including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, E!, CNBC, America’s Got Talent, 1st Look and More

NEW YORK – May 1, 2014 – NBC Sports Group presents 15.5 hours of Kentucky Derby coverage, a record for the event, continuing today, Thursday, May 1 at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN, and culminating with the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby on NBC, Saturday, May 3. Coverage begins on Saturday at Noon on NBCSN and continues at 4 p.m. ET on NBC.

NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage, which has been honored with the Eclipse Award in the Television-Live Programming category for the past two years, includes 7.5 hours on Derby Day on NBC and NBCSN.

A host of NBCUniversal properties will participate in NBC Sports’ ‘Big Event Strategy,’ focusing on the food, fashion, celebrity and entertainment spectacle that is the Kentucky Derby.

Below is a summary of the NBCU properties that are supporting the Kentucky Derby:

TODAY: TODAY’s Al Roker reports live from Churchill Downs on Friday and interviews NBC Sports Group’s Kentucky Derby commentators including fashion experts Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski on selecting the perfect Derby hat, and reporter Donna Brothers onjockey technique.

WEEKEND TODAY: Weekend TODAY anchor Dylan Dreyer reports live from Churchill Downs Saturday morning on topics ranging from Derby fashion to track conditions.

TODAY WITH KATHIE LEE AND HODA:  For the fifth year in a row, TODAY’s Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb hosted a Kentucky Derby trip giveaway contest for the fan that created the most interesting Derby hat, and NBC Sports Group’s Carolyn Manno, making her Kentucky Derby debut, joined the ladies for Derby Trivia. On Friday, Kathie Lee and Hoda’s “drink of choice” will be the mint julep in a nod to the Derby’s traditional beverage.

THE WEATHER CHANNEL: During Wake up With Al on Friday morning, Roker and Stephanie Abrams report live from Churchill Downs on the latest conditions, while Sam Champion will be on site Friday during AMHQ with Sam Champion with segments including an interview with Josh Elliott, who makes his NBC Sports debut this weekend.

CNBC: Friday’s Squawk on the Street features an interview with Brown-Forman Master Distiller Chris Morris on the Derby’s $1,000 mint julep; and Friday’s Fast Money Halftime Report features Churchill Downs CEO Bob Evans as a guest.

E!:  E! News features a look back at Derby fashion throughout time, and has a first-look at this year’s Derby fashion from the red carpet on Saturday, interviewing celebrity attendees. In addition, E! Online will update photo galleries with pictures of some of Derby Day’s best looks on Saturday.

THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLONSpecial Kentucky Derby content from Jimmy Fallon will air this weekend, including Fallon’s pick for the winning horse.

LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS:  Seth Meyers and Fred Armisen provided their Derby picks to be revealed during NBC’s Kentucky Derby broadcast on Saturday.

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT: The judges ofAmerica’s Got Talent offered their horse picks to be included in NBC’s Kentucky Derby broadcast on Saturday.

DAN PATRICK SHOWElliott joined Dan Patrick and the ‘Danettes’ on Tuesday’s Dan Patrick Show to discuss his NBC Sports Group debut at the Kentucky Derby.

SPORTSDASH WITH YAHOO! SPORTS: On Friday,SportsDash with Yahoo! Sports features an interview with Pat Forde, national columnist for Yahoo! Sports on site in Louisville.

NBC AFFILIATES & NBC SPORTS REGIONAL NETWORKS: Three Kentucky Derby segmentshosted by Manno on quintessential Derby drinks, attire and decorations air throughout the week on NBC Affiliates and NBC Sports Regional Networks across the country. These features can also be seen online on NBCSports.com and Yahoo! Sports.

NBC OWNED TELEVISION STATIONS’ LX.TV: 1st Look follows host Audrina Patridge as she heads to Louisville to check out a Thoroughbred horse breeding farm, to tour the downtown area on a 15-passenger bike known as “The Thirsty Peddlar” and to explore Triple Crown fashion. 1st Look airs after Saturday Night Live at 1 a.m. ET.

STEVE HARVEY SHOW: Steve Harvey picked his Kentucky Derby horse for a feature that airs during NBC’s Kentucky Derby broadcast.

UNIVERSAL PARK: Universal Park in Hollywood has been running NBC Sports Kentucky Derby promotional spots on their Astrovision screens in the weeks leading up to the Derby, reminding park goers of NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage.

NBC SPORTS’ ‘BIG EVENT STRATEGY’ HELPS TO INCREASE VIEWERSHIP

The shared vision of Churchill Downs and NBC Sports’ successful ‘Big Event Strategy’ to assemble the broadest possible audience led to the 2013 Kentucky Derby becoming the second-most watched in a quarter century with 16.2 million viewers. Women comprised 51% of that audience, ranking as the highest percentage of female viewership for any major sporting event in 2013.

KENTUCKY DERBY
Date Time Event Network
Thurs., May 1 4 p.m. Kentucky Derby Classics: 2012 Winner I’ll Have Another NBCSN
5 p.m. Kentucky Derby Access NBCSN
Fri., May 2 2 p.m. Kentucky Derby Classics NBCSN
3 p.m. Kentucky Oaks NBCSN
Sat., May 3 12 p.m. Kentucky Derby Saturday NBCSN
4 p.m. Kentucky Derby NBC
7 p.m. Kentucky Derby Post-Race Show NBCSN

 For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com.

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–