FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 17th, 2015
NBC SPORTS GROUP ADDS RADIO TO ITS LIVE, EXCLUSIVE TRIPLE CROWN COVERAGE
NBC Sports Radio to Present Live Coverage of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes & Belmont Stakes
STAMFORD, Conn. – Feb. 17, 2015 – NBC Sports Group, the home of horse racing, will provide live radio coverage of all three Triple Crown races for the first time on NBC Sports Radio, it was announced today. NBC Sports Group in 2015 will present live, exclusive coverage of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes on NBC and NBCSN; on desktops, tablets and mobile devices through NBC Sports Live Extra, NBC Sports Group’s live-streaming product; and on NBC Sports Radio.
For each race, NBC Sports Radio will present two hours of live coverage from 5-7 p.m. ET, produced in partnership with Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN), and distributed by Westwood One.
“We are excited to extend NBC’s award-winning coverage of the ‘Sport of Kings’ to the radio airwaves,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, Senior Vice President of NBC Sports Ventures. “NBC Sports Radio listeners all around the nation can now join our millions of TV viewers to enjoy the drama of these great races.”
“The Westwood One team is proud to partner with NBC and the Horse Racing Radio Network to provide the thrilling description of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing to fans across America,” said Bruce Gilbert, Senior Vice President, Sports, Cumulus and Westwood One.
For more information on programming, please contact Westwood One at NBCSportsRadio@westwoodone.com. For a complete schedule of shows, bios, exclusive audio content, and a list of radio stations airing NBC Sports Radio, log on to NBCSportsRadio.com.
NBC SPORTS GROUP AND HORSE RACING: NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001, and the Belmont Stakes since 2011, when the NBC Sports Group reassembled the Triple Crown.
The 2014 Belmont Stakes on NBC, featuring California Chrome’s Triple Crown attempt, averaged 20.4 million viewers – the second-highest Belmont Stakes viewership on record, trailing only the 21.9 million viewers for NBC’s telecast of Smarty Jones’ Triple Crown attempt in 2004 (People Meter viewership dates to 1988). In addition, the 2014 Kentucky Derby marked the fourth time in six years (2009, 2010, 2013, 2014) that NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage averaged more than 15 million viewers, and the 2014 Preakness Stakes registered a 6.0 household rating, ranking as the highest-rated Preakness Stakes since 2009 (6.8 for Rachel Alexandra’s victory).
About NBC Sports Radio
NBC Sports Radio, produced and distributed by Westwood One in partnership with NBC Sports Group, is carried by more than 425 affiliates nationwide. Programming is available on radio affiliates throughout the United States, as well as on NBCSportsRadio.com, NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports Radio mobile app, and on the websites of affiliates. Content includes hourly sports news updates, daily features, and long-form shows. On social media, join the NBC Sports Radio community on Twitter at twitter.com/nbcsportsradio. To listen live or on demand, or to find a station, visit www.nbcsportsradio.com.
About Westwood One
Westwood One offers audio products to reach listeners whenever, wherever they are. Westwood One is a trusted connection between audio companies, advertisers, and audience — with 8,600 radio stations and media partners who reach 190 million weekly listeners and 30 million digital users a month. The company’s portfolio features exclusive brands people love, such as the NFL, Red Carpet Radio, NASH, Rdio, and more. Westwood One is the national-facing arm of Cumulus, representing more than just a network; it is a multi-platform provider of sports, music, news, spoken word, and digital content. For more information, please visit http://www.westwoodone.com/.
–NBC SPORTS GROUP–
