NBC Sports and Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) have announced a multi-year extension of their partnership, ensuring that NBC will continue to be the home of the Kentucky Derby on both NBC and Peacock through 2032. This extension will make NBC the longest-running media home of the Kentucky Derby, marking a 32-year relationship that began in 2001.
Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen expressed pride in the continued partnership with NBC Sports, highlighting their ability to capture the excitement and spectacle of the Kentucky Derby. NBC Sports President Rick Cordella also emphasized the importance of telling the stories surrounding the Derby and expressed excitement about continuing the tradition with Churchill Downs.
The extended partnership includes multiplatform rights to the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, and Derby and Oaks Day programming, with coverage on NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and other NBCU platforms. This ensures that fans will have access to comprehensive coverage of the events leading up to and including the Kentucky Derby.
As America’s oldest continuously held major sporting event, the Kentucky Derby holds a special place in the hearts of sports fans. The 150th “Run for the Roses” will take place today at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, kicking off another exciting chapter in the long-standing partnership between NBC Sports and Churchill Downs.