Fantastic News: NBC and IAAF reach long-term deal for broadcast rights to Diamond League!!

You do realize that Universal Sports is part of the NBC group?

LetsRun.com wrote:

You won't have to be find beIn sports or pay a small some to universal sports or flotrack to watch the Diamond League in 2017, 2018 and 2019!!

We've long thought the only way the sport can grow is if it's on tv and 58 hours of it will be on the NBC platform this year including 10 hours actually on NBC.

That is great that 10 hours will be on regular NBC TV itself.

You will likely have to pay for Universal Sports, NBCSN or other to see the rest, depending on where they put it.

And yes that also includes paying for some cable TV package that includes the above.

They might also aggressively squash any other feeds or online postings.

Queens Queens wrote:

Will they show the winner walking around after crossing the finish line rather than show the battles for 2nd through say 6th place?

You don't give them enough credit! They make sure to save the minor place battles for when there is a move at the front so we can all wonder what happened in the race when they pan back to the leaders!

I hope Male athletes will have to wear Speedos and no shirts.

How much was paid to Lamine Diack, Baby Doc Diack, and Frankie Fredericks as a consulting fee?

Why is this news?

IAAF/IOC bought blocks of time to broadcast their content just like obstacle course and ironman tri buy time to run their content.

Bring enough money and you can broadcast almost anything family-friendlyish and resembling a sport. ex. WWE wrestling, MMA, etc.

LetsRun.com wrote:

http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2017/04/06/nbc-sports-group-and-iaaf-diamond-league-partner-on-long-term-media-rights-agreement-for-track-field-coverage/

Three seasons is long term?

Great news!

I'm looking forward to getting a few glimpses of a race in the background during more interviews of Max Siegel!

I'm just worried that NBC won't be able to keep Tom Hammond out of hibernation long enough for him to announce that many events.

rojo wrote:

Bad Wigins wrote:

Where have you been since ever? NBC exclusives are the death of track.

I was fearful it would go to flotrack.

In the age of streaming it is moot, you can always get Eurosport if you look, or BBC if you prefer

Queens Queens wrote:

Will it be filled with commercials? Probably.

Will it be commentated by terrible commentators? Probably.

The coverage will be their usual total KRaap.

They will BLOCK all access to legitimate free steams on the internet.

NBC is the worst thing to happen to track and field. Terrible presentation, horrid announcers, useless interviews, no field event coverage, commercials during distance events. Oh and by the way, they'll bury it on NBC Sports where you must have a cable subscription to view. Not a good deal for anyone IMO.

English don't wipe after #2 wrote:

No god awful English announcers. Ato Bolden will do.

Steve Ovett is the only commentator worth listening to, put the mute on otherwise.

RyanFromFlotrack wrote:

I wish FloTrack would've gotten it. This forum's users have an average salary of $350,000 but everyone is a penny pincher.

Ryan, I understand your frustration, but I think you are misinterpreting the market. Just because a person has enough money to buy something they like, doesn't mean they will, even if they typically splash money around willy-nilly.

I don't think twice about paying $200 for a great meal, and I wouldn't hesitate to spend $20 on a great cup of coffee every so often if there weren't better options. But there are perfectly fine options for almost nothing. That's what you are up against. Not penny pinching.

Ten years ago, you were on a path to winning the hearts of track fans. But you opted for the paywall model and now try to monopolize track content. It was a high risk strategy to eschew market share. It may have paid off moderately for you, but it isn't winning you the love of the masses, and I don't think it was the best long-term strategy for you. It certainly had a damping effect on the momentum the sport had in the Alan Webb era.

jrock800 wrote:

NBC is the worst thing to happen to track and field. Terrible presentation, horrid announcers, useless interviews, no field event coverage, commercials during distance events. Oh and by the way, they'll bury it on NBC Sports where you must have a cable subscription to view. Not a good deal for anyone IMO.

You do realize that if you're too poor to afford a cable subscription, or just too cheap, that no one is interested in whether you watch or not. It is a business, not a public service.

You won't have to be find beIn sports or pay a small sum to universal sports or flotrack to watch the Diamond League in 2017, 2018 and 2019!!

We've long thought the only way the sport can grow is if it's on tv and 58 hours of it will be on the NBC platform this year including 10 hours actually on NBC.

From the Press Release:

NBC Sports Group and the IAAF Diamond League have partnered on a media rights agreement for exclusive television and digital streaming rights to the league’s annual track and field events through 2019, both parties announced today. As part of the agreement, which begins Friday, May 5, with the first event of the season in Doha, Qatar, NBC Sports Group will present 58 hours of Diamond League coverage this season, including 10 hours on NBC.

“No Olympic sport so readily conveys the motto of ‘faster, higher, stronger’ like Track and Field, and we are thrilled to be able to showcase so many of its finest athletes outside of the Games with this prestigious series,” said Jim Bell, President, NBC Olympics Production and Programming.

http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2017/04/06/nbc-sports-group-and-iaaf-diamond-league-partner-on-long-term-media-rights-agreement-for-track-field-coverage/

That isn't the real Ryan from Flotrack, he has a registered name on the boards

A couple things that don't quite match up with what you were excited about.1. You have to pay. It's $70 for the NBC Sports Gold track & field pass (which has no track & field/running coverage for 6 months out of the year...Oct 16th - Apr 15th) - http://www.nbcsports.com/nbc-sports-gold-packages-prices2. NBC is not showing this on TV. They are showing it on "NBC Sports Group's Digital Platforms". Digital means online, not TV.