A Notre Dame Fighting Irish football helmet is shown during a media press conference Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. Friday the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will take on host South Carolina Gamecocks in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Players also met with teens and children battling a life-threatening illness, associated with the local wish-granting organization, "Dreams Come True." Syndication: Florida Times-Union Jki 122922 Final Gator Bowl Pcs 38

With multiple TV rights deals set to expire across sports in 2024, one rights deal has already been extended.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will remain on NBC, where they’ve played since 1991, through the 2029 season.

The deal was set to expire following the 2024 season.

Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick announced the news in a video before Saturday’s game.

NBC’s press release also notes that starting in 2024 there will be a new annual Notre Dame documentary series airing on Peacock.

““In the next generation of this partnership, we will collaborate to provide our fans even more Notre Dame content through a variety of NBCUniversal’s distribution channels while continuing to put our student-athletes and their stories at the heart of our messaging,” Swarbrick said.

Fans on social media had a lot to say about the announcement.

One fan said, “Feels like this is the modern day Masters agreement minus the one year contract and less of state TV feel. Both sides are very comfortable with the other.

Another said it makes it clear Notre Dame won’t be joining a conference soon, saying, “Seems like ND continues to have no interest in joining a conference, do I blame them? No because NBC continues to pay the big bucks”

Notre Dame beat writer Pete Sampson broke down the deal further, saying, “One last bit on media rights… Notre Dame is college football’s 4th-most watched team this year after Colorado, Alabama and Ohio St. NBC’s broadcasts of ND have averaged 5.1 million viewers this season – largest audience through 5 games since ’05. Good time to re-up.”

One fan pointed out that Notre Dame’s new deal ends the same year as the Big Ten’s media rights deal, which is something to monitor.

 

[NBC Sports]