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.
Jack Swarbrick announces that Notre Dame and NBC have extended their contract through 2029. 🏈📺🦚☘️ pic.twitter.com/8FV4YIn96j
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 18, 2023
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.
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.
— Madison (@levineps) November 18, 2023
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”
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 https://t.co/tCvpryElmX
— Nick Robbins (@nickrobbins12) November 18, 2023
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 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.
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) November 18, 2023
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.
The Notre Dame – NBC contract extension going through the 2029 season (the same year the current B1G contracts expire) is very telling https://t.co/6rY8Y2oxQ0
— Alan Gobbi (@polarcritter) November 18, 2023
