World Triathlon Corporation, a global promoter of triathlon events, is in talks with NBC Sports Network, the cable-television sports channel of US network NBC, about televising live coverage of the 2012 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii on October 13.
The promoter is seeking to capitalise on the possible involvement of cycling star Lance Armstrong, who is hoping to qualify for the event.
NBC currently broadcasts coverage of the annual championship race in Kailua-Kona on tape-delay about two months after it takes place.
However, World Triathlon Corporation chief executive Andrew Messick told Bloomberg he would be “much more aggressive” in securing television coverage after Armstrong expressed his intention to participate in the season’s top Ironman event.
“We want to investigate opportunities to be able to potentially put parts of the race live, something that has never been done in the US,” Messick said. “Lance brings a spotlight to our sport that’s brighter perhaps than anything that has ever happened.”
Armstrong finished second in his first 70.3-mile half Ironman race on February 12 in Panama City, Panama, but he still needs to perform in further events in order to qualify for the Ironman World Championship in October.