NBC locks up long-term Ryder Cup extension

The NBC Sports Group division of US network NBC has extended its rights deal for golf’s Ryder Cup through to 2030.

The agreement, which is due to run for 16 years from 2015, was struck with the PGA of America and includes eight additional Ryder Cups on NBC.

The Ryder Cup has been shown by NBC since 1991. The new agreement features new programming and special coverage of the competition including regular Ryder Cup preview shows, vignettes, features, reports and points updates on NBC and pay-television broadcaster Golf Channel; a Ryder Cup documentary series on both networks; live coverage of practice rounds for the first time and the Ryder Cup Captain Selection Show on Golf Channel.

New Ryder Cup highlights programming will be introduced on US Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo and Mun2. The agreement also includes simultaneous streaming rights for NBC’s Ryder Cup coverage.

On top of the Ryder Cup rights, the Senior PGA Championship will also continue to air live on Golf Channel during weekdays and NBC at weekends through 2030. Additionally, Golf Channel will continue live coverage of all four rounds of the PGA Professional National Championship.

US sports broadcaster ESPN has an agreement with NBC to sublicense Friday Ryder Cup matches through to 2014.