NBC Sports extends Tour of California deal

The NBC Sports Group division of US media group NBCUniversal has extended a rights deal for the Tour of California cycling race.

The renewed agreement will run for three years, from 2017 to 2019.

NBC will retain exclusive rights in the US across all platforms and will provide up to 16 hours of live race coverage for each year of the deal.

NBC will broadcast coverage via its primary NBC channel, pay-television channel NBCSN and the NBC Sports Live Extra streaming service.

NBC agreed the extended deal with AEG, the owner and operator of the race.

For the 2015 race, NBC reported a seven-per-cent year-on-year jump in audience figures.