The NBC Sports Group division of US media company NBCUniversal has acquired exclusive rights in the host nation to next year’s World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina.
The event, which is organised by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), runs from September 11-23.
NBC Sports Group will hold exclusive multi-platform rights to the Games. The Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA platform will present more than 50 hours of coverage, with NBC and NBC Sports Network to combine for nearly 15 hours of live coverage.
All coverage will also be streamed live on NBCSports.com and via the NBC Sports app. Coverage on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA will be streamed on OlympicChannel.com and the Olympic Channel app.
“Our vision is to broaden the reach of equestrian sport to an audience of horse enthusiasts around the country, and we appreciate NBC Sports Group’s partnership as we deliver the most televised equestrian sports coverage in history,” Mark Bellissimo, founder and chief executive of Tryon International Equestrian Center, said.
“The 2014 Games in France attracted a cumulative global broadcast audience of 350 million, so this partnership with NBC will be an important factor in boosting numbers for Tryon 2018.”
The eight equestrian disciplines – jumping, dressage, para-equestrian dressage, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting and reining – will all be contested at the Games, which will take place at the Tryon International Equestrian Center.
The World Equestrian Games are held every four years, with Normandy in France having hosted in 2014.