Universal Sports Network seals triathlon rights deal

US sports broadcaster Universal Sports Network, a subsidiary of the NBC network, has acquired rights for events operated by the International Triathlon Union global governing body.

The deal will run for five years, from 2014 to 2018.

The agreement includes exclusive television and online rights to the governing body’s World Triathlon Series and its monthly magazine programme.

The deal was brokered by the Lagardère Unlimited sports marketing division of media and defence conglomerate Lagardère.

Universal Sports Network is now available on the Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Verizon FiOS, DirecTV and Dish pay-television platforms as well as numerous regional pay-television and IPTV operators in the US.