NBC Sports Network, the cable-television sports channel of US network NBC, and direct-broadcast satellite network Outside Television have agreed deals to cover the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race sailing event.
Television coverage will feature 39 half-hour programmes and will air primarily on late afternoon weekend slots each week on NBCSN beginning in late October, and on Outside Television with new episodes every Monday, with the program re-airing throughout the week.
NBCSN’s coverage will begin with a block of episodes on October 26. NBC partner, pay-television sports broadcaster Universal Sports Network, will also feature Volvo Ocean Race programming.
“NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the Louis Vuitton Series and the 34th America’s Cup was a tremendous success and demonstrated the country’s strong appetite for sailing on television,” Jon Miller, president of programming for NBC Sports and NBCSN, said.
Outside Television will also provide live streaming and online coverage of the race at OutsideTelevision.com. This will include digital streaming of the leg starts, in-port races, news features and live look-ins with the boats.
The 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race begins on October 11 in Alicante, Spain and runs for 39 weeks until the race finish in Gothenburg, Sweden next June.
During the nearly 40,000 nautical mile journey around the world, the boats will pass through Newport, Rhode Island from May 5-17, the only North American stopover of the race.