NBC and USGA secure agreement to host U.S. Open Golf Championship together until 2032
NBCUniversal and Versant, an independent media company spun off from Comcast, have extended their media rights agreement with the United States Golf Association (USGA) through 2032. This deal ensures extensive broadcast and streaming coverage of 11 USGA championships, strengthening the partnership between the USGA and NBCUniversal that has spanned most of the last 30 years.
Under this agreement, NBCUniversal remains the exclusive domestic broadcast home for the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, and U.S. Senior Open. The U.S. Open will continue to have the most broadcast hours of any major golf championship, with at least 25 hours of coverage. This includes an added hour of primetime coverage on Thursday and Friday nights on NBC each year.
Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, will simulcast all USGA programming airing on NBC and provide exclusive streaming coverage for the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open.
Versant, through its properties USA Network and Golf Channel, acquired media rights for USGA championships. USA Network will cover the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open, while Golf Channel will broadcast the U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Senior Women’s Open, U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women’s Amateur, U.S. Junior Amateur, U.S. Girls’ Junior, U.S. Adaptive Open, Walker Cup, and Curtis Cup.
The agreement represents a continuation of a longstanding partnership, with USGA leadership emphasizing trust in NBCUniversal and Versant to showcase their brand effectively. The deal, reportedly worth about $93 million annually, ensures comprehensive coverage and broad reach across broadcast and streaming platforms.
Key USGA and media executives were involved in negotiating the deal, ensuring that all USGA championships receive the coverage they deserve. NBC's Rick Cordella, NBC Sports President, stated that the USGA has been an important partner for NBC for most of the last 30 years.
In summary, the agreement secures extensive broadcast and streaming coverage of 11 USGA championships through NBCUniversal, Versant’s properties, and Peacock, with enhanced live broadcast hours for the U.S. Open through 2032. This partnership promises to deliver exciting golf action to audiences across the United States.
- NBCUniversal, as the exclusive domestic broadcast home, will continue to broadcast the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, and U.S. Senior Open, with extended coverage hours for the U.S. Open.
- Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, will simulcast all USGA programming airing on NBC and offer exclusive streaming coverage for the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open.
- Through its properties USA Network and Golf Channel, Versant acquired media rights for USGA championships, with USA Network covering the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open, while Golf Channel will broadcast several other USGA championships.
- The FCC may regulate the content aired on NBC, Versant’s properties, and Peacock, ensuring compliance with broadcasting standards and rules.
- This extended media rights agreement between the USGA, NBCUniversal, and Versant will ensure broad reach and streaming accessibility for golf content, making it easily available for fans across the United States through television, studio, and online streaming platforms.
