U.S. Open Golf Championship to Continue with NBCUniversal Through 2032, According to USGA Agreement
The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced an extension of its media rights agreement with NBCUniversal and the newly independent media company, Versant. The deal, which runs from 2027 through 2032, will see NBCUniversal remain the exclusive domestic broadcaster for the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, and U.S. Senior Open.
Expanded Coverage for U.S. Open
The U.S. Open will continue to have the most broadcast hours of any major championship, with at least 25 hours of coverage on NBC. This figure increases to 33 hours for West Coast events. NBCUniversal will also provide an additional hour of primetime coverage on Thursday and Friday, totalling five hours per day, including two primetime hours. Peacock, NBCUniversal's streaming platform, will simulcast all NBC USGA programming and offer exclusive streaming for the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open.
Versant's Media Rights Acquisition
Versant, spun off from Comcast this year, has acquired media rights to USGA championships through 2032 for USA Network and Golf Channel. USA Network will carry coverage of 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.
Total Coverage Hours
The agreement includes substantial total coverage hours annually:
- About 48 hours for the U.S. Open.
- Around 27 hours for the U.S. Women’s Open, including seven weekend hours on NBC.
- Approximately 18 hours for the U.S. Senior Open, with six weekend hours on NBC.
Long-Standing Partnership
This deal continues NBCU’s long-standing partnership with the USGA, dating back nearly 30 years. Rick Cordella, NBC Sports President, expressed pride in the relationship and looked forward to enhancing coverage of the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open, and U.S. Senior Open. Matt Hong, president of sports at Versant, expressed similar sentiments, expressing pride in partnering with the USGA to present coverage of 11 USGA championships.
Financial Terms
Financial terms were not officially disclosed, but reports estimate NBC’s payment at about $93 million annually. The agreement also includes post-spinoff provisions for Versant's Golf Channel and USA Network to have media rights through 2032.
This comprehensive media arrangement enables expansive live coverage, premium broadcast slots, and enhanced streaming availability across the NBCUniversal and Versant platforms from 2027 to 2032.
- NBCUniversal will continue as the exclusive domestic broadcaster for the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, and U.S. Senior Open from 2027 through 2032, under an extension of its media rights agreement with the United States Golf Association (USGA) and Versant.
- NBCUniversal's streaming platform, Peacock, will simulcast all NBC USGA programming and offer exclusive streaming for the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open.
- Versant, the newly independent media company, will acquire media rights to USGA championships through 2032, with USA Network carrying coverage of the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open, and Golf Channel broadcasting the U.S. Senior Open, among other championships.
- The agreement includes substantial total coverage hours annually: about 48 hours for the U.S. Open, around 27 hours for the U.S. Women’s Open, and approximately 18 hours for the U.S. Senior Open.
- Financial terms were not officially disclosed, but reports estimate NBC’s payment at about $93 million annually, with post-spinoff provisions for Versant's Golf Channel and USA Network to have media rights through 2032.
