USGA, NBC Extend Broadcast Contract Through 2014


January 24, 2005

Far Hills, N.J. - The United States Golf Association and NBC Sports today announced an extension of their current contract that will expand the television network's coverage through 2014. With this six-year extension, the NBC Sports and USGA partnership, which began in 1995, will reach 20 years. The joint announcement was made today by Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics and Fred Ridley, USGA President.

"We are very pleased that our relationship with NBC Sports is continuing," Ridley said. "The USGA's national championships represent golf's greatest events. NBC's broadcasts give golf enthusiasts worldwide the chance to enjoy the excitement."

"This agreement ratifies one of the great broadcast partnerships in all of sport and extends our commitment to the USGA and its championships," Ebersol said. "We are gratified in their confidence in us and in the strength of our partnership to extend this relationship to two decades."

The partnership began in 1995 with NBC's broadcasts of three USGA championships, the U.S. Open, the U.S. Women's Open and the U.S. Senior Open. NBC began broadcasting the U.S. Amateur in 1996.

The previous contract extension, announced in 2001, continued the broadcast partnership through 2008 and added a 90-minute taped show on either the U.S. Junior Amateur or the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship, alternating each year, and beginning in 2003.

In 2005, NBC Sports will broadcast more than 35 hours of USGA championship coverage.

The USGA conducts 13 national championships annually, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs. Visit www.usga.org/champs/ for more information. The United States Golf Association (USGA) has served as a national governing body of golf since its formation in 1894. It is a non-profit organization run by golfers for the benefit of golfers. The Association sponsors programs that benefit everyone who plays the game. These essential services affect all golfers, whether they are amateurs or professionals, public- or private-course players.