NBC plans to air NBA Playoffs following Derby, Preakness
Sports Media Watch • • sports
Key Points:
- NBC Sports will use the Triple Crown horse races, specifically the Kentucky Derby and potentially the Preakness Stakes, as lead-ins for NBA playoff games this year, aligning with key playoff rounds.
- Since 2001, NBC has leveraged Triple Crown events to boost viewership for other sports, including NBA and NHL playoff games, and recently for USFL games in 2022 and 2023.
- Mike Tirico will host the Kentucky Derby coverage, with Noah Eagle calling the NBA game that follows during Derby weekend.
- NBC will begin its NBA postseason coverage with three consecutive nights of doubleheaders, including additional games on Peacock and NBCSN, holding rights to a significant portion of early-round and Western Conference Finals games.
- While NBC can air up to half of its early-round games on Peacock, it has not yet specified how many will be streamed, though all Peacock games will also be simulcast on NBCSN.
