NBC Sports Group and AEG today announced a three-year media rights renewal for the Amgen Tour of California, America’s largest and most prestigious cycling race. The multi-year agreement provides for live coverage of the premier cycling tour on NBC, NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra through 2019.
Per the extension, which begins with the 2017 season, NBC Sports Group retains domestic media rights on all platforms and will annually provide up to 16 hours of live race coverage on NBC and NBCSN. As it has since 2013, NBC Sports Live Extra, NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs, will continue to live stream Amgen Tour of California coverage.
“We are excited to extend our longstanding partnership with AEG and the Tour of California,” said Michael Perman, Vice President, Programming, NBC Sports Group. “The Amgen Tour of California is a signature part of our annual cycling coverage. We look forward to continuing to showcase the sport’s biggest stars in the best cycling tour in the United States.”
“We are thrilled that the Amgen Tour of California will continue to be televised by NBC and NBCSN for many years to come,” said Kristin Klein, race president and executive vice president of AEG Sports. “Our partnership with A.S.O. and the NBC Sports Group has brought America’s most prestigious cycling event to our fans thru the most visually stunning and informative productions seen anywhere. Thanks to their technology and phenomenal broadcast team, our viewers follow the daily thrills and triumphs as if they were racing in the peloton.”
NBC and NBCSN’s premiere telecasts for the 2015 Amgen Tour of California averaged 194,000 viewers, up 7% from the comparable coverage in 2014 (182,000), and up 30% from 2013 (149,000), according to national data released by The Nielsen Company.
NBC Sports Group’s live race coverage of the 2016 Amgen Tour of California begins with Stage 1 this Sunday, May 15, at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN and culminates with the final stage on Sunday, May 22 at 4 p.m. ET on NBC.
144 cyclists from 18 elite professional teams are expected to compete in the eight-day, 782 mile race. Top contenders include 2015 Amgen Tour of California champion Peter Sagan, as well as Julian Alaphilippe, Bradley Wiggins, Taylor Phinney and Mark Cavendish. NBC Sports Group will also air highlights of the Amgen Breakaway from Heart Disease Women’s Race Empowered by SRAM throughout its coverage of the 2016 Amgen Tour of California, and will present a comprehensive highlight show featuring robust coverage of the women’s race on Friday, May 27, at 1:30 a.m. ET / 10 p.m. PT (May 26) on NBCSN.
The 2016 Amgen Tour of California covers 782 miles of California’s scenic terrain, with this year’s course beginning in San Diego, and weaving through South Pasadena, Santa Clarita, Thousand Oaks, Santa Barbara County, Morro Bay, Monterey County, South Lake Tahoe, Folsom and Santa Rosa before concluding in Sacramento.
Phil Liggett, Paul Sherwen and 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge winner Christian Vande Velde will call the action along with reporter Steve Schlanger. ‘Inside-the-Race’ correspondent Steve Porino will report from aboard a motorcycle on the course, and offer updates on race situations. Jens Voigt, who has three top-10 Tour of California finishes to his name, returns as an analyst and reporter after making his debut at the event last year.
NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the 2016 Amgen Tour of California will be streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra, NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs. NBC Sports Live Extra will stream coverage via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value to for their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. The NBC Sports Live Extra app is available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire. For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra.
NBC SPORTS GROUP’S 2016 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES ET, SUBJECT TO CHANGE):
| Date | Time | Stage | Network |
| Sun., May 15 | 5 – 7 p.m. | 1: San Diego | NBCSN |
| Sun., May 15 | 2 – 3 a.m. | 1: San Diego (Encore) | NBCSN |
| Mon., May 16 | 5 – 7 p.m. | 2: South Pasadena to Santa Clarita | NBCSN |
| Mon., May 16 | 1 – 2 a.m. | 2: South Pasadena to Santa Clarita (Encore) | NBCSN |
| Tues., May 17 | 5 – 7 p.m. | 3: Thousand Oaks to Santa Barbara County | NBCSN |
| Tues., May 17 | 12 – 1 a.m. | 3: Thousand Oaks to Santa Barbara County (Encore) | NBCSN |
| Wed., May 18 | 5 – 7 p.m. | 4: Morro Bay to Monterey County | NBCSN |
| Wed., May 18 | 12 – 1 a.m. | 4: Morro Bay to Monterey County (Encore) | NBCSN |
| Thurs., May 19 | 5 – 7 p.m. | 5: Lodi to South Lake Tahoe | NBCSN |
| Thurs., May 19 | 12 – 1 a.m. | 5: Lodi to South Lake Tahoe (Encore) | NBCSN |
| Fri., May 20 | 5 – 7 p.m. | 6: Folsom Individual Time Trial | NBCSN |
| Fri., May 20 | 12 – 1 a.m. | 6: Folsom Individual Time Trial (Encore) | NBCSN |
| Sat., May 21 | 5 – 7 p.m. | 7: Santa Rosa | NBCSN |
| Sun., May 22 | 1 – 2 a.m. | 7: Santa Rosa (Encore) | NBCSN |
| Sun., May 22 | 4 – 6 p.m. | 8: Sacramento | NBC |
| Sun., May 22 | 2 – 3 a.m. | 8: Sacramento (Encore) | NBCSN |
| Fri., May 27 | 1:30 – 3 a.m. | Women’s Race Recap | |
