NBC TO RETAIN EPL FOR $2.7B
NBC has achieved one of its major objectives over the past year, retaining U.S. rights to broadcast the Premier League for another six years.
The Premier League announced the deal on Thursday. NBC will pay more than $2.7 billion to continue showing the world’s richest soccer competition. A person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press it almost triples the value of the U.S. English- and Spanish-language broadcast rights.
The person divulging the financial figure spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the terms were confidential.
NBC won the rights to England’s top league in October, 2012, for $250 million over three years. When the new deal kicks in next season, it will average $450 million per season.
The previous six-year deal, which began in 2016, was worth $1.1 billion, an average of $183.3 million per season.
Interest in the Premier League has grown significantly since NBC first gained the rights from Fox for the 2013-14 season. Matches are averaging 609,000 viewers this season, its highest average through this point since 2015-16 and up 14 percent from last year.
More soccer
Coach Bob Bradley and Los Angeles FC said they mutually agreed to part ways. Bradley, 63, was the first and only coach in the Major League Soccer expansion franchise’s four-year history.
Local colleges
After finishing 1-1 at the end of regulation and two overtimes, the Point Loma women’s soccer team (13-1-2) prevailed 8-7 in penalty kicks over the Cal State East Bay Pioneers (11-5-6) to advance to the West Region Division II semifinal at Bellingham, Wash.
Tennis
The top three players have advanced to the semifinals at the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy. Third-ranked
Alexander Zverev joined No.
Novak Djokovic and No. 2
Daniil Medvedev in the last four at the season-ending event for the top eight players by beating Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-4.
Having qualified second in his group behind Medvedev, Zverev’s semifinal opponent will be Djokovic, who won the other group. Medvedev’s semifinal opponent will be determined today when Andrey Rublev meets Casper Ruud on the final day of round-robin play.
Wimbledon champion
Ash Barty finished No. 1 in the WTA singles rankings for the third consecutive season, while Katerina Siniakova topped the doubles rankings for the second time.
College football
Malik Cunningham accounted for seven touchdowns in Louisville’s 62-42 romp past Duke (3-7, 0-7 ACC), helping the Cardinals (6-5, 4-4) clinch bowl eligibility.
Ohio State quarterback Jack Miller III was reinstated to the team after his drunken-driving charge was reduced to a minor misdemeanor traffic offense. The freshman was stopped in the university district on Nov. 5 by an Ohio Highway Patrol trooper who said Miller’s pickup truck was weaving. Miller is currently the Buckeyes’ third-string quarterback.
Also
The WNBA is changing its playoff format to a more traditional bracket. The league announced that the postseason will consist of three rounds — best- of-three games for the first round and best-of-five games for subsequent ones — beginning this summer. The top eight teams overall will make the playoffs.
Two-time Olympian Clarissa Chun, 40, has been named coach of the new Iowa women’s wrestling program, Athletic Director Gary Barta announced. Iowa announced in September it would become the first school in a Power Five conference to start a women’s wrestling team.