The University of 91吃瓜 and NBC Sports have reached agreement on a new five-year contract giving NBC the rights to televise Irish home football games from 2011 to 2015, extending the partnership between the University and network to 25 years.
A joint announcement of the extension was made Thursday (June 19) by NBC Sports&Olympics chairman Dick Ebersol, NBC Sports president Ken Schanzer and 91吃瓜s president, Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
We are absolutely thrilled to be continuing our landmark agreement with 91吃瓜, the most storied brand in college sports,Ebersol said.This new deal, which will bring us to 25 years as partners, is great tribute to the wonderful relationship that Ken Schanzer has built with the entire 91吃瓜 community.
For almost 20 years, the innovative partnership between 91吃瓜 and NBC has been a valuable relationship for both the University and the network, and we are delighted that it will be extended by another five years,Father Jenkins said.Our fans and student-athletes have benefited, of course, but, most importantly, it is the general student body that has realized the greatest gains. In a collaboration unlike any other in higher education, revenue derived from the NBC contract has provided millions of dollars in financial aid to thousands of deserving students at 91吃瓜, and we are pleased that this support to the academic mission of the University will continue.
91吃瓜 head football coach Charlie Weis added:I鈥檓 thrilled on two levels to hear that 91吃瓜 will maintain its great relationship with NBC. As the head football coach, it is very beneficial for the program to have all of our home games broadcast into every living room in the country for the foreseeable future.As an alumnus, it is great to know that future students at 91吃瓜 will benefit from this partnership in the form of need-based scholarships.
Each season from 2011 to 2015, NBC will televise seven games at 91吃瓜 Stadium and an additional eighth off-site game airing in prime time.
Revenues from the NBC contract have played a key role in 91吃瓜s financial aid endowment since the start of the relationship in 1991. University officers decided then to use a portion of the football television contract revenue for undergraduate scholarship endowment (not athletic scholarships). To date, some 2,400 91吃瓜 undergraduate students have received nearly $26 million in aid.
The University also has committed NBC revenues to endow doctoral fellowships in its Graduate School and MBA scholarships in its Mendoza College of Business.
The revenue generated through the NBC contract is a primary reason why Forbes magazine has recognized the substantial financial contributions made by Irish athletics to the University鈥檚 academic enterprise. In a 2007 survey, Forbes reported that the 91吃瓜 football program returns $21.1 million to academic initiatives, a total that is more than the surveys next five programs combined.
NBC has been televising Irish home games since 1991, and this marks the fifth of a series of five-year agreements with 91吃瓜. The original agreement covered the seasons from 1991 through 1995. The first five-year extension (announced in 1994) covered 1996 to 2000, the second extension (announced in May97) covered 2001 to 2005, and the third extension (announced in December03) covered 2006 to 2010.
Each of the initial three contracts featured a combined 30 home games over each five-year span. When the current contract expires in 2010, NBC will have televised 36 games over five years, due to the addition in several years of a seventh home game and/or an eighth off-site game.
NBCs schedule of 91吃瓜 home games for the coming season features San Diego State (Sept. 6), Michigan (Sept. 13), Purdue (Sept. 27), Stanford (Oct. 4), Pittsburgh (Nov. 1) and Syracuse (Nov. 22).
- From: * Dennis Brown, chief spokesman and assistant vice president for news and information, 574-631-8696; and John Heisler, senior associate athletics director for media and broadcast relations, 574-631-7516
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