NBC Sports Group Takes Post Position for Saturday's Kentucky Derby

NBC Sports Group's 15.5 live hours of coverage includes the 141st Run for the Roses. NBC Sports Live Extra will live stream the Kentucky Derby with exclusive camera angles and analysis. The event also marks the return of Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski as fashion experts. (Photo: AP Images)

NBC Sports Group presents 15.5 live hours of Kentucky Derby coverage, a record for the event, beginning Wednesday, April 29, at 5:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, and culminating with the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby on NBC, Saturday, May 2 at 4 p.m. ET. Coverage begins on Saturday at Noon ET on NBCSN before moving to NBC at 4 p.m. ET.

Following are highlights of NBC Sports Group’s Kentucky Derby week coverage, which includes 7.5 hours on Derby Day:

• Live coverage of 19 races on Thursday, Friday and Saturday – every race in NBC/NBCSN telecast windows:

• Four live races on Thursday, April 30 at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN

• Seven live races on Friday, May 1 at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN

• Eight live races during NBCSN (Noon ET) and NBC’s Derby Day (4 p.m. ET) coverage

• Live coverage of the Kentucky Derby Draw on Wednesday, April 29, at 5:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN to determine the post positions;

• The most comprehensive coverage plan in Kentucky Derby history with more than 50 cameras, including a camera suspended 80-feet high on the Churchill Downs video board structure, an 80-foot crane on Turn 1, a 4K main play-by-play camera, a robotic camera in the paddock saddling area, and a 4K super-slow-motion reverse finish-line camera;

• Bob Costas presents an essay on Kentucky Derby longshots;

• Eddie Olczyk, NBC Sports Group’s lead NHL analyst, joins the Kentucky Derby broadcast team for the first time;

• Josh Elliott reports feature stories including a profile of 52-year-old jockey Gary Stevens, who makes a Derby comeback nine months after undergoing knee replacement surgery; and a look back at previous Kentucky Derby-winning horses including last year’s Triple Crown hopeful California Chrome;

• Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski return as NBC Sports Group’s Derby fashion and lifestyle experts COMMENTATORS: NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the Kentucky Derby features hosts Bob Costas, a 26-time Emmy Award-winner, and Tom Hammond, a veteran NBC Sports commentator; analysts Randy Moss and Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey; analysts/handicappers Mike Battaglia and Eddie Olczyk; NBCSN host/NBC reporter Laffit Pincay, III; reporters Kenny Rice, Donna Brothers and Jay Privman; and race caller Larry Collmus. After making their Kentucky Derby debuts last year, Josh Elliott and Carolyn Manno provide a mix of features and interviews at Churchill Downs, and Olympic figure skaters and NBC figure skating analysts Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski reprise their roles as fashion and lifestyle experts.
  

NBC Sports Live Extra Kentucky Derby Coverage

NBC Sports Live Extra — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets — will stream Kentucky Derby week coverage on NBC and NBCSN 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 and Windows Store. For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra.

NBC Sports Live Extra’s Derby Day coverage includes: 

• Four exclusive camera angles that showcase the activity happening across Churchill Downs

• Bonus analysis by NBC Sports commentators

• Replays and footage from the key "Road to the Kentucky Derby" prep races