NBC Announces Extension of Deal with Notre Dame to Keep Exclusive Games on Peacock Until 2029

The expense of live sports rights makes it somewhat surprising that Peacock is one of the least expensive streaming services on the market. Live sports cost media providers a pretty penny, but even with a price increase this year Peacock is still available starting at just $5.99 per month.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have called NBC home for broadcasts of its athletics since 1991. That 32-year relationship is the longest in college sports broadcasting currently, and it’s going to continue until at least 2029 thanks to an extension of the deal between the school and the channel announced this weekend.

“There is no better tradition than Notre Dame Football in South Bend, and we are thrilled to keep that tradition within the NBC Sports family as we extend our relationship as the exclusive home of Fighting Irish home games through the end of the decade,” said Rick Cordella, President, NBC Sports. “With enhanced rights that allow us to present Notre Dame Football on NBC as well as across Peacock and additional platforms, we look forward to bringing the Fighting Irish to fans in more ways than ever before.”

The extension means that all Notre Dame home games will continue to be available on NBC and its companion streamer Peacock. Peacock will not only get exclusive Notre Dame games that won’t air anywhere else, but it will also get a documentary series dedicated to the team that will debut annually and will show its first episode in 2024.

The extension is a great sign for Peacock, which will continue to keep its live sports inventory quite impressive. Fans are responding, as Notre Dame games have averaged more than 5 million viewers over the course of the team’s first five games. That’s an 86% jump in audience over a season ago, and NBCUniversal has only expanded its college sports portfolio this season.

A gigantic deal with the Big Ten is a part of that equation, as well. The blockbuster matchup between Notre Dame and the Ohio State Buckeyes averaged 10.6 million viewers across platforms, and like Notre Dame NBCU’s contract allows it to stream exclusive Big Ten contests every season.

Its enviable live sports lineup is precisely what makes Peacock such an attractive prospect when it comes to mergers and acquisitions. It could also be what helps Peacock survive longer than some other streaming platforms as aggregation becomes a greater industry-wide trend. Its library of lean-back streaming shows and its huge selection of live sports, not to mention the backing of Comcast, one of the largest broadband providers in the United States could be hugely important in keeping Peacock an independent streaming service for years to come.

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Notre Dame has an important decision to make in the very near future. The Fighting Irish plan to bring in a quarterback from the transfer portal for the second straight year. Who that is and what his impact will be on the team’s 2024 quarterback depth chart is yet to be determined. The Irish have two young quarterbacks, Steve Angeli and Kenny Minchey, on the roster with a third, highly touted commit CJ Carr set to join the team soon. Sam Hartman’s arrival last offseason sent a ripple through the quarterback room when first Drew Pyne and then Tyler Buchner, who combined to take all of last season’s snaps, transferred. Hartman took all of the team’s high leverage snaps this season, but Steve Angeli was allowed to run the full offense and not just handoff and kill the clock when he appeared in six games in relief of the veteran. The sophomore gave Irish offensive coordinator Gerad Parker plenty to evaluate.

“Great promise,” Parker stated when asked about Minchey. “When you start, you’re like, ‘Man, OK, what’s this (demeanor)?’ You didn’t know because he is super chill. But there is a lot there. He has gained a lot of respect from the guys in the locker room. He has strong arm talent, really studies. Has become a part of that quarterback room. Those guys hang out a lot because they spend a lot of time around the place to study and prepare. So, really happy there.” Braylon James While freshman receivers like Jaden Greathouse and Rico Flores, Jr and even former walk-on/lacrosse player Jordan Faison have had splashier rookie season, Braylon James has continued to make his own strides. James made his first (and so far only) catch against Pittsburgh for 12 yards but he has played in four games total, which would allow him to also play in Notre Dame’s bowl game and still preserve a year of eligibility. “Braylon James has continued to improve and work,” Parker remarked. “Just has to continue to develop, absolutely. I think you guys know that. Braylon has stayed in it. Stayed with us and stayed with the older guys to learn how to continue to develop to get there. Really pleased with him. As far as what he’s going to have to do to develop, those young guys need bowl practice, need spring practice, need summer development, and it’s going to be good for them. Coach Freeman probably puts it best; those young players, you can’t compare yourself to where another person is in your class or where other guys are. This is your road. This is your bumpy road to better. Stay on your road, get better and improve. I think if that happens, young players, you see them turn into really good players. He has that possibility.”

Among freshman offensive linemen Chris Terek, Charles Jagusah, Joe Otting, Sam Pendleton, and Sullivan Absher, only Pendleton (Pittsburgh) has played in a game this season. “Those guys show great promise,” Parker said of the freshman linemen. “What they’ve done for the defensive scout team, looks, and what they’ve done for our defense has been a lot of compliments from the defensive staff, and there is a lot of promise there. “A couple of those guys because we had two bye weeks got a lot of work,” Parker continued. “Jagusah, Otting, all those guys, they’ve all kind of stepped up and played roles. Had to snap the football with (Otting). I’m trying to think of when they did. But I know Jagusah had to come up and do some stuff to fill in. Sam Pendleton and Sully, all those guys, we feel really good about those guys as young linemen. They needed to redshirt and needed some time but it’s going to be fun to see them develop.”