Thu Jun 19 12:39:30 2008

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Notre Dame extends TV deal with NBC

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South Bend, IN (Sports Network) - Notre Dame has announced a new five-year contract with NBC Sports to keep the school's home football games exclusively on the network.

The new deal will keep the Fighting Irish on NBC through 2015, extending the partnership for 25 years. NBC has televised Notre Dame home games since 1991.

"The innovative partnership between Notre Dame 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," said Notre Dame's president, Reverend John I. Jenkins. "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 Notre Dame, and we are pleased that this support to the academic mission of the university will continue."

Each season from 2011 to 2015, NBC will televise seven games at Notre Dame Stadium and, for the first time, an additional neutral-site game airing in prime time.

"We are absolutely thrilled to be continuing our landmark agreement with Notre Dame, the most storied brand in college sports," said NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol.

The Irish are coming off one of the worst seasons in program history, finishing 3-9. This year's home schedule features games against San Diego State, Michigan, Purdue, Stanford, Pittsburgh and Syracuse.