NBC Secures Preakness Stakes Broadcast Rights Amid Competition
NBC will continue to air the Preakness Stakes, keeping the first two Triple Crown races on its network after outbidding Fox, Netflix and Amazon.
NBC confirmed it will retain broadcast rights to the Preakness Stakes for at least the next season, beating bids from Fox Sports, Netflix and Amazon. The announcement is expected during a press conference with Maryland Governor Wes Moore on Wednesday.
The network will thus continue to televise the first two legs of the Triple Crown, while its existing agreement to air the Kentucky Derby runs through 2032. Churchill Downs Incorporated, which operates the Derby, purchased the Preakness and other Pimlico races in April for $85 million. Fox retains rights to the Belmont Stakes through 2030.
The decision follows the launch of the Thoroughbred Championship Series, a new competition that includes the Derby and Belmont but excludes the Preakness. Attendance and viewership for the Preakness have declined in recent years, with NBC’s audience not exceeding 7 million since 2021, a level that had been surpassed for two decades prior. Industry observers suggest that a schedule adjustment—potentially moving the Preakness a week later—could help attract more Derby participants and improve ratings.
"The Preakness will stay on NBC," a network spokesperson said, adding that the network looks forward to continuing its coverage of the Triple Crown’s opening events.