NBC Sports Group and the AVP have formally announced a deal for tournaments to air on NBC and NBCSN, as well as live streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra. The agreement calls for 17.5 hours of coverage in '15, including 10 on NBC. Coverage will include the men's and women's finals of all seven regular-season events (NBC). There is "no rights fee associated with the deal; the AVP will handle all ad and sponsorship sales." CBS Sports Network for the past two years carried AVP events "as part of a revenue-sharing deal" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/6 issue).
PROFILES IN COURAGE: Sporting News has signed two content partnerships designed to spotlight inspiration and cause-related issues. An alignment with Intersport will develop weekly features in Sporting News for Intersport's Courage In Sports initiative that will tell inspirational stories of athletes who overcome extraordinary obstacles. A second partnership with Denver-based You Can Play will create monthly features on noteworthy athletes in the LGBT community (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer).
NEW ROOMIES: In Cleveland, Kevin Kleps reports FS Ohio and SportsTime Ohio later this year "will lease a combined 23,000 square feet" at the former BP Tower building downtown. STO "has been relying on" WKYC-NBC's "production space and talent for the last 10 years." FS Ohio GM & Senior VP Francois McGillicuddy said, “We have two networks, but one management team. So this move is providing us the opportunity to consolidate into one production facility and office" (CRAIN'S CLEVELAND BUSINESS, 4/5 issue).
