NBC Sports and World Aquatics Extend Media Rights Partnership Through 2028

World Aquatics has extended its exclusive U.S. media rights agreement with NBC Sports through 2028, in a deal brokered by global agency SPORTFIVE. The multi-year deal guarantees American audiences will continue to enjoy the excitement of world-class aquatic competition, headlined by the World Aquatics Championships, the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) and the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup series.
The agreement helps boost momentum toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games in the U.S. while ensuring coverage for the flagship World Aquatics events and sharing the performances of US aquatics athletes with their home audience.
As part of the agreement, NBC Sports will present a dynamic slate of World Aquatics events annually across NBC and Peacock, including:
- World Aquatics Championships
- World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m)
- Swimming World Cup
- Artistic Swimming World Cup Super Final
- Diving World Cup
- High Diving World Cup
Crucially, the agreement includes the 2027 World Aquatics Championships, in Budapest (Hungary), a major highlight on the international sports calendar and a key milestone on the road to the LA 2028 Olympic Games. The World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) – Beijing 2026 will also feature.
Husain Al Musallam, World Aquatics President, said: This extension marks a significant development for aquatic media exposure in the U.S. and continues NBC Sports’ tradition of providing robust Olympic sport programming. Already the U.S. media rightsholder for the Olympic Games through 2036, NBC Sports’ expanded World Aquatics coverage complements its existing coverage of USA Swimming and the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials. Joe Gesue, SVP, Olympic Programming & Planning, NBC Sports, stated: This partnership also underscores SPORTFIVE’s role as one of the world’s leading media rights agencies. With decades of experience negotiating and facilitating global sports media deals, SPORTFIVE continues to help premium rightsholders and broadcasters create impactful partnerships that grow audiences and boost sports visibility. From Olympic sports to global championships, SPORTFIVE connects premium content with premier platforms, bringing world-class sports to global audiences. Thomas Klingebiel, President Media Global, SPORTFIVE, added: |