NBC To Air Live Coverage of the America’s Cup World Series

NBC will air live coverage of the America’s Cup World Series, this Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET. Sunday’s broadcast will feature the match racing final and fleet racing final, and will be the first U.S. network broadcast of America’s Cup racing in 20 years.

“We are excited to be collaborating with the America’s Cup to broadcast sailing in the United States for the first time in two decades.” said Jon Miller, President of Programming, NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. “The 34th America’s Cup is the premier sailing event, and we are proud to be delivering live coverage to viewers in the U.S.”

Eight crews from six countries are competing in the 2011-2012 America’s Cup World Series, including Artemis Racing (Sweden), Emirates Team New Zealand (New Zealand), Energy Team (France), Luna Rossa Piranha (Italy), Luna Rossa Swordfish (Italy), Team Korea (Korea), and ORACLE TEAM USA (USA), which is fielding two boats with skippers James Spithill and Russell Coutts.

The race in Newport is the sixth and final leg of the 2011-2012 America’s Cup World Series.

Spithill, the youngest skipper to win the America’s Cup, holds a narrow four-point lead over Emirates Team New Zealand’s Dean Barker. The final day of racing will determine the winner of the Newport event and the overall champion of the 2011-2012 America’s Cup World Series.

Veteran announcer Todd Harris will serve as the play-by-play commentator for the telecast, and will be joined in the booth by legendary sailor and author Gary Jobson.