ESPN, American Kennel Club, renew relationship with media rights for televised dog sport competitions

NEW YORK, November 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — ESPN and the American Kennel Club (AKC), the governing body of canine sport, have entered into a new, expanded five-year agreement that extends ESPN’s media rights to broadcast AKC-recognized canine sport events.

The agreement, which continues a relationship begun in 2019, will retain ESPN as the AKC’s exclusive canine sports media partner The United States. AKC events are distributed across ESPN’s television and digital platforms.

ESPN will distribute at least nine AKC events per year as part of the renewal, beginning with the AKC Agility National Championship in February 2023.

Among other AKC events to be broadcast on ESPN platforms under the renewed agreement:

• AKC National Championship (Conformation)
• AKC Agility Premier Cup
• AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup
• AKC Flyball Dog Challenge
• AKC Fastest Dogs United States of America

ESPN and the AKC first worked together in August 2019 on ESPN Dog Day, a live event on the ESPN campus in Bristol, Ct., and televised on ESPN.

Ahead of the start of the renewed agreement, AKC programming will have a heavy presence on ESPN platforms in December and January, highlighted by the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Caninethe largest dog show in North America.

highlights of the show 17-18 December in Orlando, Fla.will be broadcast in a three-hour special Sunday January 1stat 2 p.m. ET on ABC. The event features more than 5,000 of the world’s top canine competitors from across the country and around the world competing for Best in Show honors and the title of American National Champion.

Upcoming 2022 AKC programming on ESPN platforms (all times Eastern):

9 Dec	14 o’clock	AKC Disc Dog Challenge	ESPN2
11 Dec	22 O `clock	AKC Heroes – 2022 Canine Excellence Awards	ESPN2
25 December	2.30	AKC Agility Dogs Invitational	ESPN2
	4:30 p.m	AKC Disc Dog Challenge	ESPN2
January 1, 2023	14 o’clock	AKC National Championship	ABC

About the American Kennel Club

Founded in 1884, the American Kennel Club is a nonprofit organization that maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs The United States. The AKC is dedicated to maintaining the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs, and breeding for type and function. Along with its more than 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC champions the purebred dog as a family companion, promotes canine health and welfare, works to protect the rights of all dog owners, and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 22,000 AKC-registered purebred and mixed-breed dog competitions are held each year under AKC rules and regulations, including conformation, agility, obedience, rallying, tracking, herding, bait coursing, coonhound events, hunt trials, field and earth dog trials. AKC partner organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Reunite, and the AKC Museum of the Dog. AKC clubs make up America’s largest rescue network. Visit www.akc.org for more information.

AKC, American Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club seal and design, and all related marks and logos are trademarks, registered trademarks, and service marks of The American Kennel Club, Inc.

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SOURCE American Kennel Club