Notre Dame is stepping into a new world of sports television programming with an exciting announcement.
The iconic sports institute is planning to launch a ‘Hard Knocks’ style documentary series on Peacock.
Notre Dame planning ‘Hard Knocks’-style docuseries for Peacock https://t.co/gy0jrDdTWK pic.twitter.com/UyOESmi27C
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 7, 2023
Outgoing Notre Dame Athletic Director, Jack Swarbrick, confirmed some crucial details about this docuseries at a recent forum.
Said event was none other than the Sports Business Journal Intercollegiate Athletics Forum held in Las Vegas.
The top brass at Notre Dame revealed that their upcoming series would parallel the ‘Hard Knocks’ series format.
It wasn’t a surprise, as most viewers expected the series to have a ‘Hard Knocks’ twist, given Notre Dame’s close relationship with NBC Sports.
However, it’s anticipated that Notre Dame will ensure a considerable level of control. They would want to maintain their esteemed image by avoiding any scenes that may negatively affect their reputation.
Swarbrick also deliberated on Notre Dame’s independence, asserting its utmost importance for the program’s future development.
The university has demonstrated unparalleled dedication and effort towards securing its self-reliance in the coming years.
“We don’t do it because it’s financially advantageous or competitively advantageous, we do it because of the value to the university,” Swarbrick said, via Fischer.
Swarbrick made it clear that Pete Bevacqua, his successor, fully supports the idea of Notre Dame remaining independent.
“Yes. Well, I think my successor has the same view as I do. If he has a career comparable to mine, it’ll be at least that long,” he said, via Brandon Marcello.
The press release from last month announced an extension of the broadcasting rights partnership between NBC and Notre Dame until 2029.
The same announcement mentioned Peacock as the official platform for the new Notre Dame Football series, starting in 2024.
Interestingly, Swarbrick stated that NBC’s involvement in the new Big Ten rights deal played a significant role in reassuring Notre Dame that aligning with them was the correct decision.
“That was an important part of our decision, the fact that NBC acquired more college football rights,” Swarbrick said. “We were on a bit of an island.”
