SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame Global Partnerships (NDGP), the multimedia rightsholder for the University of Notre Dame Athletics Department, announced today a new sponsorship with DIRECTV. DIRECTV, a leader in sports and entertainment for nearly 30 years, will become an official sponsor of Notre Dame Athletics and its 26 varsity athletic teams.
DIRECTV brings a long legacy of innovation in sports content distribution and sponsorships to Notre Dame Athletics, having worked with teams, leagues, and events across the entire U.S. sporting landscape since its inception in 1994.
As part of the multi-year agreement, DIRECTV will receive the ability to include official Notre Dame Athletics designation, involvement in the Notre Dame Radio Network, and access to VIP hospitality at home games to further amplify the partnership.
“We are thrilled to partner with DIRECTV, and support their long-standing commitment to delivering high-quality sports and entertainment content on a national scale, especially to the millions of Notre Dame fans across the country,” said Jim Fraleigh, Notre Dame Deputy Athletics Director, Corporate Relations.
“DIRECTV has put fans across the U.S. squarely in the middle of the college sports experience for nearly 30 years, and as a proud sponsor of Notre Dame Athletics we’re going deeper on our commitment to support and deliver programming year-round,” said Vince Torres, chief marketing officer of DIRECTV. “We look forward to building a stronger relationship with students, alumni and Fighting Irish fans everywhere.”
Notre Dame Global Partnerships, a joint venture between Legends and JMI Sports, facilitated the partnership.
###
About Notre Dame Athletics
The University of Notre Dame sponsors 26 varsity athletics programs (13 men’s, 13 women’s), dating back to 1887 when the Irish played their first football game. Notre Dame won its 33rd national championship in 2022 when the Irish claimed the NCAA Fencing Championship following previous titles in football (11 consensus), fencing (three men, one women, seven combined), women’s soccer (three), women’s basketball (two), men’s tennis (two), plus one each in men’s soccer, men’s golf and men’s cross country. Notre Dame student-athletes in 2021 recorded one of the highest NCAA Graduation Success Rate figures (97) among all Football Bowl Subdivision institutions. In the 2021 Olympic Games, the Irish sent an ACC-leading 21 current or former student-athletes to Tokyo (most in school history). Notre Dame football remains independent in terms of conference affiliation, but most other Irish sports began competing in the ACC in 2013-14.
About Notre Dame Global Partnerships
Notre Dame Global Partnerships (NGDP) manages the sales, marketing, sponsorship, multimedia rights, and branding services for the University of Notre Dame’s Athletics programs. Founded in 2018, NDGP is a joint venture between JMI Sports and Legends, formed to build integrated partnerships with industry-leading partners that share the University’s commitment to both academic and athletic excellence. Notre Dame’s status as one of the most recognizable and iconic institutions in collegiate athletics offers brands a unique opportunity to connect with fans, students, and alumni globally. NDGP is creating new and innovative partnerships that contribute to the University’s mission while also upholding its storied history and tradition.
About DIRECTV
As a leader in sports and entertainment for almost 30 years, DIRECTV provides industry-leading content, service, and user satisfaction. By reimagining what is possible, DIRECTV’s mission is to aggregate, curate and deliver exceptional, innovative service to its customers. In 2023, DIRECTV elevated the customer experience by delivering Gemini, which can integrate customers’ content from their third-party platform subscriptions onto a single one-stop, digital experience. With DIRECTV, the sports season never ends, and customers are treated to broadcasts of several major sports, including the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and multiple domestic and international soccer leagues. DIRECTV provides customers the choice of watching sports, movies, and TV shows on their TVs at home or their favorite mobile devices via the DIRECTV app.
Media Contacts:
Nick Ammazzalorso, DIRECTV / nicholas.ammazzalorso@directv.com
Stacey Escudero, Legends / sescudero@legends.net