February 11, 2016 - 12:40 PM
NEW YORK, N.Y. - The dogs are going Hollywood.
A person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press that NBC and USA Network are talking to the Kennel Club of Beverly Hills about televising its annual dog show. The person spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because no contract has been signed.
NBC has scored big with its Thanksgiving Day broadcast of the National Dog Show, drawing 26.5 million viewers for its telecast last November and a subsequent re-airing.
The next Beverly Hills dog show is scheduled for June, likely too soon for a national broadcast.
More likely, NBC would look to present the Southern California competition in the first half of 2017 on one of its partner networks, possibly tied to a family-friendly date and bringing in Hollywood celebrity elements and the Rodeo Drive crowd. USA Network is owned by NBCUniversal.
CNBC and USA Network will televise America's most prestigious dog show from the Westminster Kennel Club in New York on Monday and Tuesday.
The Westminster event is moving to Fox Sports 1 next year. NBC is intent on adding another dog show to its lineup to replace Westminster.
The Kennel Club of Beverly Hills held its first show in 1965. Westminster, the National in Philadelphia and the AKC/Eukanuba show in Orlando, Florida, draw the most attention among dog fanciers, and elevating the Beverly Hills event to a nationwide telecast could draw in greater West Coast participation.
News from © The Associated Press, 2016