The deal, combined with domestic and international contracts NBC has with swimming, skating, track and skiing, gives the network the broadcast rights to a significant share of key US Olympic sports.
"This makes sense to us for a lot of reasons. It's the natural partner for us and I think the natural partner for the Olympic movement,” said USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny.
The USOC announced recently that it is launching its own channel in partnership with Comcast, expected to go on air after next year’s Vancouver Olympics. The Comcast deal came about after negotiations with NBC and Universal broke down.
The USOC network will show the Olympic trials, alongside lifestyle and studio shows and archive footage, although the rights for old highlights is are currently tied up in negotiations between the USOC, the International Olympic Committee and NBC.
NBC has televised every Summer Olympics since 1988 and every Winter Olympics since 2002.
