NASCAR and NBC Sports Group announced a new agreement that grants NBC exclusive rights to the final 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, final 19 NASCAR Nationwide Series events and other live events beginning in 2015. Obviously, it means NASCAR will be leaving Fox Sports for NBC on these events.
But they still have the other races with Fox. So there’s no breakup here. It’s just bigamy. Which is cool; especially in Utah.
In fact, three Cup races and half of the NASCAR Nationwide series still remain up for grabs. The NASCAR races NBC bought were from ESPN.
NBC’s 20 Cup race schedule includes all of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR’s final 10 races of the season, including its season-ending championship event which will return to network television in 2015 for the first time since 2009.
Of the 20 Cup events, seven will be on NBC annually, 13 aon NBC Sports Network (NBCSN). Four NASCAR Nationwide races will air on NBC, with 15 airing on NBCSN. NBC was able to buy what they were offered, but they wanted to buy more races it appeared. Fox’s deal expires in 2022. NBC’s expires in 2024.
“NBC is known for being an exceptional partner and delivering outstanding production quality and presentation of live sports, as well as its broad portfolio of broadcast and digital properties so we are thrilled with the commitment they have made to NASCAR and its future,” said NASCAR CEO Brian France on media conference call today.
“Our new partnership with NBC and the recent extension by FOX validate the strength of our fan base and the many bold steps we have taken the last several years to provide fans with better, more accessible racing.”
NASCAR Vice President of Broadcasting and Production, Steve Herbst: “First half of Nationwide and three Sprint Cup races remain open.”
Both Nationwide and Cup will be featured on Fox Sports 1 in some degree.
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. An analyst for 95.7 The Fan, he also writes on Chicago sports media for Chicago Now. President Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)
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