Posted on 07/23/2013 12:15:25 PM PDT by John W
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. and NEW YORK (July 23, 2013) – NASCAR and NBC Sports Group announced today they have reached a comprehensive agreement that grants NBCUniversal exclusive rights to the final 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, final 19 NASCAR Nationwide Series events, select NASCAR Regional & Touring Series events and other live content beginning in 2015. Financial terms of the agreement, which runs through the 2024 season, were not disclosed.
With this partnership, NBC’s 20 Sprint Cup race schedule includes becoming the exclusive home to 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 NBC Sports Group’s 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, seven will be carried on NBC annually, with 13 airing on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN). Four of NBC Sports Group’s 19 NASCAR Nationwide Series races will air on NBC, with 15 airing on NBCSN.
“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 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brian France. “We know this partnership will yield great value to our entire industry, provide a premium experience to our most important stakeholders, the fans, and help us achieve a number of strategic growth objectives. 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.”
In addition to rights to NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series races, NBC has also obtained exclusive rights to practice and qualifying sessions for NBC’s national series events during their portion of the season, as well as rights to broadcast the NASCAR K&N Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Toyota (Mexico) Series, the NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony and NASCAR’s season-ending banquets. Further, NBC has been granted Spanish-language rights, certain video-on-demand rights and exclusive TV Everywhere rights for its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series events.
“Acquiring the rights and bringing NASCAR back to NBC comes at an important point in time for NBC Sports Network, NBC, and all of our distributors and affiliates,” said NBC Sports Group Chairman, Mark Lazarus. “We look forward to working with Brian and his management team, who have brought a renewed focus to NASCAR’s intersection of sports and technology.”
“We are excited about the cross-promotional opportunities NBC provides, especially in the timeframes right before NBC’s NASCAR schedule and during the Chase,” said NASCAR VP of Broadcasting and Productions, Steve Herbst. “We’re confident NBC will utilize its powerful Championship Season lineup, including the NHL Playoffs, Premier League, the French Open, the Kentucky Derby and other events, to build interest and excitement for NASCAR. Those opportunities, combined with the opportunity to lead into the number one show on television – NBC’s Sunday Night Football – for select Chase races, were both very attractive prospects when considering this partnership.”
Summary of key NBC Sports Group Exclusive Rights – 2015-2024:
Final 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races (7 on NBC, 13 on NBCSN)
Final 19 NASCAR Nationwide Series races (4 on NBC, 15 on NBCSN)
NASCAR K&N Series and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events
NASCAR Toyota (Mexico) Series events
NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony and season-ending banquets
‘TV Everywhere’ live-streaming rights for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series
Spanish-language broadcast rights on Telemundo and Mun2 for national series events and NASCAR Toyota (Mexico) Series
– NBC Sports Group –
I can imagine the NBC announcers pondering out loud about the racial make-up of NASCAR drivers.
But at least we won’t have to listen to DW.
Maybe we can get Ward Burton to explain it to 'em.
they now have full rights for F1 in the US and show the majority of Indycar races on the schedule...
Nothing like spitting in the face of the ones who brung you.
What follows next: pink helmets. You heard it here first.
Yeah. I smell a rat too.
Are you sure? As I read this, Fox will still have the first part of the series. NBC seems to have bought ABC/ESPN's part of the season.
DW will remain as a drag for the opening 10 or 15 races.
I don’t watch NBC so my days of watching NASCAR races are done.
Aww jeez, something else for them to put a damper on.
Well, it isn’t like ABC/ESPN is a bastion of conservatism.
I guess ESPN really WILL be going All Politics...
NASCAR has to guarantee at least one Danica victory...
Will the NASCAR drivers have to contain a specified minimum number of felons in order to meet quotas?
No they are not. But the most liberal ntwork in the country, the home of Chris Matthews, Al Sharpton, Ed Schultz, Joe Scarborough, Rachel Maddow et al is not worthy of my time.
“But at least we won’t have to listen to DW.”
No. you’ll probably wind up listening to Keith Olberman.
You mean Wuahd Buhton?
Fixed.
Wait'll they demonstrate bump drafting.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.