NASCAR inks media rights deals with Fox, NBC, Amazon and Warner Bros. What we know
Those looking to watch NASCAR on TV will have a few more networks and streaming platforms to keep in mind starting in 2025.
On Wednesday, NASCAR announced a set of new media rights agreements that will include traditional partners Fox and NBC and will also bring in Amazon and see the return of TNT Sports, which belongs to Warner Bros. Discovery. The deals will run for seven years from 2025-2031 and according to Sports Business Journal, total $7.7 billion.
“Our goal was to secure long-term stability with an optimized mix of distribution platforms and innovative partners that would allow us to grow the sport while delivering our product to fans wherever they are — and we’ve achieved that today,” NASCAR President Steve Phelps said. “These agreements demonstrate the staying power of our sport and the consistent, large-scale audience it delivers. This landmark deal underscores our collective growth opportunity to drive engagement across this diverse collection of platforms — whether on broadcast, cable or direct-to-consumer.”
“These agreements not only show NASCAR’s importance to the sports and entertainment ecosystem, but also the willingness of some of the world’s largest and most respected media companies to make significant investments in America’s leading motorsport,” Brian Herbst, NASCAR senior vice president of media and productions added. “This is the right mix of media partners to promote and deliver content around our sport — positioning NASCAR for growth across different mediums and giving our fans uninterrupted access on the established platforms that they are already using. We are excited to work with this best-in-class group of media companies to deliver the best of NASCAR racing and the excitement of live sports to our fans.”
Let's take a look at how races can be viewed starting 2025:
How will races be divided between networks and streaming platforms?
Counting the season-opening Busch Light Clast and the All-Star Race, there are 38 events on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. In recent years, the schedule has been split with Fox and its networks airing the first half of the slate and NBC and its stations handling the second half.
That will continue somewhat with Fox airing the first 14 events, including the Daytona 500 and NBC handling the last 14 races culminating with the Cup Series championship race.
The middle 10 races will now be split in half with Prime Video airing the first five and TNT handling the second five with TNT's races also airing on Max. Prime Video also holds the rights to Cup practice and qualifying sessions over the first half of the season, not counting sessions for the Clash and the Daytona 500, which will remain with Fox. Practice and qualifying in the second half of the season will be carried by TruTV and will be streamed on Max as well.
TNT, which aired NASCAR races for 32 years, hasn't broadcast a NASCAR event since 2014. Prime Video, which is venturing into live motorsports broadcasts for the first time, is also working on a documentary on Garage 56.
How many races will air on cable?
Fox is slated to air five events and NBC is committed to four. That leaves nine events to air on Fox Sports 1 and 10 to be broadcast on USA Network.
How can I watch Xfinity Series races?
The CW Network will broadcast all 33 Xfinity Series events as well as practice and qualifying sessions for each race.
How can I watch Craftsman Truck Series races?
The Craftsman Truck Series will continue to have its entire 23-race season aired on FS1.
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