Ok, the big news of the day and a huge win for NBC which really needed a win after losing rights to the College Football Playoff, MLB, Wimbledon and various college sports properties. NBC Sports Group has announced a 10 year rights deal for 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup races, 19 Nationwide Series races and select NASCAR Regional and Touring events that will begin in 2015 and last until 2024.
Here are highlights of the deal:
- NBC Sports Group gains rights to 20 Sprint Cup Series races.
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- NBC will air seven Sprint Cup Races
- NBC Sports Network will air 13 Sprint Cup Series races.
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- NBC Sports Group will air 19 Nationwide Series Races in the second half of the NASCAR season.
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- NBC will air four Nationwide Series Races
- NBC Sports Network will air 15 Nationwide Series races.
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- NBC is granted “TV Everywhere” rights allowing for streaming online, on mobiles and on tablets.
- NBC is also awarded Spanish-language rights meaning races will be aired on Telemundo.
- NBC also has rights for the NASCAR Hall of Fame Ceremony and the NASCAR season-ending banquet, two events currently seen on Speed.
- NBC plans to cross-promote NASCAR with other NBC Sports Group properties such as the Kentucky Derby, NHL, Olympics and Sunday Night Football.
- Late season races will be run leading into Sunday Night Football.
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It marks a return to NBC since the races left after the 2006 Sprint Cup season.
Here’s the official announcement.
NASCAR and NBC Sports Group Reach Landmark Media Rights Agreement
Ten-Year Agreement Returns NASCAR to NBC Family of Networks Beginning in 2015, Further Underscores Strength of NASCAR’s Live Racing Product
And Positions Industry for Continued GrowthDAYTONA 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:
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Final 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races (7 on NBC, 13 on NBCSN)
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Final 19 NASCAR Nationwide Series races (4 on NBC, 15 on NBCSN)
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NASCAR K&N Series and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events
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NASCAR Toyota (Mexico) Series events
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NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony and season-ending banquets
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‘TV Everywhere’ live-streaming rights for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series
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Spanish-language broadcast rights on Telemundo and Mun2 for national series events and NASCAR Toyota (Mexico) Series-
That is all.
