NASCAR on television in the 2020s

On October 15, 2012, NASCAR and the Fox Sports Media Group (FSMG) announced a new $2.4 billion eight-year deal, a 30% increase from their previous deal.[1] On July 23, 2013, NASCAR and the NBC Sports Group announced a new $4.4 billion ten-year deal.[2][3][4] Ten days later on August 1, 2013, NASCAR and Fox extended and expanded their agreement, paying an additional $1.4 billion to do so, to complete NASCAR's new TV package through the 2024 season.[5][6] NBC reportedly bid over 50% more than ESPN and Turner for their portion of the package, despite Turner and ESPN expressing interest about continuing their relationship with NASCAR.[7]

Main articles: NASCAR on television and radio and Sports_broadcasting_contracts_in_the_United_States § NASCAR

Year-by-year summary

2020

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic after the 4th race of the season Fox started using their Charlotte Studio to the maximum extent possible to avoid travel, ensure social distancing, and limit the number of staff onsite at races. The only on-air talent onsite was at most two pit reporters per race, all other talent was stationed at the Fox Studios in Charlotte.

Also due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NBC team initially broadcast all races from the broadcast booth at Charlotte Motor Speedway with only 1-2 pit reporters onsite. Although NBC has a small studio in Charlotte for NASCAR America segments, the studio was deemed too small to be able to do race broadcasts and maintain social distancing. For the Indianapolis race weekend, Mike Tirico hosted from the track; Tirico lives close enough to Indianapolis he was able to drive to the track to host. For the final 5 races of the season (starting with the Charlotte Roval Race) the NBC on-air team resumed travel to race sites.

NASCAR America stopped airing when the pandemic began and has not yet returned to air. NBC has cited other conflicting live events as the reason the program has not returned to air; NBCSN aired the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs throughout the show's timeslot in July and August.

On July 28, 2020, it was announced that Brad Daugherty would be an analyst for NASCAR on NBC from the first Michigan International Speedway race onwards.[8] At the conclusion of the 2020 season, Krista Voda revealed on social media she would not be returning to NBC. Voda stated NBC had elected to eliminate her position from race broadcasts.

2021

On January 22, 2021, an internal memo sent by NBC Sports president Pete Bevacqua announced that NBCSN would cease operations by the end of the year, and that USA Network would begin "carrying and/or simulcasting certain NBC Sports programming," including the Stanley Cup playoffs and NASCAR races, before NBCSN's shutdown. Peacock, NBCUniversal's new streaming service, will also carry some of the network's former programming starting in 2022.[9][10] The move was cited by industry analysts as a response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sports and television industries, the acceleration of cord-cutting, as well as formidable competition from rival sports networks such as ESPN and Fox Sports 1.[11]

During Summer Olympic years (three during the contract, in 2016, 2020, and 2024), NBC will assign different NBCUniversal channels to air races as a result of scheduling conflicts. In 2021, the Cup Series will take two weeks off to minimize any conflict with the Olympics; the Watkins Glen race will be run on the day of the Games' closing ceremony. The two Xfinity Series race that will take place during the Games (at Watkins Glen) will air on CNBC. If a NASCAR race is postponed to Monday and it conflicts with an English Premier League match, the race will move to USA (CNBC is also unavailable on weekdays due to its stock market coverage), though this has not happened yet as of the end of the 2020 season.

References
  1. Pockrass, Bob (October 15, 2012). "Fox, NASCAR agree to eight-year, $2.4 billion contract extension for Sprint Cup races". SportingNews.com. Sporting News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  2. Cain, Holly (July 23, 2013). "NASCAR, NBC Sports Group reach landmark deal". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  3. Estrada, Chris (July 23, 2013). "NASCAR compelling because of "wonderful stories," says NBC Sports' chairman". Motorsportstalk.NBCSports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  4. "NASCAR CONFERENCE CALL TRANSCRIPT: JULY 23, 2013". NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com. NBC Universal. July 23, 2013. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  5. "NASCAR, Fox extend, expand rights agreement". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. August 1, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  6. Mickle, Tripp; Ourand, John (August 1, 2013). "Fox Sports, NASCAR Finalize Rights Deal Through '24 Worth $3.8B". SportsBusinessDaily.com. American City Business Journals. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  7. Mickle, Tripp; Ourand, John (July 23, 2013). "NBC Sports Inks 10-Year Deal For 20 Sprint Cup Races Annually". SportsBusinessDaily.com. American City Business Journals. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  8. "Brad Daugherty joins NBC Sports NASCAR broadcast team". NBC Sports. July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  9. Pallotta, Frank (January 22, 2021). "NBC Sports Network to shut down by the end of the year". CNN. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  10. Flint, Joe; Rizzo, Lillian (January 22, 2021). "Comcast's NBCUniversal to Shut Down Sports Cable Channel NBCSN by Year-End". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  11. Hayes, Dade. "Cable Network NBCSN To Go Dark By Year-End, With Live Sports Telecasts Shifting To USA Network, Peacock". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
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