NASCAR’s next TV deal will commence at the beginning of the 2025 season which means the current contracts with FOX and NBC have two more years remaining. However, the sport has been negotiating with the networks as of now with a possible surprise coming soon.
According to Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand, FOX and NBC have expressed their desire to keep their NASCAR rights and go forward into the future. This comes as the exclusive negotiating window through April has reportedly begun.
As of right now, talks with FOX, NBC, and NASCAR are going smoothly and it seems pretty likely that they will stick around. However, there is another twist to the next TV deal that is eye-opening.
Related: ESPN might be interested in NASCAR’s new TV deal for 2025 season
NASCAR continues talks with FOX and NBC, Amazon likely to be aggressive in pursuit of streaming
NASCAR will continue talking to FOX and NBC throughout the entire process and Sports Business Journal has the latest on those talks. According to the website, FOX and NBC could look to keep their rights fee flat or on a slight increase.
Meanwhile, NASCAR will look to secure a longer TV deal of up to 10 years in an effort to increase the average annual payout. Even though the sport wants to continue with the two networks, there is another factor involved.
Ourand reports that NASCAR is likely to let the exclusive negotiating window expire without a deal. This is due to the sport’s desire to add a third package that would primarily be for a streaming service.
According to Sports Business Journal, Amazon is likely to be the most aggressive in pursuit of a streaming package. This comes after Amazon secured the NFL’s Thursday Night Football package for the 2022 season and beyond.
This would be a major change in the way that NASCAR is presented moving forward. However, it may not be for Cup Series races if that happens. It will be something to pay attention to moving forward.
In the new day and age, it is not surprising to see NASCAR pursue the possibility of a streaming service. It means fans would have to buy a streaming service to watch some events over the course of the season.
It appears likely on the reporting above that NASCAR will continue with FOX and NBC. Quite frankly, it is good for the sport to have those major networks but it never hurts to add another big one.
The reality of the situation is that a decision won’t likely be made any time soon. It will be an interesting story to follow as the desire for better TV production among the NASCAR fanbase has never been stronger.