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The next NASCAR TV deal is still being negotiated, but some pieces seem to be in place already. One of which, according to John Ourand of Sports Business Journal, is that Fox and NBC seem set to return in the next TV deal in similar capacities. When they return with the 2025 TV deal, what are the types of things we would like to see from Fox and NBC?
When IndyCar made their TV deal with NBC, it came with an interesting caveat. IndyCar has 12 races on network TV in 2024 in exchange for two races being on Peacock. The way that people consume media is changing, and NASCAR is looking to adjust its media rights accordingly in 2024. With fewer and fewer people on cable and more and more going to streaming, it is time to make a change.
NASCAR can work to get more races on the big network Fox and big network NBC but with the concession of putting more races on a streaming platform. This could likely work best on NBC since NBC has Peacock. Fox does not have a streaming service they broadcast sports, but they may get one eventually. Maybe NASCAR could carve out some interesting deal in Fox’s first sports streaming service.
Full-screen commercials are becoming less and less acceptable as time goes on. Streaming services now offer premium packages that have no ads, and Formula One runs their races in the United States commercial-free. Going totally commercial-free in NASCAR is not possible, but they can get more creative with how they advertise.
There can be the addition of more side-by-side commercials in NASCAR broadcasts, or maybe some more creative advertisement segments such as Toyota All-Out on Fox. Maybe NASCAR can work to produce a commercial-free broadcast as well for streamers who pay for the ad-free option. They would have to be very creative with how they go about it, but, it could be an option.
NASCAR is already working with Netflix on a docu-series on the 2023 Playoffs. They do not need something like that from Fox and NBC, but, maybe there can be more exclusive NASCAR content. Again, as networks move to streaming, that gives NASCAR the opportunity to put more content on these services.
It gives NASCAR the ability to give die-hard fans content all day every day that they can look at. Maybe they can watch Kyle Petty and Dale Earnhardt Jr. react to classic races during the offseason, or they can do a series about each driver and what they are into off the track.
This is more of a Fox problem than an NBC problem, but, having a pre-race and post-race show on-site makes the race atmosphere that much more fun. Having the commentators there, feeding off of the energy at the venue shows that fans that the race track is the place to be.
It heightens the production value once all of the race coverage is on-site. It also allows the broadcasting companies to have a presence at the track for the fans who are attending the race. Maybe there could be a return of the “Trackside” show from the 2000s.
Fox and NBC look set to return in 2025. Maybe it is the time that some major changes fans have been asking for actually happen.
