NASCAR's new TV contract -- goodbye ESPN

[Bob Cook]

Interesting pick for NASCAR. Must have felt like it gets lost on ESPN.

NBC offering to pay a 50 percent premium on what ESPN's paying -- given, NBC will get a few more races than ESPN has -- is what this is about.

Exactly. If ABC/ESPN offered the high amount of money, Billy France would be saying the same things about them as he's saying today about NBC/NBC Sports. As usual with NA$CAR, it's all about the money.
Curt Cavin had an interesting story in Indy Star today about the potential impact on IndyCar. IndyCar leaders might be tempted to get out of their current 10-year deal with NBC Sports and help ESPN fill its void, but Cavin suggested staying on NBC Sports could actually help the series as the network becomes known as the motorsports channel. It's a good point, one that reminds me a lot of how covering racing helped ESPN grow in the first place during the 1980s.

IndyCar would have to be all kinds of dumb to try to jump networks because it feels like it won't get enough attention. Being part of a network that is so dedicated to racing can only help. Of course, given IndyCar is usually all kinds of dumb, I expect it to try to break the NBC deal any time now.

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

Will Brad Daugherty start doing college basketball games for ESPN with NASCAR going away?

 

[Mark2010]

Not a racing fan, but in the overall picture I am really impressed with what NBC Sports has done in an attempt to build a legitimate cable network. Really started with Versus, or OLN as it was once known. Getting the NHL package seemed like the first big step. But, to their credit, they really didn't stop there, adding cycling, Major League Soccer, college football, basketball and hockey and other stuff.

In the end, viewers will find what interests them. If you're a racing fan, you're going to find where the races are. If you're not, chances are you're not going to watch just because it's on. When I was young a generation ago and there were only 3-4 channels, we actually did watch stuff just because "it was on". Now, with 100+ channels, everyone gets to pick and choose.

 

[Versatile]

They own the market for niche sports.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Automobile racing is hardly a niche sport, unless, as you seem to do, consider all sports but the NFL niche sports because of their U.S. TV ratings. The world's a lot bigger than just us, and a very wealthy broadcasting firm getting involved with sports that have huge international audiences seems like good business to me.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Fox has the cable clearance now. Speed, which will become Fox Sports 1, is in millions more homes than NBC Sports Network.

I would expect that to change pretty dramatically now that Comcast is NBC Sports Network.

 

[Versatile]

Automobile racing is hardly a niche sport, unless, as you seem to do, consider all sports but the NFL niche sports because of their U.S. TV ratings. The world's a lot bigger than just us, and a very wealthy broadcasting firm getting involved with sports that have huge international audiences seems like good business to me.

First of all, NBC only broadcasts in America.

Second, when did I say I considered auto racing a niche sport?

 

[Riptide]

First of all, NBC only broadcasts only in America.

 

[Captain Obvious]

You know, the Rust-eze Medicated Bumper Ointment team ran a great race today. And remember: with a little Rust-eze - and an insane amount of luck - you too can look like me. Ka-chow.