TV News: NASCAR reportedly meeting with streamers to join Fox and NBC

–by Mark Cipolloni–

The exclusive negotiating window between NASCAR and current broadcasters Fox and NBC ended on Monday. It’s expected that NASCAR will renew with Fox and NBC, but there is talk of possibly spinning off some broadcasts to a streaming service.

Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand reported that NASCAR executives are meeting “with a host of digital media companies” on Monday and Tuesday this week.

It’s unknown which streaming companies are talking to NASCAR or what kind of package these companies are suggesting, but Ourand is speculating a six-race mid-summer package. We think it will be more like qualifying and practice stuff. It could also be for the Truck and Xfinity Series.

NASCAR Must Have Their Head up Where the Sun does not shine

If this report is true that NASCAR may agree to stream actual ‘Cup’ races, NASCAR teams are going to demand even more money from NASCAR from the next TV deal.

Team owners are already trying to negotiate a higher percentage of TV revenue to offset decreased sponsorship rates because NASCAR TV ratings continue their downward spiral.

If six NASCAR Cup Series races go to a streaming service, it’s likely to have even further decreased viewership. Decreased viewership means sponsorships are set to lose even more value during those races.