“Despite recent reports to the
contrary, nothing substantive has been presented to NASCAR regarding broadcast
partners’ plans to alter our TV agreement in 2014,” said Herbst in a written
statement today. “We’re very happy with our current broadcast partners and
fully expect and are excited to be back with FOX, Turner and ESPN next year.
These types of discussions happen regularly across the sports television
landscape, very rarely resulting in changes to a media rights agreement.”
The sanctioning body recently announced a new
10-year broadcast contract with FOX and NBC that begins at Daytona in February
of 2015. Sports Business Journal has reported that ESPN and Turner Sports have
inquired about foregoing the final year of their respective contracts by
selling the rights to FOX and NBC. While all four networks are reportedly
interested in the deal, major road blocks remain concerning compensation.
Well, so far Fox Sports 1 is a joke. Truck Qualifying and the Modified race at Bristol weren't on Fox Sports 1, they were on Fox Sports 2, which isn't even a Hi-Def channel!! The video quality makes the videos of the moon landing look like Hi-Def. It's disgusting!!! And what was on Fox Sports 1, football talk shows. NASCAR fans got screwed on this deal!! Now were locked in on a 10 year deal? Can you imagine how muck technology will change over the next ten years? Any more changes, and we'll be watching races on antenna t.v.!!
ReplyDeleteRon, the market is working against NASCAR now, even with the absurd rights fees FOX and NBC paid. NASCAR has no standing to demand coverage of Truck qualifying et al anymore.
ReplyDeleteI'm not convinced ESPN won't bail out of its NASCAR coverage for 2014 - it no longer makes any sense to have ESPN involved in the sport.