ESPN is cooling on its interest in bringing NASCAR back. Bristol has other priorities in how it spends and does not want to get into a situation where it has to overpay for the rights.
In a new mailbag column, Jordan Bianchi, a staff writer covering motorsports for The Athletic, reveals that FOX and NBC are expected to retain their TV rights to NASCAR. However, ESPN had previously expressed interest, something NASCAR officials were excited about.
Interest has waned though and ESPN is unlikely to bid.
“One reason why is that ESPN’s deal with the NBA is coming up for renewal, a package one would assume is a priority to retain, and it must negotiate such an extension amid company‐wide belt-tightening,” writes Bianchi. “This doesn’t leave a lot left over to pursue deals with other sports leagues, like NASCAR.”
If there is a third television package for NASCAR, it is expected to be a streaming exclusive. John Ourand had reported earlier this year that the sport was interested in creating a summer package to sell exclusively to a streamer.
Previously, it was reported that the second tier of NASCAR, the XFinity Series, is expected to be available exclusively as a streaming product as part of the next TV deal.
