NBC returns to NASCAR in deal that runs through 2024

Staff reports | USA TODAY Sports

NASCAR has finalized the other half of its next long-term TV contract with NBC and severed future broadcast ties with ESPN and Turner Sports.

NBC and Fox will share rights to the Sprint Cup Series beginning with the 2015 season.

NBC and NASCAR agreed to a contract that runs from 2015-2024, but didn't release financial terms of the deal.

NBC picks up the last 20 of a scheduled 36 points Sprint Cup races, and they could air Sunday afternoons as a lead-in to Sunday Night Football. Fox and NBC will share TV rights to the Nationwide Series, which has aired on ESPN since 2007 ABC and ESPN began a NASCAR deal in place of NBC.

The new deal returns NASCAR's race broadcast landscape to a structure similar to 2001-06 when the first national TV deal in the sport's history resulted in Fox and NBC splitting the season. But it also is likely that Fox will broadcast some content on its fledgling all-sports network Fox Sports 1. NBC Sports Network will carry 13 of the 20 Cup events annually.

Here is what NBC picks up in the deal:

-- Final 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races (7 on NBC, 13 on NBCSN)

-- Final 19 NASCAR Nationwide Series races (4 on NBC, 15 on NBCSN)

--NASCAR K&N Series and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events

--NASCAR Toyota (Mexico) Series events

-- NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony and season-ending banquets

--'TV Everywhere' live-streaming rights for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series

--Spanish-language broadcast rights on Telemundo and Mun2 for national series events and NASCAR Toyota (Mexico) Series

Fox Sports announced an eight-year contract extension with NASCAR last fall that runs from 2015-22. The $2.4 billion deal, which was a 36% increase over the current eight-year contract that expires next year, included the Daytona 500, 12 other Cup races, the Camping World Truck Series and practices and qualifying sessions.

NASCAR officials said they would have no comment until later this afternoon but scheduled a 3:30 p.m. conference call with the news media to discuss a "major announcement."

In a statement Tuesday afternoon, NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said: "NBC is known for being an exceptional partner and delivering outstanding production quality and presentation of live sports, as well as its broad portfolio of broadcast and digital properties so we are thrilled with the commitment they have made to NASCAR and its future.

"We know this partnership will yield great value to our entire industry, provide a premium experience to our most important stakeholders, the fans, and help us achieve a number of strategic growth objectives. Our new partnership with NBC and the recent extension by FOX validate the strength of our fan base and the many bold steps we have taken the last several years to provide fans with better, more accessible racing."

ESPN, whose current eight-year deal runs through 2014, confirmed its exit via a statement from president John Skipper.

"ESPN has enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship with NASCAR," Skipper said. "We have tremendous respect for the France family, the drivers and all in the sport and wish them well. We will continue to serve NASCAR fans through SportsCenter and our other news platforms as we continue to enhance our industry-leading collection of quality assets.

"We are looking forward to the start of our Sprint Cup season and will continue with our deep commitment to the highest quality coverage."

In a statement earlier Tuesday, Turner Broadcasting president of sales, distribution and sports David Levy said, "Turner Sports is proud of the partnership we've built with NASCAR over the past 31 years and the role our company has played in helping to grow the sport. We think NASCAR is an attractive property but we are disciplined in our approach to negotiating sports rights and could not come up with a business model that was financially prudent for our company."

NBC has been seeking additional live sports content since rebranding its NBC Sports Network last year. It has the NHL and added Formula One and English Premier League soccer this year.