NASCAR is expected to move a handful of Cup Series races and the entire Xfinity Series to a streaming platform in its looming media rights deal. Plus: the latest on NBA media rights and a return to the booth for horse race caller Tom Durkin.
NASCAR expected to move Xfinity, some Cup races, to streamer
NASCAR is expected to award rights to the complete Xfinity Series and a midsummer package of Cup Series races to a streaming platform, with Amazon considered a leading contender, Sports Business Journal reported Friday. The Cup Series package would be “loosely patterned” after the six-week “Summer Series” that aired on TNT from 2007-14.
Incumbent broadcasters Fox and NBC are expected to renew their deals to carry the first and second halves of the season, respectively. Per the report, NASCAR is expected to have agreements in place within the next six weeks. (SBJ 5.19)
Zazlav “hopeful” on NBA deal that will “look different”
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zazlav said this week that he is “hopeful” that the company will reach a new deal with the NBA, but that a future deal “will probably look a bit different.” TNT has held the same suite of NBA rights — the All-Star Game, up to 40 playoff games (including a conference final) and several dozen regular season games — dating back to the 2002-03 season.
In other NBA media rights news, Fox Corporation CEO Lachlan Murdoch said this week that his company is “highly unlikely” to bid on the rights. Unlike in the previous set of NBA negotiations, Fox had not been mentioned as a serious contender for the NBA. (Alex Sherman/Twitter 5.17, 5.18)
Durkin returning for Belmont on FOX
Longtime Triple Crown race caller Tom Durkin will return to call The Belmont Stakes for Fox Sports next month, his first race since retiring in 2014. Durkin was the voice of NBC’s Triple Crown races until 2011, when the network replaced him with Larry Collmus. Fox airs the Belmont for the first time this year. (Fox Sports)
