In a major change for NASCAR television coverage, ESPN will air commercials side-by-side with race action during portions of Chase for the Cup coverage this fall.
ESPN will split-screen commercials and race action during NASCAR Chase for the Cup races, the network announced Tuesday. Currently, ESPN completely leaves race coverage during commercial breaks.
Under the new format, titled NASCAR Nonstop, the race will air, muted, in a small box on the right side of the screen. On the left side of the screen, commercials will play in a larger box with full volume. The scoring ticker will continue to run across the top of the screen.
NASCAR Nonstop will only take place during the second half of Chase for the Cup races. All other NASCAR coverage will use the regular commercial break format.
The side-by-side format has been done before. Just Sunday afternoon, FOX used the format for the very first time on its coverage of the FedEx 400 from Dover. ESPN/ABC has also previously used the format on IndyCar coverage.
(Information from espnmediazone3.com, Associated Press via kgwn.tv)
