NBC and IndyCar have reached a new deal that includes more races on NBC — and two on Peacock. Plus: Michael Phelps is joining NBC’s Olympics coverage, Paul Finebaum has a new deal, and Ahmad Rashad has a new show.
NBC-IndyCar deal: more races on NBC, two on Peacock
NBC Sports announced Tuesday that it has reached a multi-year media rights extension with IndyCar that will put a greater number of races on the NBC broadcast network starting next season. Terms of the deal, including its length, were not immediately known. Racer first reported Monday that the sides were on the doorstep of a deal.
Under the new deal, the NBC portion of the schedule will increase from nine to 13 races. The remaining races will shift from the soon-to-be-defunct NBCSN to USA Network and Peacock Premium, the latter of which will carry two exclusive races per season.
Peacock Premium, which already carries most of IndyCar’s ancillary events, will stream every single race in the new deal — the two exclusive races, plus simulcasts of every race on NBC and USA. As a result, anyone who cuts the proverbial cord will be able to watch the complete IndyCar season without subscribing to a traditional cable bundle.
Earlier reporting indicated that NBC and IndyCar were on the verge of parting ways, but the series had few suitors.
Phelps joining NBC for Olympics
Former Olympic swimming Michael Phelps has joined NBC Sports’ roster for the scheduled Tokyo Summer Olympics, where he will serve as an on-site correspondent and join NBC’s swimming booth of Dan Hicks and Rowdy Gaines for some events. Phelps previously contributed to NBC’s coverage of last month’s U.S. Olympic Trials. This year marks the first Summer Olympics since 1996 in which Phelps is not a competitor.
Finebaum gets new deal at ESPN
ESPN announced Monday that it has reached a multi-year contract extension with SEC Network personality Paul Finebaum, who will continue in his current roles. Finebaum has been with ESPN since 2013. Last year, Sports Business Daily reported that Finebaum was exploring opportunities beyond ESPN.
Ahmad Rashad headlines new ESPN+ series
ESPN on Monday launched a new ESPN+ series hosted by former NBA Inside Stuff host Ahmad Rashad. Titled Ahmad Inside, the series features Rashad interviewing NBA players from the 1980s and 1990s discussing that era of the game. Rashad was NBC’s lead NBA sideline reporter for much of its 1990-02 run with the league and split time with Hannah Storm as its lead NBA studio host from 2000-02. Rashad moved to ESPN/ABC when it acquired NBA rights in 2002-03 in a limited role that included occasional interviews.
