NASCAR says ESPN and TNT will fulfill NASCAR TV contracts through 2014
NASCAR announced Saturday that ESPN and TNT would continue to broadcast the Sprint Cup Series through the conclusion of their contracts at the end of the 2014 season.
In August, the Sports Business Journal reported that the networks were in negotiations with the sport to leave at the end of 2013 and give Fox and NBC Sports a head start on the new television contracts that they signed beginning in 2015.
“Despite speculation over the last month that NASCAR’s new television agreement could be pushed up to the start of the 2014 season, NASCAR has informed our broadcast partners today that FOX, Turner and ESPN will finish the current term as originally planned," the statement said. "While we were humbled by the desire of NBC and FOX to start 12 months early, we now consider this matter closed and look forward to finishing our current agreement in 2014 with our great partners at FOX, Turner and ESPN.”
Starting after next year, Fox will broadcast three more races to up their total to 16 and NBC will pick up the final 20 Cup races of the season. The races will be spread across Fox, Fox Sports 1, NBC and NBC Sports Network. The Nationwide Series will also be broadcast on Fox and NBC's networks as well, moving from ESPN after 2014.
