In January, The CW Network made a big statement as it fully came under Nexstar Media Group control by entering in to the first-ever U.S. broadcast television — and streaming — agreement with LIV Golf.
Now, The CW is poised to become the exclusive home to the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The agreement sees the network acquiring the rights to the stock car series beginning in 2025 and extending through the 2031 racing season.
Specifically, The CW will broadcast 33 live NASCAR Xfinity Series races annually, along with practice and qualifying events each weekend.
The big news for Nexstar and NASCAR fans? Every NASCAR Xfinity Series race will be available on free-to-air broadcast television, with additional content available through The CW’s digital platforms. It’s another challenge for the Regional Sports Network model and for cable television in an age where FAST channels, and OTT, are further fueling “cord cutting” for the MVPD, which is more reliant than ever on local television via retransmission consent agreements.
Comprised primarily of NASCAR’s younger, up-and-coming drivers, the NASCAR Xfinity Series features the sport’s future stars often competing side-by-side against NASCAR’s
biggest names.
NASCAR Xfinity Series races draw an average of approximately 1 million viewers per race each season.
“Landing the NASCAR Xfinity Series is a game changer for The CW and our CW Sports
division and represents another important building block in our programming strategy,” said
Dennis Miller, President of The CW. “Live sports are the most watched television content and with The CW’s national reach, moving NASCAR Xfinity Series to The CW will transform and elevate the viewing experience for the series and its fans.”
The CW has quickly become a destination for sports, with ACC college football and basketball and a motorsports documentary series joining LIV Golf and “Inside the NFL.”
Brian Herbst, Senior Vice President of Media and Productions for NASCAR, commented,
“CW’s leadership shared a compelling vision for cultivating the next generation of NASCAR
talent by bringing the NASCAR Xfinity Series exclusively to broadcast television and we are
thrilled for the opportunity to partner with them. With more than one million viewers tuning in each week to see NASCAR’s future stars battle some of its biggest names at our most legendary tracks, NASCAR Xfinity Series consistently delivers the moments that excite current fans and create new fans of our great sport.”
Andy Alford, President of Nexstar’s Broadcasting Division commented, “Nexstar is already
NASCAR’s third-largest broadcast partner, carrying NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series races
across its FOX and NBC affiliates and has a deep understanding of NASCAR’s value.
NASCAR’s loyal and passionate fan base and adrenaline-fueled races will provide CW stations with highly valuable live sports content that can deliver big audiences. These exciting events resonate in our local markets and with a local Nexstar station within driving distance of each and every NASCAR market, we are uniquely suited to drive attendance, viewership and revenues through local coverage, fan engagement, promotion and value-added marketing solutions for advertisers and brands.”
