2007+ TV Deal to be completed by end of 2005: Negotiations for a new Nextel Cup television contract could be completed before the end of the season, NASCAR chairman Brian France said. The current $2.6 billion, six-year contract, with Fox and NBC splitting the season, expires at the end of the 2006 season. "We're getting down to the wire," France said Saturday at Kansas Speedway. "Looks to be in the next four to six weeks or sooner there will be some firm announcements of where we'll land."
France would not comment on which networks are part of the negotiations, but speculation has centered on ESPN and ABC, its parent company, joining Fox and NBC, each of the entities taking one-third of the season. FOX would get the Daytona 500 and the first third of the season, ESPN and ABC would divvy up the middle third, including the Brickyard race, and NBC would televise the 10-race Chase for the championship. "It's competitive," France said of the bargaining. "But the last three, four weeks we've been very surprised at all the interest in network to cable. The package may change and look a little different, but we're very convinced we'll get proper value. We're more concerned about getting the right partners. We've got great ones now, but we want to make sure whatever happens we get partners who treat us like our current partners do."
He also noted that the Busch Series, with its viewership up nearly 30% this year, is also in line for a new TV deal. "The Busch Series is quietly doing NBA or regular season baseball numbers," France said. "It's wearing out other sports. Busch will never be the Cup Series, but we would like the new agreement for that to be a franchise of its own, treated with promotion and announcers that differentiate that series a little better as we go down the road."(ESPN.com/AP)
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France would not comment on which networks are part of the negotiations, but speculation has centered on ESPN and ABC, its parent company, joining Fox and NBC, each of the entities taking one-third of the season. FOX would get the Daytona 500 and the first third of the season, ESPN and ABC would divvy up the middle third, including the Brickyard race, and NBC would televise the 10-race Chase for the championship. "It's competitive," France said of the bargaining. "But the last three, four weeks we've been very surprised at all the interest in network to cable. The package may change and look a little different, but we're very convinced we'll get proper value. We're more concerned about getting the right partners. We've got great ones now, but we want to make sure whatever happens we get partners who treat us like our current partners do."
He also noted that the Busch Series, with its viewership up nearly 30% this year, is also in line for a new TV deal. "The Busch Series is quietly doing NBA or regular season baseball numbers," France said. "It's wearing out other sports. Busch will never be the Cup Series, but we would like the new agreement for that to be a franchise of its own, treated with promotion and announcers that differentiate that series a little better as we go down the road."(ESPN.com/AP)
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