NBC, the broadcast and television network partner for NASCAR, recently announced a big change in the partnership from 2022. As a consequence of NBCSN shutting down from January 1, 2022, NASCAR has now found a new home at USA Network.
According to a tweet by NASCAR on NBC, USA Network will televise select races in the summer.
A new home for @NASCAR is coming in 2022.@USA_Network will televise select races in the summer, and a whole lot more of the sports you love starting on New Year's Day. pic.twitter.com/vjQhUNM6aj
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) December 31, 2021
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In 2006, Versus (previously known as Outdoor Life Network), took over the coverage of stock car racing. Then in 2012, as Comcast was completing the acquisition of NBC, the network was again rebranded as NBC Sports Network or NBCSN.
In 2022, NASCAR’s association with NBCSN is ending after 15 years.
With NBCSN ceasing operations, the TV and broadcasting operations of various sports like football, college sports, IndyCar, soccer, golf, cycling, and more are shifting to USA Network.
And as for fans, most of them seem to welcome this new move. Here’s how a few of them reacted to this news –
This might actually bring more viewers than NBC SN
— Aneil (@realdealAneil) December 31, 2021
Get ready for everyone to be able to see the races
— Jake Baskinger (@uga_jake) January 1, 2022
USA IS BACK FOR NASCAR
— Dominick (@daystriker_rl) December 31, 2021
Good. Much better than being on peacock.
— Gregorius Maximus IV (@otherreplies) December 31, 2021
Why was NBCSN shut down?
Although there’s no official reasoning or comments from NBCSN why it’s shutting down, in the internal memo, the decision to shut down is being called as “part of a larger transition.”
It is also speculated that one of the bigger reasons for the network to shut down is to push the content to another of its branches, Peacock. NBC seems to be banking on its steaming service as it hopes fans would subscribe to Peacock, which could very well be the aforementioned ‘transition.’
A new era in NASCAR for fans and drivers alike
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With the new season in the new year, NASCAR is set to undergo a massive overhaul. We all know from 2022, the Next Gen car will take over. The new car, which is a highly ambitious project, is expected to revolutionize the sport in many ways.
From making the actual racing closer and exciting to attracting more sponsorships to becoming a speculated jump board into a hybrid future, the Next Gen car has a lot going for it.
So this news of the broadcasting move to USA Network should also change the experience from the fan’s point of view. While we all know that a change can be for both better or worse, fans would hope this change is for the better.
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