![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-09-17T002236Z_281687773_MT1USATODAY21436929_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-BASS-PRO-SHOPS-NIGHT-RACE.jpg?width=600)
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 16, 2023; Bristol, Tennessee, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver William Byron (24) and driver Martin Truex Jr. (19) and driver Alex Bowman (48) during the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-09-17T002236Z_281687773_MT1USATODAY21436929_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-BASS-PRO-SHOPS-NIGHT-RACE.jpg?width=600)
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 16, 2023; Bristol, Tennessee, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver William Byron (24) and driver Martin Truex Jr. (19) and driver Alex Bowman (48) during the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
What is the one thing that NASCAR fans do not like about the sport? Well, there might be several factors that irk us out, but none can match the feeling of paying a hefty chunk out of pocket just to watch the races live on TV. While watching races from the arena itself is not possible for every fan to witness, TV and live streaming platforms are viable options to enjoy the races from the comfort of our homes.
With NASCAR now bagging a massive TV deal for the next seven years, the balance of the scale has shifted, which ultimately means fans need to spend more money to watch the action live. The aspiration or hope for NASCAR is to expand and reach a wider audience with this new deal, but have they overstepped on this path? With the same content and no significant changes in the structure of the races in NASCAR, does shelling out the extra dollars make sense for an everyday fan?
Understanding the new TV and streaming deal for NASCAR fans and how much they will need to pay
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The new NASCAR TV Deal is set to kickstart in 2025, with FOX, NBC, Amazon, and TNT Sports serving as the mediums through which the races will be broadcast and streamed. A major turn of events one needs to understand here is that the free-to-air TV broadcast of the races under the new deal will be cut down to 9 from 21, while another significant change is that fans will need to have Amazon Prime memberships to get access to those exclusive 5 races that will be streamed online.
It was as if it was not enough to cut down on the traditional TV telecast but to rub salt on the wounds. Now the fans will need to cough out extra; not everyone watching NASCAR does not have a Prime subscription. This leads to the dilemma of how much the fans will need to pay. According to the average calculations and projections shared by the Daily Down Force, the fans will likely need to pay $100 per month to watch the races.
The whole complicated scenario was further explained in detail by Eric Estepp on his YouTube channel. He opined, “For fans in the States, watching NASCAR races just got a little more complicated. It’s not just two families for networks to worry about; now there’s four. And now it’s not just broadcasting on cable; there are five races in the middle of the season that are exclusively on a digital platform.
“NASCAR is asking its fans to pay more money to watch essentially the same product(…)But for some fans, you are now asking them to spend more money to see the same content they’ve been used to getting, and it’s a loss for the fans.”
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With the declining number of cable subscriptions in the U.S., a rating hit is around the corner for NASCAR. Now the question is, What are they planning to do to overcome this puddle? And, what does the roadmap for streaming services look like?
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NASCAR is eyeing the new sets of eyes despite the recent hit on ratings
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With the new TV deal in place, NASCAR is looking to make moves in streaming services. With 5 Amazon Prime exclusive races and 16 practice and qualification sessions in the mix, the overall number of races mounts to 19. While NBC has been streaming Cup races on Peacock, a future move by NBC to stream these races might allow fans to have a cable subscription for races on FOX.
The move looks calculated, but that does not mean they will ease out during the overhaul, as NASCAR has been taking rating hits, which may increase with the reduction of cable subscribers. As things stand, NASCAR is willing to test the water to leapfrog themselves into new avenues and wider audiences, despite the hit in ratings.
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NASCAR is treading on thin ice with this new TV deal. The question lingers though, is the same old product worth the new premium the fans will have to bear? What are your thoughts on the same?