CW’s Pushing Further Than Ever Into Live Sports With NASCAR Deal

The CW is making its biggest push ever for live sports — nabbing the exclusive broadcast rights of the NASCAR Xfinity Series from 2025-2031.

Friday’s announcement comes on the heels of much smaller deals struck earlier this year for media rights to ACC football and basketball games and LIV Golf tournaments. 

The CW is shelling out $805 million to be the new home of the NASCAR circuit just below the Cup Series, per Sports Business Journal, taking over the rights from Fox and NBC, who currently televise the Xfinity Series as part of their overarching deals with NASCAR. 

The $115 million annual figure is bigger than the reported $85 million ESPN is paying for Formula 1 rights. 

NASCAR says Xfinity Series races draw approximately 1 million viewers per race each season on a mix of cable and network TV — but expects that number to grow with every race consistently available to a wider audience. It will broadcast 33 races per season.

Another sports target for the CW could be the Pac-12 — if the conference can remain intact beyond this upcoming academic year. 

It’s been a wild year for the network majority-owned by Nexstar Media Group — the CW had no exclusive rights to any live sport before 2023.