Imago
MARTINSVILLE, VA – OCTOBER 30: Kyle Larson 5 Hendrick Motorsports HendrickCars.com Chevrolet and Chase Elliott 9 Hendrick Motorsports NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet lead the field to the green flag during the running of the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Playoff Xfinity 500 on October 30, 2022 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, VA. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: OCT 30 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff – Xfinity 500 Icon221030717500
Imago
MARTINSVILLE, VA – OCTOBER 30: Kyle Larson 5 Hendrick Motorsports HendrickCars.com Chevrolet and Chase Elliott 9 Hendrick Motorsports NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet lead the field to the green flag during the running of the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Playoff Xfinity 500 on October 30, 2022 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, VA. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: OCT 30 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff – Xfinity 500 Icon221030717500
For any major sport, one of the most important things is television and broadcast rights. After all, even if a sports venue is packed to the rafters, you cannot physically accommodate every racing fan watching the said events.
That is where the broadcasting rights come in—to help bring sports action to fans who cannot be there. When it comes to NASCAR, Fox Sports and NBC Sports have the rights, and we can expect a new deal on the horizon.
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According to the Sports Business Journal, a new player has joined the party to vie for the rights, It is none other than the $1 trillion tech giant, Amazon, mostly via Amazon Prime. Nowadays, streaming sports events has been rising in popularity, and Amazon definitely wants to cash in.
So while Fox Sports and NBC Sports are pursuing contract extensions, Amazon could be targeting a different package. For the moment, NASCAR is not playing ball, but how long until they actually relent?
Amazon’s interest garnered mixed reactions from NASCAR fans
Of course, social media was all abuzz when the rumors of Amazon’s interest began. A fair number of fans were pretty excited about the prospect of this happening. Many acknowledged that Amazon could probably do a better job of broadcasting than the US TV networks.
Others believed that while Fox and NBC Sports could have the TV rights, Amazon should have exclusive streaming rights. One thing is for sure, the general consensus was that Amazon’s involvement would be “Epic” and fans could not wait to see races on Prime Video.
I guess Amazon is better than USA network or whatever it was. TNT I think? Either Way
— IGN: RUSSΞLLΞNVY 🎩 (@russellenvy) January 30, 2023
Amazon should get streaming rights. Fox/NBC on tv, Amazon shows all races on streaming
— Sirnickles#Voteboat (@bhand94) January 30, 2023
Amazon getting NASCAR would be epic
— goose13 (@cannonj89) January 30, 2023
GET NASCAR ON PRIME VIDEO YES
— S. OOOf (@immaputdishere) January 30, 2023
On the other end of the spectrum, some people brought up a few concerns. The biggest one is about the streaming content being hidden behind a paywall.
After all, there have been so many occasions where subscribers had to pay money just to watch their favorite shows or programs. Other concerns were that they would love for Amazon to be streaming around the same time as Fox and NBC Sports.
I DONT WANT TO PAY FOR PRIME
— Joey Tartamella (@JackhammerJT) January 30, 2023
As long as the streaming service is simulcasting at the same time as the cable option. We don’t need more pay walls and exclusives.
— Razors Edge (@razorsedge588) January 30, 2023
You guys should stop saying you would pay for a streaming service, because then they’ll actually do it, and it won’t be free anymore
— ˜”*°• MK •°*”˜ (@MK_USA1) January 30, 2023
"Amazon" pic.twitter.com/9D6FDRv1vq
— Brandon Lewis (@BaroqueNRoller) January 30, 2023
Some were even worried about people making fleeting statements about being willing to pay for streaming. They were scared that if such statements were casually thrown about, it could very much become a reality.
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