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NASCAR President: ‘Broadcast TV Has To Be Part Of Next Rights Deal’

“After the 2022 season, FOX and NBC would likely have an exclusive window to negotiate with the league.”

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The contract between NASCAR and its media partners, FOX and NBC, runs out after the 2024 season. Much has been speculated about what the sport’s media future looks like. Earlier this week, NASCAR President Steve Phelps appeared on the Marchand and Ourand Podcast to discuss exactly that.

Phelps knows that over-the-top streaming platforms are in the sport’s future. He was keen to mention that NASCAR is aware of the different levels of consumer control offered by various platforms. No matter what though, he says racing will be on traditional television.

“The team model is very dependent on sponsorship so we need to make sure that whatever partner that we would move, that we would go to… stay with or move to. There wasn’t any foreshadowing there, I promise you. We need to make sure that over-the-air is an important part of what that will be,” he said.

With three full seasons of racing still left on the current deals, there is plenty of time before NASCAR rights hit the open market. After the 2022 season, FOX and NBC would likely have an exclusive window to negotiate with the league. Steve Phelps is optimistic for the position NASCAR could be in by that point.

“I think that 2022 will be the best year that NASCAR has had on television in a long, long time. That certainly bodes well as we head into negotiations.”

The first two weeks of the season have shown growth. The Daytona 500 just delivered its best ratings in three years. Still, there is a long way to go to catch up with pre-pandemic numbers. In fact, that Daytona number becomes a little less impressive when you factor in that the 2020 and 2021 editions of the race were the least watched in history.

As for what media outlets could offer competition to FOX and NBC, Phelps was not specific. He did mention that he was happy with the E:60 documentary ESPN produced about driver Bubba Wallace and that he thought the network’s Daytona 500 coverage was excellent. He still expressed a desire to see ESPN give NASCAR more attention in the future.

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Katie Mox Signs Contract Extension with CBS Sports

“I will be taking my talents to South [Florida]” to join the amazing HQ team in Fort Lauderdale!”

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Katie Mox
Courtesy: Katie Mox

CBS Sports betting analyst Katie Mox has signed a contract extension with CBS Sports. Mox made the announcement via her X account.

“Happy to share I have extended my contract with CBS Sports and that “I will be taking my talents to South [Florida]” to join the amazing HQ team in Fort Lauderdale!” Mox posted.

Mox was hired by CBS Sports in August 2022, added the Pick Six Podcast in March 2023 and then was added as a fantasy sports contributor for That Other Pregame Show prior to the start of last year’s football season.

Mox is a host and sports betting analyst for CBS Sports and SportsLine. She is an anchor for SportsLine on CBS Sports HQ in addition to her podcast hosting duties. Mox also serves as a football and basketball betting analyst for programs such as CBS Sports HQ Spotlight, Fantasy Football Today, and The Early Edge.

Mox has also hosted shows for MSG Network in the past and is part of Omaha Productions’ podcast lineup on ESPN.

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Bill Belichick to Appear in All ‘ManningCast’ Alternate Presentations Next Season

Manning stated that Belichick will appear early in the game, likely during the first quarter, to provide his insights and analysis pertaining to the action.

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Bill Belichick
Courtesy: Adam Glanzman, Getty Images

While there are still several months until the start of the NFL regular season, anticipation is building towards the action on the field. The Kansas City Chiefs will take the gridiron as back-to-back Super Bowl champions and aim to continue their dynasty, becoming a consistent presence at the top of the AFC. Bill Belichick departed his role as general manager and head coach of the New England Patriots this past season and knows what it is like to be part of a dynasty, having won six Super Bowl championships in 17 years. For the upcoming season, he will be part of the Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli alternate broadcast presentation produced through a partnership between ESPN and Omaha Productions.

Belichick will be part of every ManningCast next season, as divulged by Omaha Productions founder and two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Peyton Manning during a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. Manning stated that Belichick will appear early in the game, likely during the first quarter, to provide his insights and analysis pertaining to the action. Additionally, Belichick will make weekly appearances on The Pat McAfee Show during the NFL season and also participated in its Draft Spectacular broadcast from the NFL Draft in Detroit.

“I said, ‘Bill, we want you to come on. Look, we’d love to go behind the ropes on the defensive side as to kind of what the Eagles are going to have to do to stop Patrick Mahomes, right? And if you ever run out of things to say, just make fun of Eli, right? That’s always sort of a time-filler,’ and Bill doesn’t like Eli,” Manning explained. “We all know that – two Super Bowls – so it’s just a match made in heaven.”

As a former NFL quarterback, Manning remembers Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy meeting with him early in the week to break down the opposing defense and guiding him on how to plan for a contest. Looking back on it, he believes that the instruction from a defensive-minded coach ultimately made him a better quarterback. Former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady told Manning that Belichick did the same with him at the beginning of the week and how to overcome the challenges presented by the opposing defense.

“I think the audience is going to be fascinated at how smart he is,” Manning said. “Look, you guys saw how witty he is. I watched the Draft show you guys did; it was awesome. He’s quick-witted, he’s funny and like I said, he’s brilliant when it comes to defense and offense.”

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ESPN Set to Begin 28th Season with WNBA; ‘WNBA Countdown’ Expands Coverage

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Graphic for WNBA Tip-Off on ESPN
Graphic Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN, which has carried WNBA games since its inception in 1997, will begin its 28th season with a doubleheader that features Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in game one at the Connecticut Sun followed by two-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces hosting the Phoenix Mercury. The games will be shown on ESPN2, ESPN+ and Disney+.

Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo and Holly Rowe will call game one with Tiffany Greene, Debbie Antonelli and Angel Gray handling game two.

In a release, ESPN said it “will utilize a WNBA Finals-level production setup for Indiana’s first game to document Clark’s debut. Comprehensive coverage will feature multiple camera angles, including Below and Above the Rim Cam viewing options, roving RF handheld cameras, and player mics.”

WNBA Countdown, ESPN’s pregame show, will feature two different desks for its ESPN and ABC broadcasts throughout the regular season. LaChina Robinson will host for ESPN’s broadcasts. She will be joined by analysts Monica McNutt and Carolyn Peck, a former WNBA head coach and GM who has been inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. ABC’s broadcast team will feature a new lineup with SportsCenter anchor Elle Duncan leading the way, along with Chiney Ogwumike and Andraya Carter.  

The first regular season edition of the show will originate live from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut with Robinson, McNutt and Peck. A second show will include coverage of the Aces championship ring ceremony and banner unveiling.

Duncan, Ogwumike, and Carter will make their WNBA Countdown on ABC debut Saturday, May 18, prior to the Indiana Fever at New York Liberty game.

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