NBC extends and expands with IMSA’s SportsCar Championship

US national broadcaster NBC has extended its domestic broadcast rights tie-up with the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) SportsCar Championship motor racing series, in a multi-year deal starting in 2025.

The tie-up, unveiled by NBC over the weekend, entails an increase of close to 50% in the coverage levels NBC will provide for the series – with 17 hours of SportsCar Championship action to be covered by the broadcaster annually via its linear channels.

NBC’s streaming affiliate Peacock, meanwhile, will continue to cover all SportsCar Championship action through the course of the tie-up.

This agreement comes as a welcome boost to NBC in terms of its motor racing portfolio – earlier this month, US media giant Fox agreed a new deal to become the exclusive broadcaster of IndyCar, the country’s elite-tier series of open-wheel motor racing. NBC has held the rights to the series since 2009 and its most recent three-year extension was believed to be worth $20 million per season.

The initial NBC-IMSA deal – a six-year tie-up – came in early 2018 and began with the 2019 season. NBC snapped up those rights from Fox, who had shown the series previously.

NBC recorded its highest viewing figures for SportsCar Championship action in 2023, through a 13% rise year-on-year. Sportcal