(Press Release from NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications)
Platform builds off FansChoice.tv – immediately becomes most robust digital motorsports offering in U.S. Marketplace
NASCAR® and NBC Sports have teamed up to launch TrackPassTMon NBC Sports Gold, a new streaming product representing NASCAR’s most significant undertaking in the direct-to-consumer space. Set to launch in early December, TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold builds off the foundation set by FansChoice.tv and immediately becomes the most robust live and on-demand motorsports content offering in the domestic digital marketplace.
TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold will bring fans more exclusive live motorsports events and an extensive library of archived documentaries and films. The platform will offer exclusive live viewing of a multitude of motorsports, including American Flat Track, select ARCA Menards Series™ events (including ARCA Menards Series East and West races), NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour™, and tentpole grassroots racing events, as well as NASCAR Cup Series™ and NASCAR Xfinity Series™ practice and qualifying sessions (NBC Sports’ half of the schedule only).
International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) enthusiasts are also covered, as TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold will feature live and archived content from the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and IMSA Prototype Challenge. Live NASCAR national series races (NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Gander Outdoors Trucks Series™) will not be offered on the platform.
“The launch of TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold is a significant step forward in both our commitment to grassroots racing and the evolution of our direct-to-consumer strategy,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR president. “By partnering with NBC Sports, we can deliver more high-quality content to fans who have passionately followed their favorite racing series via FansChoice.tv, while increasing product availability and reliability.”
“Our partnership with NASCAR on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold is a win for racing fans across the U.S., from four-wide action at superspeedways to two wheels sliding across dirt tracks,” said Sam Flood, executive producer and president, production, NBC and NBCSN. “TrackPass will deliver unprecedented, exclusive live coverage of a wide variety of diehard racing fans’ favorite series – from IMSA, ARCA and American Flat Track, to grassroots racing at iconic local tracks like Bowman-Gray Stadium and Myrtle Beach Speedway. TrackPass is a must-have for passionate race fans.”
Fans can access all the content on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold for $4.99/month or $44.99/year. Lower-priced, series-specific subpackages for IMSA, AFT and NASCAR Roots content will also be available. Both the IMSA and NASCAR Roots (which includes ARCA, Whelen Modified Tour, tentpole grassroots events and select NASCAR practice and qualifying sessions) packages are $2.99/month or $19.99/year. The American Flat Track package will have a $1.99/month or $10.99/year introductory rate for 2020. Existing FansChoice.tv registered users will receive an introductory free trial to TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold.
While FansChoice.tv was a web-based platform, TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold allows users to cast streamed content on a connected device via NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app, letting fans experience racing action on their preferred hardware, including big-screen environments. Upon launch, TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold will be available on desktop web browsers and via the NBC Sports app on iOS and Android phones and tablets, Apple TV (Gen 4), Roku, Amazon Fire TV, AndroidTV, Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex and Chromecast devices connected via HDMI.
Click here for additional information on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold.
Well we all knew that this was going to happen.
NASCAR should keep that content free at least for the tour. They should also get rid of Jeff Burton and a few others on their telecasts. Terrible annoying broadcaster.
Well it was great while it lasted. Will the tracks see any revenue from the deal? I watch a lot of racing online and the pricing is not unreasonable if there is a few races per week on there. What is tentpole grassroots events? Is that the former whelen Weekly racing series they showed from tracks like myrtle beach, langley, Berlin? I am sure I will check it out. I have tried most of the other ones.
Oh wow, what a big win for race fans…. We now have to pay money for something that was free before… Thanks NASCAR
I currently use NBC Sports Gold for their PGA Tour live package. The video quality is HD quality and the cost is relatively low for a full year subscription. I hope the same production effort is put into this NASCAR racing product and if it is then I’ll certainly sign up for the NASCAR roots package for $20.
This is good isn’t it? A la carte viewing of race events. No subscription to a cable or satellite required. Pay as you go. More money from a broader audience filtering down to tracks and race participants.
Yes Doug I am sure that it will be just like that. NASCAR will give it all back to the competitors and track owners.
Hopefully the package still includes some of the weekly tracks that were broadcast on Fanschoice. Those gave me something to watch if the Saturday night racing around here got rained out.
Are people assuming that Fanschoice.tv is going away ? I see nothing to indicate that, at least as of now.
I’m guessing your cynical view JimB is probably fairly popular. On the other hand I see networks paying for racing content and this article underscores it being the coming trend. Speed51 pay per view and subscriptions as well.
Are the fanschoice freebees going away? It’s probably safe to say that there was a point to giving it away and the point was not a long term strategy. The point might have been to measure the audience for pay per view later.
Go ahead a charge me a reasonable fee to see the races in Iowa, NY and PA. If it assures the long term survival to the sport why wouldn’t I support it.
None of us can know if it filters down. However when I see empty seats anywhere or the NWMT scheduling a race half way across the country I have to believe that getting bucks from a greater cross section is a good thing and does get to the teams putting on the show.
So will the tour races no longer be on NBCSN? You don’t think this was the plan all along? Give the fans a free product to get em hooked and then make em pay for it.
NBCSN isn’t free. If you’re referring to fanschoice how could any fan complain they now are being asked to pay for content they previously got for free. Why wouldn’t they be grateful for the time they got it free?
Content is never free. It’s just no cost to certain consumers in some cases.