The greatest identify in NASCAR is on the transfer.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is leaving NBC and heading to racing newcomers Amazon Prime Video and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, sources briefed on his choice informed The Athletic.
Earnhardt is predicted to take this season off after which resume his broadcasting profession in 2025 when WBD Sports and Amazon start their protection.
The transfer figures to present WBD Sports and Amazon on the spot credibility once they begin their collection. Each could have 5 races a season. WBD Sports’ races might be broadcast on TNT, streamed on Max and have a Bleacher Report part. NASCAR enhances WBD Sports’ sturdy NBA, NCAA Tournament, MLB and NHL programming schedule.
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Amazon Prime Video’s subscription service already options unique NFL video games on Thursday nights and it’s a main contender so as to add the NBA when the league decides its companions in its upcoming negotiations.
Earnhardt knowledgeable NBC of his choice final week, in accordance with sources accustomed to the conversations. While Earnhardt is predicted to take the 12 months off, he does personal the flexibleness to do one other cope with one of many two broadcast companions, that are Fox and NBC. There aren’t any substantial talks at this level with both.
“Dale Earnhardt Jr. is beloved in the NASCAR world and has made numerous contributions to NBC Sports, from his work as an analyst on our NASCAR coverage to his experiences as a correspondent at major events like the Indianapolis 500, the Kentucky Derby, the Super Bowl and the Olympics,” an NBC Sports spokesperson informed The Athletic. “We thank Dale and we wish him the best going forward.”
Earnhardt stated on his podcast in early February that he hoped to stay with NBC, whilst he acknowledged he’s with no contract for 2024.
“I definitely love being in the broadcast booth and want to continue doing that,” Earnhardt stated on his podcast, “Dale Jr. Download.” “We’ve had some great conversations with all of NASCAR’s TV partners. My home and my love is at NBC, and I’d love to be back with them. So we’ll see where it goes.”
Earnhardt, 49, joined NBC in 2018 instantly after retiring from racing.
NASCAR moved to 4 companions in its newest TV contracts, remaining with incumbents NBC and Fox, who will proceed to air 14 races in 2025 to go together with WBD Sports and Amazon’s mixed 10. The total NASCAR offers are for seven years and an estimated $7.7 billion {dollars} in complete. The present season stays solely on Fox and NBC.
In 2025, Amazon and WBD Sports will be part of the protection they usually every will construct round Earnhardt.
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(Photo: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)
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