The NBC Sports Group division of US media company NBCUniversal has enhanced its motorsport portfolio by agreeing a six-season rights partnership with the International Motor Sports Association.
NBC Sports will replace the Fox Sports division of the Fox network as IMSA’s rights partner with its contract running from 2019 to 2024.
The agreement will take in IMSA’s flagship SportsCar Championship, the SportsCar Challenge and Prototype Challenge.
The partnership includes a significant increase in network coverage of the SportsCar Championship from this year’s schedule. Three races will broadcast on NBC and there will be more than 45 hours of action televised on NBC Sports Network throughout the season.
NBC Sports will present more than 100 hours of IMSA coverage across its broadcast, cable, and digital platforms, while the NBC Sports App and NBCSports.com will offer flag-to-flag live streaming coverage of every Championship race to authenticated subscribers.
“The resonance and gravity of this new partnership with NBC Sports Group for IMSA fans and our stakeholders cannot be overstated,” IMSA chief executive Ed Bennett said.
“This agreement is the culmination of a comprehensive process to align ourselves with a media rights partner that will capitalise on the tremendous momentum IMSA and the WeatherTech Championship are enjoying and will help our sport reach new heights.”
The sanctioning body celebrates its 50th anniversary next year, with the 2019 season to begin with the 57th Rolex 24 At Daytona on January 26-27.
NBC Sports’ portfolio of motor racing already includes the Nascar and IndyCar series.