NASCAR Fans Furious With Controversial 2025 Broadcasting Rumor
10/10/2024 12:48 PM
The CW Network is considering a move that many NASCAR viewers won't appreciate.
Starting in 2025, the CW will begin a seven-year deal to exclusively televise Xfinity Series races. To ease the transition, the network is currently airing playoff races using NBC's talent and production team.
According to Sports Business Journal's Adam Stern, the CW is discussing the possibility of broadcasters announcing some races remotely from NASCAR's new facility in North Carolina. They'd call "at least some races from the track," and they'd still send people such as pit reporters and production staffers on site.
Fans don't want NASCAR and the CW to go through with that plan. Many of them complained about a poor viewing experience when Fox had its broadcasters call Truck Series events remotely.
Another prominent voice also expressed opposition to the rumored arrangement.
"I hope they do not," Dale Earnardt Jr. wrote.
"The @NASCARONFOX broadcasts of Truck and ARCA races are noticeably inferior when the crew is forced to do them remotely," a fan claimed. "Please, @TheCW, don't make the same mistake."
"Watch the first Xfinity Daytona race from this year and you'll instantly discover why this is a terrible idea," a fan said.
"CW comes in and immediately considers doing one of the worst things possible for a broadcast," a fan wrote.
"Hey CW. If you wanna be a big boy broadcaster, you gotta do big boy broadcaster things and not cheap out," a fan warned.
Remote broadcasts became commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although initially implemented for safety reasons, networks are seemingly now embracing a cost-cutting tactic even if it means sacrificing quality.
Announcers will hopefully be at Charlotte Motor Speedway when the CW airs Saturday's final Round of 12 race at 4 p.m. ET.
Related: Report: NASCAR Broadcasting Booth Considering Drastic Change In 2025
