Formula One Racing Moves To NBC TV

For auto racing fans, your sport moves to a big time network as NBC and NBC Sports Network television in a new deal just announced.

Previously the Speed Network held the rights to Formula One Racing. The NBC Sports Network will handle the majority of coverage. The deal is for four years and starts in 2013.

The NBC Sports group will have exclusive rights to all Formula 1 Grand Prix races, qualifying and practice sessions. All told, there will be 20 races and the TV coverage will split this way: NBC will have four races and the NBC Sports Network will carry 16 races.

The deal will also create additional programming mostly for the NBC Sports Network channel, including studio shows, re-airs of races and practice sessions.

The TV coverage will begin on NBC with the Grand Prix of Canada in June and NBC will carry the final three races of the season in November. As of now all other races are scheduled for the NBC Sports Network.

The new NBC Radio Network will not have radio coverage. That stays with the Motor Racing Network. There will also be live streaming of the races available as well.