The NASCAR Xfinity Series moves to a new home this week as the CW takes over broadcast duties for both TV and streaming customers.
The regular-season finale at Bristol Motor Speedway will be the first Xfinity race to air on the CW as the company moves further into the world of live sports. This creates questions about where to find the channel, whether it costs anything, and if it's available on streaming.
Let's clear up some confusion.
IT’S RACE WEEK! 🏁
The @NASCAR_Xfinity Series on @TheCW kicks off Friday at 7 pm ET live from Bristol!
With a special appearance from @DaleJr 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vytLBHmHu5
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) September 16, 2024
Where to find the CW on TV or streaming platforms
Over the air: The CW is a free channel provided over the air. It does not require a cable subscription. An antenna will get the job done in most cases.
However, the channel number does change depending on the zip code. For example, the CW is on channel 32.1 in Portland, where the series races during the summer. The channel is on 18.1 in the Charlotte area.
To find the exact channel number for a specific area, just go to the CW's handy channel finder page and enter the zip code.
Cable/Dish channels: If you are a race fan who pays for cable/satellite/etc., the CW is in the guide. Where it is depends on the platform and zip code. For example, the CW is on channel 18 on DirecTV in Charlotte. It is on channel 32 on DirecTV in Portland.
CW channel locations for Charlotte residents.
Streaming: The CW is available to stream on multiple platforms. One option is the official CW website, which has free live streaming in the web browser.
One important note for the streaming platform is that the races are broadcast only when live. They are available on the streaming app the following day.
The other option is to download the CW app. It is available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Vizio Smart TV, LG TV, Chromecast, Android TV, Apple TV, and Samsung Smart TV. The app is also available on mobile devices.
This app does not require a login like Fox Sports, Peacock, or NBC Sports. You just download the app and start watching. The live TV channels are located on the left side of the app's dashboard under the TV icon.
Photo credit: Roku
The timeline: The race at Bristol is the first in a long partnership between NASCAR and the CW. This deal will officially begin in 2025, and it will run through the 2031 season. However, CW will provide coverage of the final eight races of the 2024 season as part of an agreement with NBC Sports.