The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) will continue to have a home on the NBC Sports platform as part of a multi-year media rights agreement.
IMSA, which NASCAR owns, announced the news Friday with a press release. The racing series noted that this deal includes all of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and other IMSA-sanctioned series. Seventeen hours of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will air on the NBC broadcast network. This is an increase of nearly 50% over the previous deal.
Additionally, all of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship coverage will also be on the Peacock streaming app.
"Our partnership with NBC Sports has produced viewership increases for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship every year from our first year in 2019 through last season," said IMSA President John Doonan in a statement.
"We also have managed to deliver impressive audience growth on Peacock, which is an especially valuable platform for delivering live, flag-to-flag coverage of endurance races to our domestic race fans. We are thrilled to confirm not only an extension of our relationship with NBC Sports but nearly a 50 percent increase in the number of hours on the NBC broadcast network beginning next year."
NBC Sports originally acquired the IMSA media rights ahead of the 2019 season. According to the broadcast company, the viewership has increased by 37% in those five years. This includes the 2023 season, which set a benchmark with a 13% increase in viewers year-over-year on NBC and the USA Network.
The 2024 season began with the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. It has continued with trips to Sebring International Raceway, Long Beach Street Circuit, Laguna Seca, and Belle Isle. The season will continue this weekend with Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen at Watkins Glen International.