NBC still courting NASCAR extension

On the heels of securing a lucrative, Sunday night broadcast package with the National Football League, NBC says broadcasting NASCAR is very much in its future plans.

"We love our relationship with NASCAR," said Mike McCarley, vice president for sports communications at NBC. "We feel like we have a very strong relationship with NASCAR and we certainly want to keep that relationship going."

NBC, TNT and FOX ponied up a total of $2.8 billion dollars in 2000 for the rights to broadcast Cup and Busch Series races beginning in 2001. NBC's portion of the deal ends at the end of the 2006 season, but McCarley hopes that isn't where their partnership with NASCAR ends.

"We'll sit down with our partners and hopefully figure out a way to make it work," he said.

One of those partners, TNT, is already on board.

"NASCAR is an important part of our programming lineup and our partnership with NBC to carry NASCAR has been a successful one. We look forward to working in conjunction with them to solidify an agreement that is beneficial for everyone," said Jeff Pomeroy, director of public relations for Turner Sports.

NBC is well versed in juggling multiple sports schedules during the same season. Last summer, while NBC had broadcast rights to the Olympics in Athens, the network broadcasted 11 Nextel Cup Series races, while shifting the conflicting races to broadcast partner TNT.

The peacock network announced a deal Monday by which it will broadcast a weekly Sunday night NFL game beginning in 2006. Reportedly, the football deal will cost NBC in the neighborhood of $600 million a year over six years. NBC will also broadcast the Super Bowl in 2009 and 2012.

ESPN, who has been mentioned as a returning player in the upcoming fight for NASCAR's broadcast rights, will reportedly pay the NFL $1.1 billion per year over the next eight years for the rights to broadcast "Monday Night Football," also beginning with the 2006 season.

NBC/TNT's NASCAR coverage will undergo a bit of a makeover this season. NASCAR.COM learned late last year that former lead pit reporter Bill Weber will move to the play-by-play booth and former booth man Allen Bestwick will move to pit road.