Sports execs feel NASCAR is most likely to sign a media deal during the next decade with an annual rights fee decrease, according to a Turnkey Sports Poll taken in January. Forty-five percent of execs polled said that NASCAR would see some sort of TV rights fee decrease in the next 10 years, while 22% of execs said that all rights fees will rise for major properties. Execs were also asked which family of networks could be a challenger to ESPN/ABC in five years. Sixty-two percent of execs said the NBC Sports Group, while 20% said there would be no challenger and 19% said Fox Sports (Turnkey Sports Poll).
| Which property in the next 10 years, if any, is most likely to sign a media deal in which the annual rights fees decrease from those in the preceding deal? |
| PROPERTY | % |
| NASCAR | 45% |
| none | 22% |
| NHL | 11% |
| NBA | 10% |
| MLS | 6% |
| MLB | 3% |
| NFL | 1% |
| Not sure/no response | 2% |
| | |
| Which families of networks, if any, do you expect to be viable challengers to ESPN/ABC in sports in five years (select all that apply)? |
| FAMILY OF NETWORKS | % |
| NBC | 62% |
| none | 20% |
| Fox | 19% |
| CBS | 5% |
| Not sure/No response | 3% |
