TBS extends deal for NASCAR.COM through 2014

Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) has signed a multi-year contract extension with NASCAR to continue to operate the sport’s official Web site, NASCAR.COM and collaborate in content creation, e-commerce and race ticket sales direct from NASCAR sanctioned race track operators. The extension gives Turner Sports the rights to continue to manage and operate the site through 2014, providing oversight to all functions, including news content, broadband coverage, wireless platforms, video downloads and ad sales.

Operating the site since 2001, Turner has introduced an extensive portfolio of cutting-edge applications and offerings to NASCAR.COM that has strengthened its stronghold as one of the most popular racing sites. Over the past seven years, the site has launched the Emmy award-winning TrackPass application, a 24-hour news center, live streaming of select NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing, a social networking “Community” section and an extensive video library. Additionally, NASCAR.COM boasts live and interactive broadband shows such as the Jack Daniels Post Race Show and NASCAR 24/7 to provide fans with up-to-the-minute reports on all things NASCAR. The site is also home to the NASCAR.COM Superstore, the official online store of NASCAR that provides the largest selection of officially licensed NASCAR merchandise from drivers, teams and track operators.

The leading provider of NASCAR race coverage, NASCAR.COM has consistently ranked as one of the top three sports league sites in average monthly unique visitors for the past two years (Nielsen/NetRatings). In 2007, the site experienced double-digit growth in page views, yielding 1.4 billion during the calendar year and streamed more than 25 million videos. Overall, under Turner’s management NASCAR.COM has increased average monthly unique visitors by 25 percent over the past seven years.

“We are extremely proud to continue our partnership with NASCAR to manage and operate NASCAR.COM, one of the leading sports Web sites on the Internet today,” said Lenny Daniels, Turner Sports senior vice president of new media. “For the past seven years we’ve worked closely with NASCAR to develop the site into the premier interactive destination for race fans by offering around-the-clock news and innovative applications that are unparalleled, and we’re looking forward to further developing the site in the years to come.”

The agreement, and the increased collaboration between Turner Sports and NASCAR that it will foster, builds on the two organizations’ longstanding partnership, which has included interactive rights for the past seven years and television rights for the past 25 years.

“Turner is truly embracing our vision for the NASCAR Media Group, which recently consolidated NASCAR Digital Entertainment and NASCAR Images into a single business offering fans, partners and media more content and greater access to the sport,” said NASCAR Media Group President Paul Brooks. “NASCAR Media Group and NASCAR Licensing will now collaborate much closer with Turner to provide fans with greater access to information, content, officially licensed merchandise and race ticket offers direct from NASCAR’s track operators.