NASCAR Rides to ABC Sports, ESPN for Nearly $4.5B

Starting in 2007, NASCAR will return to ABC Sports and ESPN in an eight-year deal, reportedly worth $4.48 billion.

The agreement includes coverage of the entire Busch series, a daily NASCAR news and information program, a Nextel Cup pre-race show, a reality series, specials and other programming.

Additionally, the deal provides access to ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, ESPN.com, Spanish-language ESPN Deportes, ESPN Deportes Radio and ESPN Deportes.com, interactive broadband service ESPN360, Mobile ESPN phone service, Mobile ESPN Publishing and ESPN Radio.

ESPN will also be the international sales agent worldwide--excluding Mexico and Canada--for NASCAR.

ABS Sports will carry approximately 11 of the season-ending 17 NASCAR Nextel Cup events covered by the agreement, with the others, on ESPN. ABC will broadcast the entire "Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup," a 10-race event for the top 10 Nextel Cup drivers.