NBC Sports has inked a multi-year deal to stream two of Feld Motorsports’ most popular events: the dirt bike series Monster Energy Supercross and the big-wheel-truck series Monster Jam.
The deal includes nearly 100 hours of Supercross and Monster Jam coverage across NBC, NBCSN, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports App, and NBC Sports Gold, the broadcaster’s direct-to-consumer live subscription service.
In conjunction with the news, NBC Sports Gold launched a “Supercross Pass” that will offer customers exclusive live streaming coverage of all qualifiers and races. The $74.99 upgrade includes races live without commercial interruption and full on-demand replays.
As part of its partnership with Feld Motorsports, NBC becomes the official home of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, and Monster Jam in the U.S. beginning in 2019. It will stream 26 Monster Jam events.
“With the rise in attendance and viewership of our Supercross and Monster Jam properties, moving to The Home of Motorsports with NBC Sports Group for our media coverage is a natural fit,” said Vicki Silver, Feld Entertainment’s chief marketing officer.
More than 70 percent of Feld Motorsports’ fan base is comprised of millennials, offering NBC access to a younger demographic of motorsports fans. Monster Energy Supercross is among the most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing series in the world. Feld said it attracts millions of fans annually. The new events will be added to a slate of motorsports at NBC, including IndyCar and Formula 1.
“We’re proud to welcome Feld Motor Sports properties, Monster Energy Supercross and Monster Jam, to the NBC Sports family,” said Jon Miller, NBC Sports’ president of programming.
SportTechie Takeaway
Direct-to-consumer streaming services are helping to popularize non-traditional and otherwise niche sports. As the streaming world becomes increasingly fragmented, services such as DAZN, ESPN+, and NBC are attempting to differentiate by offering access to not only big ticket sports such as NFL football and NBA basketball, but also to smaller sports that tend to have loyal fan bases. One way NBC has attempted to profit from this trend is by offering upgrade passes, which operate under the assumption that fans might be willing to spend more for exclusive access to the sports they love. In October, NBC launched the Snow Pass on NBC Sports Gold for $69.99, which offers users access to 700-plus hours of seven winter sports, including alpine skiing, ski jumping, and snowboarding.