The CW and ESPN partner to stream NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series on ESPN app

12 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Apr 29

Starting this summer, all NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series events broadcast by The CW will be available to ESPN Unlimited members via the ESPN app, with the main broadcast team unchanged.
The partnership, running through 2031, includes practice and qualifying sessions and aims to boost NASCAR's reach after an 11-year ESPN absence, as 2026 viewership has already risen 22% year-over-year.
The deal expands ESPN's sports content portfolio, offering fans access to CW Sports, ESPN channels, and ESPN+ for $29.99 monthly, and is expected to further revitalize NASCAR's audience and digital engagement.

Will viewers find it convenient or confusing to track CW content now split between ESPN and Roku?

As regional sports networks decline, can The CW's broadcast model truly replace their local-focused revenue and coverage?

As ESPN aggregates more sports content, what does this signal for the future of broadcasting costs for fans?

Will distributing its content on other platforms ultimately save The CW or simply dilute its brand identity?

How can advertisers achieve unified measurement across The CW's fragmented linear, app, and partner platforms?

Is the era of building new streaming services over, signaling a definitive shift towards content aggregation?