The National Hot Rod Association is exploring a shift in how fans watch races. Reports indicate the organization is looking at a three-way media rights deal that would divide coverage between Fox, The CW, and FloSports. While Fox has served as the exclusive television home for the series since 2016, this potential change aims to broaden the league’s reach through multiple platforms.
Under this proposed structure, Fox and The CW would split the linear television broadcasts. FloSports would handle the digital streaming component. This strategy mirrors moves made by other major sports entities like NASCAR and Major League Baseball, which have distributed games across various networks and streaming services to increase total media revenue.
Financial incentives remain the primary driver for this shift. The NHRA has seen a 17 percent increase in viewership on Fox and FS1 this year, with average numbers reaching 599,000 viewers. That performance puts the series on par with NHL regular-season viewership figures from the most recent cycle. League officials hope the new deal will capture higher revenue than their previous exclusive arrangement.
Fans should expect a more fragmented experience if this deal closes. While leagues often push for this multi-platform approach to maximize profits, it can complicate the viewer experience by forcing them to hunt for content across cable, broadcast, and subscription apps. NASCAR experienced this firsthand in 2026, as some race broadcasts struggled with lower viewership figures when events moved behind paywalls or shifted to different networks.
No official agreement has been signed yet. The NHRA continues to evaluate the pros and cons of moving away from its long-standing exclusive partnership with Fox. Industry observers are watching closely to see if the increased revenue potential outweighs the risks of alienating a core fanbase that is used to finding races on a single channel.