Comcast's Xfinity negotiating sponsorship of Nationwide Series:

Comcast's Xfinity negotiating sponsorship of Nationwide Series: Comcast's Xfinity is in contract negotiations with NASCAR to become title sponsor of the sport's secondary series. The company's broadband, TV and phone division is considering a five- to six-year deal valued at more than $100 million, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. The potential agreement would see Xfinity pay approximately $9 million in rights fees and $9 million in media and activation in its first year as title sponsor. Its annual spend would increase in subsequent years. Comcast declined to comment. In a statement, NASCAR said, "We anticipate NASCAR will soon be aligned with an outstanding brand that will help take this series to new heights, but out of respect for our current partner and the process, we will not comment on speculation about any potential replacements until there actually is one." Though discussions have moved into the contract phase and NASCAR executives have begun telling officials in the sport that a sponsorship is done, the deal still faces some obstacles. Fox Sports and Comcast-owned NBC Sports are slated to split television rights to the series from 2015 to 2024. Sources said that Fox, which did not respond to requests for comment, wants assurances that Comcast will spend equally on advertising across both of the series' rights holders, Fox and NBC, and not favor its own company, NBC. NASCAR and Comcast are addressing other category issues as well. Provided those issues are resolved, the deal should close and be announced in the coming weeks.(Sports Business Daily)(8-18-2014)