MotoGP could be wheeling into a new media partner this year. According to a report by Adam Stern in Sports Business Journal, “MotoGP is in advanced discussions with Fox Sports about licensing its U.S. media rights to Fox starting this year.” The motorbike racing circuit switched from NBC Sports to TNT Sports last year, resulting in all MotoGP races being aired live on truTV. Previously, NBC had aired races on tape delay, which prompted MotoGP’s initial move to TNT Sports. The uncertainty comes amid an ownership struggle over the racing circuit. Last April, Liberty Media, the owner of Formula 1, agreed to buy a controlling stake in Dorna, the current owner of MotoGP, a deal that is currently under review by European regulators. Liberty reportedly fended off other bidders for MotoGP, including TKO Group, the Endeavor-sponsored alliance of WWE and UFC.
Per Stern, Fox Sports has emerged as a “potential landing spot” in recent months, with multiple sources familiar with the negotiations stating that the two sides are still trying to finalize a deal as of this week. Currently, the MotoGP website lists truTV as the U.S. television partner for this weekend’s race in Thailand. MotoGP currently holds 22 races in 18 countries, including one in the United States at the Circuit of the Americas, though it remains unclear what a potential deal with Fox would entail regarding which networks would air the races and whether they would all be shown live.
