Emmy Award-Winning Sports Television Producer to Drive NBC’s NASCAR Coverage
STAMFORD, Conn. — December 2, 2013 — NBC Sports Group has reached an agreement with Emmy Award-winning sports television producer and executive, Jeff Behnke, who joins NBC and NBCSN in January as Vice President of NASCAR Production. Operating out of Charlotte, N.C., Behnke will serve as the day-to-day leader in all areas, marking the first time that the head of a network NASCAR production team will be based in the racing hotbed that is home to many of the sport’s most prominent figures. The announcement was made today by Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports and NBCSN.
“Jeff Behnke’s talent, creativity and experience make him the kind of leader that we want on our team,” said Flood. “Jeff is going to add a great deal to our partnership with NASCAR, and I am thrilled to welcome him to the NBC Sports Family.”
Behnke’s expertise covers all aspects of production, including live remotes, studio broadcasts and on-air talent acquisitions. Behnke, who has amassed an impressive record of leading production teams covering NASCAR, NBA, MLB and more, will work closely with Flood during the lead-up to NBC Sports Group’s highly anticipated return to NASCAR.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to join NBC Sports,” said Behnke. “I’m looking forward to this opportunity to be a part of NBC’s history of excellence in sports television and unmatched leadership.
Prior to joining NBC Sports Group, Behnke served as Executive Producer of Turner Sports for seven years, where he coordinated and provided strategic direction for all productions and personnel covering NASCAR, NBA, MLB and several of golf’s Major Championships. Behnke’s appointment to Executive Producer was the culmination of a 27-year run at Turner that included more than two decades of NASCAR production experience. Behnke began his production career at ABC Sports, where he worked on a variety of events including the Indianapolis 500, Wide World of Sports and multiple Olympic Games.
On July 23, 2013, NASCAR and NBC Sports Group reached a comprehensive agreement that grants NBCUniversal exclusive rights to the final 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, final 19 NASCAR Nationwide Series events, select NASCAR Regional & Touring Series events and other live content beginning in 2015.
With this partnership, NBC’s 20 Sprint Cup race schedule includes a designation as the exclusive home to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, when the elite national series races through its final 10 events of the season. The Chase culminates with the season-ending championship event, which returns to network television in 2015 for the first time since 2009. Of NBC Sports Group’s 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, seven will be carried on NBC annually, with 13 airing on NBCSN. Four of NBC Sports Group’s 19 NASCAR Nationwide Series races will air on NBC, with 15 airing on NBCSN.
In addition to NASCAR’s Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series races, NBC also obtained exclusive rights to practice and qualifying sessions for NBC’s national series events during their portion of the season, as well as rights to broadcast the NASCAR K&N Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Toyota (Mexico) Series, the NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony and NASCAR’s season-ending banquets. Further, NBC is granted Spanish-language rights, certain video-on-demand rights and exclusive TV Everywhere rights for its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series events.
-- NBC SPORTS GROUP --