Indianapolis 500 Moves To NBC In 2019
INDYCAR announced today an agreement that media broadcast rights to the Verizon IndyCar series has been purchased by NBC Sports Group. That means beginning with the 103rd Indianapolis 500 in 2019, NBC will broadcast the 500 and all qualifications leading up to the race.
In a press release, Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Company, which owns INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway stated, “This arrangement brings all of INDYCAR to one home, increases our exposure and includes our first direct-to-consumer offer for our fans. We couldn’t be happier to have start-to-finish coverage of INDYCAR’s season with the NBC Sports Group.”
The Verizon IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500 have been aired annually on ABC, the latter since 1965. Locally, NBC has long had a relationship with the race and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as WTHR sportscaster Dave Calabro has lent his voice as track announcer since 1985, and hosts a number of events and celebrations throughout the month of May.
Future races, dates, and television schedules will be announced at a later time. No word yet on what this agreement means for the local television blackout Hoosiers have long endured.
