List of Indianapolis 500 broadcasters
{{Short description|None}}
File:ABCSportsAt1993Indy500.jpg
The Indianapolis 500 has been broadcast on network television in the United States since 1965. As of 2025, the race airs on FOX. From 1965 to 2018, the event was broadcast by ABC, making it the second-longest-running relationship between an individual sporting event and television network,{{cite news|title=Motorsports This Week on ESPN and ABC|url=http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2011/05/23/motorsports-this-week-on-espn-and-abc-24/|publisher=ESPN Media Zone|date=May 23, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526002351/http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2011/05/23/motorsports-this-week-on-espn-and-abc-24/|archive-date=May 26, 2011|access-date=May 24, 2011}} surpassed only by CBS Sports' relationship with the Masters Tournament (since 1956). In 2014, ABC celebrated fifty years televising the Indianapolis 500, not including 1961 through 1964 when reports and highlights of time trials were aired on ABC's Wide World of Sports.{{cite news|last=Feck|first=Luke|title=Men And Machines Race The Clock|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18346779/1961_indy/|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|page=10|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 27, 1961|access-date=March 16, 2018}}{{Open access}}{{cite news|title=Week's Programs Sunday May 20|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18624284/1962_indy_500_tv_wide_world_of_sports/|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|page=234|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 20, 1962|access-date=March 25, 2018}}{{Open access}}{{cite news|title=TV Programs|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18624341/1963_indy_500_tv_wide_world_of_sports/|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|page=16|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 18, 1963|access-date=March 25, 2018}}{{Open access}}{{cite news|title=TV Programs|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18624560/1964_indy_500_tv_wide_world_of_sports/|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|page=48|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 15, 1964|access-date=March 25, 2018}}{{Open access}} From 2019 to 2024, the race aired on NBC.
From 1965 to 1970, ABC televised a combination of filmed and/or taped recorded highlights of the race the following weekend on their flagship anthology series Wide World of Sports. The 1965 and 1966 presentations were in black-and-white, while all subsequent presentations have been in color. From 1971 to 1985, the Indianapolis 500 was shown on a same-day tape delay basis. Races were edited to a two-hour or three-hour broadcast, and shown in prime time.
Starting in 1986, the race has been shown live in "flag-to-flag" coverage. In the Indianapolis market, as well as other parts of Indiana, the live telecast is blacked out and shown tape delayed to encourage gate attendance. Through 1991, the local tape-delay broadcast aired one or two weeks after the race, and during the 1970s, it aired as long a month after the race. In 1992 the local tape-delay broadcast was pushed forward to same-day tape on Sunday evening. In 2016, the tickets for the race were completely sold out, such that the local blackout was lifted for that year.{{cite news|last=Cavin|first=Curt|title=IMS blackout lifted after Indy 500 sellout|url=http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2016/05/25/ims-lift-indy-500-blackout/84898908/|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|date=May 25, 2016|access-date=March 23, 2018}} Since 2007, the race has been aired in high definition.
Currently, the television voice of the Indy 500 is Will Buxton, a role he will assume for the first time in 2025. Previous television anchors include Chris Schenkel, Jim McKay, Keith Jackson, Jim Lampley, Paul Page, Bob Jenkins, Todd Harris, Marty Reid, and Allen Bestwick (all of ABC); followed by Leigh Diffey, who called the race on NBC in 2019–2024.{{cite news|last=Yoder|first=Matt|title=ESPN fires racing announcer Marty Reid|url=http://awfulannouncing.com/2013/espn-fires-racing-announcer-marty-reid.html|website=AwfulAnnouncing.com|date=September 30, 2013|access-date=March 23, 2018}} Other longtime fixtures of the broadcast include Jack Arute, Sam Posey, Jackie Stewart, Chris Economaki, Bobby Unser, Jerry Punch, and Scott Goodyear.
On August 10, 2011, ABC extended their exclusive contract to carry the Indianapolis 500 through 2018.{{cite news|title=Indy 500 will remain on ABC into 2018|url=https://www.espn.com/racing/indycar/story/_/id/6849866/indianapolis-500-stay-abc-2018|publisher=ESPN|date=August 10, 2011|access-date=March 23, 2018}} Starting in 2014, the contract also includes live coverage of the IndyCar Grand Prix on the road course.{{cite press release|last=Hall|first=Andy|title=IndyCar Series Season To Open on ABC from St. Petersburg|url=http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2014/03/indycar-series-season-to-open-on-abc-from-st-petersburg/|publisher=ESPN|date=March 25, 2014|access-date=April 10, 2014}}
In 2019, the Indianapolis 500 moved to NBC, as part of a new three-year contract that unifies the IndyCar Series' television rights with NBC Sports (the parent division of IndyCar's then-current cable partner NBCSN), and replaces the separate package of five races broadcast by ABC. The Indianapolis 500 is one of eight races televised by NBC as part of the new deal, which ended ABC's 54-year tenure as broadcaster of the event.{{cite news|title=INDYCAR SIGNS MULTIYEAR MEDIA RIGHTS PACKAGE WITH NBC SPORTS GROUP|url=https://www.indycar.com/News/2018/03/03-21-INDYCAR-NBC-Sports-rights-deal|publisher=IndyCar Series|date=March 21, 2018|access-date=March 23, 2018}}{{cite news|last=Ayello|first=Jim|title=The Indy 500 will soon have a new TV network|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2018/03/21/indycar-races-broadcast-nbc-beginning-2019/444807002/|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|date=March 21, 2018|access-date=March 23, 2018|language=en}}{{cite news|last=Steinberg|first=Brian|title=NBC Sports Grabs Indianapolis 500 Rights From ABC After 54 Years|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/indianapolis-500-indycar-nbc-sports-abc-1202732343/|magazine=Variety|date=March 21, 2018|access-date=March 23, 2018|language=en-US}} WTHR is the local broadcaster of the race under this contract; the existing blackout policy is expected to continue should the race not sell out.{{cite news|last=Ayello|first=Jim|title=How IndyCar-NBC deal will affect local Indy 500 blackout|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2018/03/21/how-indycar-nbc-deal-affect-local-indy-500-blackout/445771002/|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|date=March 21, 2018|access-date=March 23, 2018|language=en}} As no spectators were allowed for the 2020 Indianapolis 500, the race was aired live in the Indianapolis market. Two subsequent live broadcasts occurred in 2021, when the number of spectators was limited under local public health orders, and 2024, after a significant weather delay.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Nathan |title=With 5,000 grandstand seats unsold, 345,000 expected, IMS won't lift Indy 500 blackout |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/indy-500/2024/05/24/indy-500-ims-enforce-local-blackout-live-broadcast-nbc-near-grandstand-sellout/73840648007/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-05-26 |title=2024 Indianapolis 500 to air live on WTHR Channel 13 in central Indiana following rain delay |url=https://www.wthr.com/article/sports/motor/indianapolis-500/2024-indianapolis-500-air-live-wthr-channel-13-central-indiana-following-rain-delay/531-2b6eae3e-e4cc-4280-acd0-93f63c030930 |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=wthr.com |language=en-US}}
Fox Sports will take over rights to IndyCar, including the Indianapolis 500, beginning in 2025.{{Cite web |title=FOX will be new exclusive home of IndyCar, Indianapolis 500 starting in 2025 |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/fox-will-new-exclusive-home-indycar-indianapolis-500-starting-2025 |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=FOX Sports |language=en-US}} The Speedway will continue to enforce the live broadcast blackout on Indianapolis Fox affiliate WXIN.{{Cite web |title=FOX Sports CEO on full IndyCar slate on FOX: 'Great halo effect for all motorsports' |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nascar/fox-sports-ceo-indycar-fox-great-halo-effect-all-motorsports |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=FOX Sports |language=en-US}}
Live coverage
= [[Fox Sports (United States)|FOX]] era =
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#efefef;"
!Year !Network !Pre-race !Lap-by-lap !Pit reporters !Roving Reporters |
| 2025{{Cite web |title=INDYCAR, FOX Sports Announce Historic Media Rights Deal |url=https://www.indycar.com/news/2024/06/06-13-fox-2025schedules |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=IndyCar.com}}{{Cite web |title=Buxton, Hinchcliffe, Bell To Serve as FOX Booth Team in 2025 |url=https://www.indycar.com/news/2025/01/01-14-fox-booth-2025 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=IndyCar.com}}
|FOX |TBA |Townsend Bell |Georgia Henneberry |TBA |
=[[IndyCar Series on NBC|NBC]] era=
- Dillon Welch is the first second-generation broadcaster to be involved in the race telecast. His father Vince worked the race in the ABC era until 2014.
=[[IndyCar Series on ABC|ABC]] era=
File:Indy500tracksidetelevisioncamera.jpg for the 2005 Indianapolis 500.]]
File:Indy500ABCTV-Skycam.jpg at the 2008 Indianapolis 500.]]
File:2006Indy500Stage.jpg and Rusty Wallace prepare to report from the ABC-TV pre-race stage at the 2006 Indianapolis 500.]]
File:JackArute2006Indy500.jpg.]]
File:DrJerryPunch2006Indy500.jpg.]]
File:Indy5002016-TVcompound.jpg.]]
- Starting in 1986, the race was shown live in its entirety. The 1986 race, however, was postponed for six days due to rain.
- From 2007 to 2018, live coverage was produced by ESPN. Also in 2007, Rusty Wallace and Jamie Little worked the 500, but did not cover any other races that season.
- Rupert Boneham once worked as part of the ABC Sports production crew at Indy.2004 Indianapolis 500 Telecast.
=ABC-TV live telecast gallery=
File:Scott Goodyear 2008 Indy 500 Second Qual Day.jpg|Scott Goodyear
File:Lindsay Czarniak.jpg|Lindsay Czarniak
File:Eddie Cheever Jr 2009 Indy 500 Second Qual Day.JPG|Eddie Cheever
Image:College Gameday Bus 2006 Austin Texas crop.jpg|Brent Musburger
File:PaulPageat2014Indy500.JPG|Paul Page
File:Al Michaels.jpg|Al Michaels
File:JamieLittleMilwaukee2009.jpg|Jamie Little
File:BobJenkins1985.JPG|Bob Jenkins
File:Jack Arute 2009 Indy 500 Second Qual Day.JPG|Jack Arute
File:DannySullivan.jpg|Danny Sullivan
File:GaryGerouldatIndy.jpeg|Gary Gerould
File:Bobby Unser - 2015 Indianapolis 500 - Sarah Stierch.jpg|Bobby Unser
Image:Marty Reid 2008 Indy 500 Second Qual Day.jpg|Marty Reid
File:Arie Luyendyk 2010 Indy 500 Practice Day 7.JPG|Arie Luyendyk
File:Rusty Wallace 2007 Indy 500 Saturday.JPG|Rusty Wallace
File:LarryRiceCloseup.jpg|Larry Rice
File:Jason Priestley 2012.jpg|Jason Priestley
File:DrJerryPunch2010.JPG|Jerry Punch
Same-day tape delay coverage
From 1971 to 1985, the Indianapolis 500 was shown on a same-day tape delay basis. Races were edited down to a between two and three hour broadcast, and shown in prime time. It was also blacked out in the Indianapolis market until a later date. The broadcasts would typically open with the rendition of "Back Home Again in Indiana", and the starting command, but no other pre-race ceremonies. In addition, the broadcast was supplemented with some pre-recorded, in-depth featurettes, aired during down times. Later telecasts included live introductions at the top and bottom of the broadcast, with the closing segment sometimes an interview with the race winner, which by that time, had been revealed to the viewers. During this period, the announcers' commentary at both the start and finish of the race were recorded as those events transpired. However, the commentary of the middle parts of the race was semi-scripted, and recorded in post-production, and edited into the broadcast as it was being aired.
File:Jackie Stewart speaking.jpg]]
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#efefef;"
!Year !Network !Host !Lap-by-lap announcer !Pit reporters |
| 1985
|rowspan=15|ABC |rowspan=10|Jim McKay |rowspan=4|Sam Posey |
| 1984
|rowspan=3|Jackie Stewart |
| 1983 |
| 1982 |
| 1981
|rowspan=5|Jackie Stewart |
| 1980 |
| 1979
|rowspan=9|Chris Schenkel |
| 1978 |
| 1977 |
| 1976{{cite news|title=Indy 500 'comes alive' on ABC|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16087132/1976_indy_500_tv/|first=Ray|last=Holliman|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|page=35|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 30, 1976|access-date=December 29, 2017}}{{Open access}}
|Chris Economaki |
| 1975 |
| 1974
|rowspan=4|Jim McKay |Chris Economaki |
| 1973 |
| 1972{{cite news|title=TV|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10375639/|newspaper=The Orlando Sentinel|page=27|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 27, 1972|access-date=April 19, 2017}}{{Open access}}
|rowspan=2|Jackie Stewart |
| 1971 |
- In 1973, Jackie Stewart was scheduled to be the color commentator. The race however, was red flagged on Monday due to the Salt Walther crash, and rain delayed the start until Wednesday. Stewart was unable to stay for the race running on Wednesday since he was due to compete the following weekend as a driver in the Grand Prix of Monaco, so Chris Economaki took his place.
- In 1974 and 1976, Sam Posey provided the color commentary in place of Jackie Stewart due to the Indy 500 and Monaco Grand Prix clashing on the same weekend. Stewart did pre recorded features at Indy during qualifying week which were aired on race day before going to Monaco to cover the grand prix for ABC.
- In 1971 Chris Schenkel was supposed to be the telecast host, but was injured when the pace car crashed coming into the pits at the start of the race.
- In 1971, a young David Letterman, who then worked at ABC's then-Indianapolis affiliate WLWI-TV, was one of the roving turn reporters.
''Wide World of Sports'' & closed-circuit coverage
Race commentary for ABC's Wide World of Sports broadcasts was recorded during post-production. During the actual running of the race, anchor Jim McKay occasionally served as a roving reporter, recording interviews in the pits and garage area, which was later edited into the broadcast. In some years the broadcast also included highlights of time trials. From 1964 to 1970, the Indianapolis 500 was shown live on closed-circuit television in theaters and other similar venues across the United States. All live closed circuit broadcasts were anchored by Charlie Brockman.
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
| class="wikitable" |
| colspan="5"|Wide World of Sports |
|---|
| style="background:#efefef;"
!Year !Network !Lap-by-lap announcer !Pit reporters |
| 1970
|rowspan=6|ABC |rowspan=4|Jim McKay |rowspan=4|Rodger Ward |rowspan=4|Chris Economaki |
| 1969 |
| 1968 |
| 1967 |
| 1966
|not used | |
| 1965
| |
| class="wikitable" |
| colspan="5"|Closed Circuit television |
|---|
| style="background:#efefef;"
!Year !Network !Lap-by-lap announcer !Pit reporters |
| 1970
|rowspan=7|MCA |rowspan=7|Charlie Brockman | |
| 1969
|rowspan=2|Rodger Ward |Jim Wilson |
| 1968 |
| 1967 |
| 1966
|rowspan=2|Chris Economaki |
| 1965
|Rodger Ward |
| 1964
|Sam Hanks |Chris Economaki |
{{col-end}}
Local live coverage
The Indianapolis 500 was first broadcast on television from 1949 to 1950 on WFBM (now WRTV) in Indianapolis. It was done to boost sales of television sets. At the time, there was consideration for the race to be broadcast nationally by 1951 or 1952, possibly through a network syndication arrangement originating through WFBM.{{cite news|title=WFBM-TV to Cover '500' Mile-by-Mile|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18319976/1950_indy_500_radio/|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|page=11|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 29, 1950|access-date=March 16, 2018}}{{Open access}}{{cite news|title=Everyone In Reach of Radio Will Have 'Ticket' To Race|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18077895/|first=Polly|last=Cochran|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|page=42|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 30, 1952|access-date=March 7, 2018}}{{Open access}} After two years, however, the Speedway management decided to eliminate live television coverage, fearful that live local television coverage would hurt gate attendance. Likewise, the cost to expand the broadcast nationally was considered prohibitive. For 1951, WFBM-TV was permitted to televise time trials live, but not the race itself.{{cite news|title=TV Will Show '500' Time Trials|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18285871/1951_indy_500_tv/|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|page=6|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 6, 1951|access-date=March 14, 2018}}{{Open access}}{{cite news|title=WIBC To Radio Speedway Race|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18285976/1951_indy_500_tv/|first=Beatrice|last=Hynes|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|page=36|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 30, 1951|access-date=March 14, 2018}}{{Open access}} In future years, local live coverage of time trials would continue in various forms, but the race itself was to be blacked out in the Indianapolis area. Only thrice (2016, 2021, and 2024) would the local blackout be lifted on race day.
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#efefef;"
!Year !Network !host !Lap-by-lap announcer !Pit reporters |
| 1950
|rowspan=2|WFBM |rowspan=2|Earl Townsend |rowspan=2|Earl Townsend |Dick Pittenger |Paul Roberts |
| 1949
|Dick Pittenger |Robert Robbins |
Time trials and practice
ABC carried highlights of time trials for the first time in 1961. ABC continued to cover time trials exclusively through the 1970s and early 1980s. In 1987 ESPN began covering portions of time trials. From 1987 to 2008, time trials was aired over a combination of ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, in varying levels of air time. From 2009 to 2013, time trials was aired on Versus/NBCSN. Time trials returned to ABC in 2014-2018. NBC and NBCSN have aired time trials since 2019.
In 1993, ESPN began covering daily practice session, with a wrap-up show each afternoon. The "Indy Live Daily Reports" continued through 2006, and in some years were packaged as part of RPM 2Night or SportsCenter. Since 2009, Carb Day has been aired by Versus/NBCSN. Live streaming of practice began in 2001. Streaming providers have included: Indy500.com official site (2001, 2004), Yahoo! (2002-2003 & 2006), WhiteBoxPC/NeuLion (2009), YouTube (2010-2018), NBC Sports Gold (2019-2020) and Peacock Premium (2021).
Footnotes
=See also=
=References=
{{reflist|2}}
=Works cited=
- [https://livesportworld.com/2020-daytona-500-live-streaming/ Daytona 500] [https://livesportworld.com/indy-500-live-stream/ Indy 500 Live]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20091026221504/http://geocities.com/johnsonindy500/indy500/imstv.html Johnson's Indy 500 - Indy on TV]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20111014021521/http://fangsbites.com/2009/05/the-indy-500-on-abc/ Fang's Bites: The Indy 500 On ABC]
- [http://sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com/2009/05/indianapolis-500-numbers-game.html Indianapolis 500 numbers game.]
- [http://sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com/2010/06/record-low-ratings-for-indianapolis-500.html Record Low Ratings For Indianapolis 500]
{{Indy 500}}
{{ABC's Wide World of Sports}}
{{IndyCar Series on ABC}}
{{IndyCar Series on NBC}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Indianapolis 500 broadcasters}}