Tag: USA Network

Is the Peacock losing its feathers? NBC enters the final year of its current deal with Indycar, and it appears Fox is the favorite to take over the rights beginning in2025. The broad cast times and [platform distribution looks as if NBC is slowly weaning itself from the series.

NBC network has only nine points races, down from 13 last year and 14 in 2022. You could argue that with the Thermal Club exhibition and the scant three hours of Indianapolis 500 qualifying the big network has 11 events, but that still is a significant drop in air time.

Meanwhile, USA network will have six races, including the historic Long Beach race, one of Indycar’s crown jewels.

Peacock has two races exclusively, Toronto and the first Milwaukee race.

If this is NBC’s final year, that would be sad. They have been a great broadcast partner, although I felt that last year they started to fall into the complacency trap which happens with long term partners. I don’t need a full season recap in the middle of the race, nor highlights of someone’s win at a track 10 years ago.

The Times They are a’Changing

The time change that stands out for me is Road America. Since Indycar’s return to the famed Wisconsin track, the race has had a noon star. The promoter insisted on it. I really liked. Most years I could still get back to Indy before dark after the race. With a 2:30 pm local start, that will not be possible.

The early green flag seemed popular with the fans. I wonder if the new time will affect attendance.

Weather Tech Raceway at Laguna Seca moves from an early afternoon start to a 3 pm local start.

Night Races?

On the surface, I guess you could call Iowa race 1, Gateway, and Milwaukee race1 night races, but how much of the race will actually be under the lights?

Iowa is listed as 7 pm local time, so that one should end in darkness. Gateway has a 5 pm local broadcast window start time. How dark it gets during the race depends on the actual green flag time. The same goes for Milwaukee. \The Wisconsin State Fair sent an email yesterday which listed the race start time at 5 pm.

If we are going to have a night race let them start at twilight, so at least two thirds of the race is run under the lights.

Overall, it is probably the best schedule possible, considering the disruptive Olympic break for 26 at the peak of the season. Not having to deal with that interruption every four years would be one of the few good reasons to go to Fox.

I’m ready for some racing. Just two weeks to go.

My thoughts will be posted later.

From Indycar and NBC:

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024) – NBC Sports and INDYCAR announced Feb. 20 the race broadcast start times for the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule, headlined by the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 26, with coverage beginning at 11 a.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. The 2024 season kicks off on NBC and Peacock with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding at noon ET Sunday, March 10. “I can’t wait for the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season to begin, and what a way to kick things off in St. Petersburg again on NBC,” said reigning series champion Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing. “We’ll be returning with our two goals in focus – winning the Indianapolis 500 and winning the championship – and I know our entire team is counting down the days until we have a chance to put all our hard work and preparation this offseason to the test.” Highlights of NBC Sports’ 2024 INDYCAR coverage schedule include: Indianapolis 500 qualifying coverage from IMS airing on NBC and Peacock at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, May 19 to determine the starting grid for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” The $1 Million Challenge made-for-TV exhibition race at 12:30 p.m. ET Sunday, March 24 on NBC and Peacock at The Thermal Club outside of Palm Springs, California. The return of the Milwaukee Mile at Wisconsin State Fair Park for the first time in nearly a decade (2015) with a doubleheader Aug. 31-Sept. 1. Exclusive coverage starts at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 31 on Peacock, with the second race at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 1 on USA Network and Peacock. The season finale for the first time at Nashville Superspeedway, determining the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 15 on NBC and Peacock. Peacock once again will provide comprehensive streaming coverage of the 2024 season, including the exclusive presentation of the Streets of Toronto for the third consecutive year at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, July 21. Throughout the season, Peacock will present over 120 hours of coverage, including nearly exclusive coverage of every qualifying and practice session in 2024. Additionally, coverage surrounding the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500, all INDY NXT by Firestone races, race day warmups and full-event race replays will be available on the platform. Click here for more details. “The 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season is going to bring quite a bit of change to the schedule, changes that should be exciting for our fans watching the broadcasts and in-person,” said 2023 Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden of Team Penske. “ New races at The Thermal Club and The Milwaukee Mile bring new venues to the schedule, and crowning a champion in my hometown, Nashville, will be must-see television. The Indianapolis 500 is always thrilling, and when you combine it all together, you get a schedule that fans will not want to miss.”