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closeIndy 500 coverage on ESPN to exceed 200 countries and territories, 375 million households
Friday, May. 23, 2008
INDIANAPOLIS, Friday, May 23, 2008 – ESPN, the exclusive worldwide television representative of the IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500, will televise the Indianapolis 500 live to 177 countries and territories outside the United States.
ESPN’s international networks will televise the race throughout Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Pacific Rim. The green flag falls on the 33-car starting field of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” at 1 p.m. (ET) Sunday, May 25 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with the live nationwide telecast on ABC in the United States.
ESPN is also responsible for the global syndication of the Indy 500 for live broadcast in Belgium, Bosnia/Serbia, Canada, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom. In addition, ESPN will distribute the Indy 500 to the American Forces Network, which serves military personnel stationed in 176 countries and U.S. territories.
When combined with ESPN’s international distribution efforts, the estimated worldwide total for the Indy 500 includes more than 212 countries and more than 375 million households worldwide.
ESPN will have two separate on-site teams broadcasting the race in Spanish and English to international audiences. Spanish-language announcers will be veteran broadcaster Andres Agulla and Alex Pombo; Gary Lee and Larry Rice will provide commentary in English. ESPN’s international coverage will peak at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, with a 20-minute special edition of its auto racing show “RPM Semanal,” telecast in Spanish in Latin America, and pre-race show “Before They Go Green,” telecast in English on ESPN networks in Africa, the Middle East, Israel, the Caribbean and the PacRim/Australia.
In addition to the broad global television distribution of the race, this years Indy 500 also has a particular international appeal. Of the 33 starting drivers, 20 are from countries other than the United States, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, Spain and Venezuela.