One issue for the IZOD IndyCar Series that has had little acknowledgement is the lack of an apparent TV deal for the UK in 2011.
IndyCar’s contract with Sky Sports ran its course at the end of last year and there a replacement deal has yet to be announced.
While it is understandable that INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard and his team may be concentrating on programmes in the Americas, the series should not ignore another ready made audience on this side of the Atlantic – especially when one considers the number of European drivers based in the Championship. Whether the likes of Eurosport or Motors TV would be willing to take on IndyCar is not known at this stage.
Although probably not ideal for many, indycar.com will still be streaming both the IndyCar Series and Indy Lights sessions live from their website with commentary from the ever reliable radio crew; however I am sure there are many that would rather plonk themselves down in front of the television set instead.
Until then, watch this space.
I may start watching it again so…..
They do show the races from indycar.com, but sometimes the connection can be very ropey.
I started subscribing to Sky a couple of years ago because they also had stuff like live A1 Grand Prix which has obviously gone now.
If they don’t renew Indy Car then I’ve no reason to have Sky Sports. And if I’ve no reason to have Sky Sports I have no reason to have Sky at all.
Every cloud has a silver lining. But frankly I’d rather they saw sense and sorted out a deal to show Indy Car live.
Thankfully, I’ve linked to indycar.com for the last two years and have found it a worthwhile service (mainly thanks to a very good broadband connection), but I am still only one of a few that has made that transition at this stage.
I remember when Eurosport dropped the CART Series in 2002/3 (I think) – it completely dropped off the radar for me. It would be a great shame for IndyCar to suffer the same fate.
I too got Sky Sports for A1GP and started watching the Indy Car series and really enjoyed it. After a thrilling 2007/2008 season, Sky decided they’d show NASCAR, often putting it on instead of Indy Car.
After this I started going on IndyCar.com where the coverage is amazing. For the Indy 500 I bought a cable which connects my laptop to the TV, so that sorted out the problem of being able to sit back and relax 🙂
Indycar.com’s coverage of the Indianapolis qualifying days were a real eye-opener – great stuff.
I must ask them if they are covering any of the centennial celebrations this year.
MotorsTV is apparently looking into INDYCAR and A10 etc.
If any station, I’d say MotorsTV is the leading runner. It’s a shame – the ratings were apparently not too bad, when considering the races were often lumped onto Sky Sports 4.
I am sure it will be on TV this season, it would be mad for it not to be. The question is where it will end up, given even NASCAR is on another obscure channel again this year. I hope IndyCar doesn’t suffer the same fate even if the benefit is fewer (or no) ads.
Great article – I need to write something similar for http://motorsportviewersandlistenersuk.wordpress.com/
Looks like we cover some similar themes!
Well, if Indycar aint on Sky, i sure won;t be renewing my Sky Sports package deal. That’s another monthly fee they can kiss goodbye. Really hope we get to see it somewhere
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,15751_6737696,00.html
Its live on sky HD!!
Hi Darran,
Yep, I blogged it here – http://theformulaoneandmotorsportsarchive.wordpress.com/2011/02/08/a-uk-tv-deal-for-indycar/
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