ESPN Providing Worldwide Distribution of Indianapolis 500. Coverage to Exceed 200 Countries and Territories and 375 Million Households
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. ESPNs 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 on Sunday, May 25, at 1 p.m. ET at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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 U.K. 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. In the United States, the Indy 500 will be telecast live to a nationwide audience on ABC. 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 Andrs Agulla and Alex Pombo; Gary Lee and Larry Rice will provide commentary in English. ESPNs coverage will peak at 12:30 p.m. ET Sunday, May 25, 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, 19 are from countries other than the United States, including Australia, Brazil, England, Italy, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, Spain, and Venezuela.
ESPNdeportes.com, the companys Spanish-language Web site, also will provide comprehensive coverage of the Indy 500 by offering live Real Time results of race action, daily columns from ESPN reporters and commentators, chats with ESPN personalities, a full pre- and post-race photo gallery, video clips and more. Update this section with the following information:
