Canadian & US Television Broadcast Schedule for 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy

On the streets of St Petersburg, the sound of twin-turbocharged Chevrolet and Honda engines will be brought to life in competition for the first time this year. New drivers, old open wheel stars like Juan Pablo Montoya retuning to the faster form of motorsports, Chip Ganassi cars with Chevrolet engines, Andretti Autosport cars powered by Honda, a new IndyCar title sponsor; 2014 promises to bring IndyCar fans a memorable. Consisting of 18 point-paying events, the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series is something few race fans will choose to miss. Ahead of the start of the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series today (Sunday, March 30^th) , I have taken some time to provide the following full television schedule for United States and Canadian viewers of the open wheel championship.

A big win for fans even before the start of the 2014 season, all Verizon IndyCar Series races will be televised live on the Canadian and American carriers. The season opener will be shown on ABC in the United States and City television network in Canada. Both channels are non-cable networks that should provide an easy opportunity for most fans to watch the Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg. A total of five IndyCar races will be shown on City in 2014 including the inaugural Indianapolis road race in the series as well as the prestigious Indianapolis 500. Five races, including the double race weekend in Toronto will be shown on Sportsnet in Canada with the remaining eight races being broadcasted on the Sportsnet One premium digital channel. Canadians will also be presented with several opportunities to watch encore broadcasts of the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series. Races will also be shown on the RogersAnyplaceTV.com site for online viewers in Canada.

I would have been much happier to have the schedule posted earlier (as would Canadian IndyCar fans). I sent several emails over the past two weeks to Rogers media regarding the Canadian television schedule for the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series but never received a reply. While the American television schedule was confirmed December, the Canadian broadcast scheme wasn’t released until Friday.

2014 Verizon IndyCar TV Schedule

Date	Round #	Race	Track	Race Time (Times are eastern)	US TV Channel	Canadian TV Channel
March 30th	1	Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg	Streets of St Petersburg	2:30 p.m.	ABC	City
April 13th	2	Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach	Streets of Long Beach	4:00 p.m.	NBC Sports Network	Sportsnet One
April 27th	3	Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama	Barber Motorsports Park	2:30 p.m.	NBC Sports Network	Sportsnet One
May 10th	4	Grand Prix of Indianapolis	Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Road Course)	3:30 p.m.	ABC	City
May 25th	5	Indianapolis 500	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	11 a.m.	ABC	City
May 31st	6	Chevrolet Indy Duel in Detroit (Race #1)	Belle Isle Street Circuit	3:30 p.m.	ABC	City
June 1st	7	Chevrolet Indy Duel in Detroit (Race #2)	Belle Isle Street Circuit	3:30 p.m.	ABC	City
June 7th	8	Firestone 600	Texas Motor Speedway	8 p.m.	NBC Sports Network	Sportsnet
June 28th	9	The Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston (Race #1)	Streets of Houston	3 p.m.	NBC Sports Network	Sportsnet One
June 29th	10	The Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston (Race #2)	Streets of Houston	3 p.m.	NBC Sports Network	Sportsnet One
July 6th	11	Pocono INDYCAR 500	Pocono Raceway	Noon	NBC Sports Network	Sportsnet
July 12th	12	Iowa Corn Indy 300	Iowa Speedway	8 p.m.	NBC Sports Network	Sportsnet One
July 19th	13	Honda Indy Toronto (Race #1)	Streets of Toronto	3 p.m.	NBC Sports Network	Sportsnet
July 20th	14	Honda Indy Toronto (Race #2)	Streets of Toronto	3 p.m.	NBC Sports Network	Sportsnet
August 3rd	15	Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course	3 p.m.	NBC Sports Network	Sportsnet One
August 17th	16	ABC Supply Wisconsin 250	Milwaukee Mile	3 p.m.	NBC Sports Network	Sportsnet One
August 24th	17	GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma	Sonoma Raceway	4 p.m.	NBC Sports Network	Sportsnet
August 30th	18	MAVTV 500	Auto Club Speedway	9 p.m.	NBC Sports Network	Sportsnet

2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series US/Canada TV Schedule

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

In a matter of two weeks, the new turbocharge-engined, Dallara Indy car chassis will come to life in competition on the St Petersburg, Florida temporary street course. Adding to the mix a slew of exciting driver and team combinations announced over the past five months, the kick-off to the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series will be most intriguing. Will Dario Franchitti defend his crown for a fourth-straight year? Is it finally Will Power's time to claim overall point honours with Penske Racing? Could Andretti Autosport and even KV Racing spoil the IZOD INDYCAR Series dominance of Penske Racing and Target Chip Ganassi Racing? The first race for the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series will be the first opportunity to witness what drivers, teams, media and fans could expect from this important year.

With St Petersburg being the first among a 16-race tour in 2012, the IZOD INDYCAR Series will take the refreshed brand of open wheel racing through 10 states as well as four countries including a first-ever visit to China with the Qingdao street race. Presenting 16 chances for enthused auto racing fans and families to personally attend a 2012 IZOD INDYCAR event to cheer on their favourite driver, television will again play a pivotal part in spreading the spectacle across great distances. For the United States and Canada, the 2012 schedule for the IZOD INDYCAR Series involves the series involved once again with familiar broadcast partners.  

Race viewers in the United States will have ABC and the NBC Sports Network (formerly the Versus channel) broadcasting each event live. Six events will be shown on ABC in 2012 including the broadcaster's 48th time at the Indianapolis 500. ABC will also cover the INDYCAR Series return to Belle Isle for the Detroit Grand Prix sponsored by Chevrolet. The remaining ten 2012 IZOD INDYCAR events will be shown on the NBC Sports Network channel. NBC Sports Network broadcasts in 2012 will involve the final four-race stint for the open wheel racing series starting at the Qingdao street circuit.

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

For Canadian race fans hoping to see James Hinchcliffe, Alex Tagliani and ride-permitting Paul Tracy compete through 2012, the TSN channels is the exclusive simulcast broadcaster. The mothership TSN station will only relay five IZOD INDYCAR races in 2012 with the balance going to the digital television-only TSN2 channel. Fortunately for basic cable and satellite customers, four of the TSN2 races will be televised on the ABC television network. For 2012, the Honda Indy of Toronto will be one of those events likely to receive higher viewership through the American channel.

During the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series season, four races will be televised in the TSN channels through same day, taped-delay for the Canadian market (Alabama, Milwaukee, Mid-Ohio and Baltimore). All four tape-delayed races will be broadcasted on TSN2.

The full television United States and Canadian listing for the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series television is provided below.


2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series TV Schedule Listing

March 25	Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg	Streets of St Petersburg	US Channel/Time	ABC/12:30 PM
			Canadian Channel/Time	TSN/12:00 PM
April 1	Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama	Barber Motorsports Park	US Channel/Time	NBC Sports Network/2:00 PM
			Canadian Channel/Time	TSN2/5:00 PM
April 15	Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach	Streets of Long Beach	US Channel/Time	NBC Sports Network/3:30 PM
			Canadian Channel/Time	TSN2/3:30 PM
April 29	Sao Paulo Indy 300	Streets of Sao Paulo	US Channel/Time	NBC Sports Network/12:00 PM
			Canadian Channel/Time	TSN/12:00PM
May 27	Indianapolis 500	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	US Channel/Time	ABC/11:00 AM
			Canadian Channel/Time	TSN/11:00 AM
June 3	Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix	The Raceway at Belle Isle Park	US Channel/Time	ABC/3:30 PM
			Canadian Channel/Time	TSN2/3:30 PM
June 9	Firestone 500	Texas Motor Speedway	US Channel/Time	NBC Sports Network/8:00 PM
			Canadian Channel/Time	TSN2/8:00 PM
June 16	Milwaukee IndyFest	Milwaukee Mile	US Channel/Time	ABC/1:00 PM
			Canadian Channel/Time	TSN2/5:00 PM
June 23	Iowa Corn Indy 250	Iowa Speedway	US Channel/Time	NBC Sports Network/8:00 PM
			Canadian Channel/Time	TSN2/8:00 PM
July 8	Honda Indy Toronto	Streets of Toronto	US Channel/Time	ABC/12:30PM
			Canadian Channel/Time	TSN2/12:00 PM
July 22	Edmonton Indy	Edmonton City Centre Airport	US Channel/Time	NBC Sports Network/2:00 PM
			Canadian Channel/Time	TSN/2:00 PM
August 5	Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio	Mid-Ohio Sport Car Course	US Channel/Time	ABC/12:30 PM
			Canadian Channel/Time	TSN2/5:30 PM
August 18	Streets of Qingdao	Streets of Qingdao	US Channel/Time	NBC Sports Network/11:55 PM
			Canadian Channel/Time	TSN/12:00 AM
August 26	Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma	Infineon Raceway	US Channel/Time	NBC Sports Network/4:00 PM
			Canadian Channel/Time	TSN2/4:00 PM
September 2	Baltimore Grand Prix	Streets of Baltimore	US Channel/Time	NBC Sports Network/2:00 PM
			Canadian Channel/Time	TSN2/11:00 PM
September 15	Unnamed Auto Club Speedway Race	Auto Club Speedway:	US Channel/Time	NBC Sports Network/8:00 PM
			Canadian Channel/Time	TSN2/8:00 PM

Major Events During 2010 Speedweeks at Daytona

Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR

Last week, it was the tires of Grand Am sports cars warming up the Daytona International Speedway for 2010 through the 3.56 mile road course. This week, Daytona's more recognized 2.5 superspeedway oval becomes the focus for Hershey's Milk & Milkshakes Speedweeks, a medley of stock car races which will start with ARCA's Lucas Oil Stick Mist 200 and end with the Daytona 500.

The following list is the TV stations as well as the scheduled time starts of major events during the Hershey's Milk and Milkshakes Speedweeks:

February 6th

NASCAR Sprint Cup: Daytona 500 Qualifying Day (Resolving top 2 starting spots and Duel 150 fields)- Fox/ 1:05PM

ARCA Racing Series Presented by REMAX and Menards: Lucas Oil Stick Mist 200- Speed/4:30PM

NASCAR Sprint Cup: Budweiser Shootout- FOX(TSN2 in Canada)/8PM



February 11th

NASCAR Sprint Cup: Gatorade Duel 150 Races- Speed(TSN in Canada)/2PM

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series: Qualifying- Speed/6:10PM


February 12th

NASCAR Nationwide Series: Qualifying- ESPN/3:10PM

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series: Nextera Energy Resources 250- Speed/8PM (Pre-race show starts at 7:30PM)


February 13th

NASCAR Nationwide Series: Drive4COPD 300- ESPN2(TSN2 in Canada)/1:15PM (Pre-race show starts at noon)


February 14th

NASCAR Sprint Cup: Daytona 500- Fox(TSN in Canada)/1PM (Pre-race show starts at noon)

All times are Eastern

More NASCAR on ESPN for 2010: 90% of Chase Races to be Aired on Cable Network

Photo Credit: Ford Media


In a press release made available on Wednesday, America's largest cable sports provider ESPN announced that their network will broadcast 9 of the 10 races in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup's Chase for the Cup Championship. With the 10-race Chase for the Cup airing entirely on ABC through the past 3 seasons, the over-the-air channel will only show the October 16th night race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “Last year’s performance showed us that ESPN provides the best home for NASCAR,” ESPN's executive vice president of content John Skipper said regarding the increased Sprint Cup coverage on the sports channel. Only 3 NASCAR Sprint Cup races will be televised on the ABC channels for 2010.

Back in 2000, NASCAR took the direct role in negotiating the season long coverage of the three major series (Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Camping World Truck Series) in an effort to not only net a bigger money deal but to gain broadcasting partners committed to expanding the exposure of professional stock car racing. In the inaugural season of the initial NASCAR TV deal involving FOX and NBC stations in 2001, 9 of regular 36 races were shown on cable channels while the rest aired on over-the-air networks. With only one event per week in their major division, this exposure on wide network television was important as NASCAR was continuing to push growth of the sport's brand. After the 2006 season, NBC decided not to renew their contract with NASCAR (though cable relative TNT did resign) allowing an ABC/ESPN deal to be formulated. Though ABC and ESPN had been pivotal in the past with fostering the once more humbler NASCAR series to a national audience, the loyalty of the networks to NASCAR since their return is not equal to Fox or even TNT.

In fact, it seems ABC's commitment for sports coverage appears to be dwindling. Moving ABC's long-established Monday Night Football to ESPN in 2006, this has been the most transparent to the media company's choice to empathize sports on their specialty channel. For NASCAR, the likeliest reason for this move from over the air to cable television is money more than viewership. ESPN benefits from a much higher pay per carriage fee from cable and satellite companies in the US which makes it more profitable to air increasingly more expensive sporting events when TV ad revenue takes a dive.

Because of the 9 NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase races shifting to ESPN, there will be more live races airing on cable channel than on major networks for the first time since NASCAR began brokering the TV packages. “This is exciting news for NASCAR and our fans,” NASCAR's Media Group President Paul Brooks assures the observers of the stock car racing series. However, is it quite a disenchanting event when 20 races on cable for 2010 appears to be regressing NASCAR. A stumble in at race attendance and slightly lower TV ratings in later years of the Sprint Cup have led the sanctioning body to rethink their sport. Attempting double-file restarts through more than half a season in 2009, there is also considerations being made to the race cars planned to compete at the Daytona 500 using everything from removing out-of-bounds lines to enlarging restrictor plates to speed up the cars.