ABC retained the rights to broadcast four events, including the Indianapolis 500, with ancillary programming surrounding the marquee race airing on ESPN.
ABC Sports would retain rights to air just two races–the Indianapolis 500 and the race at Walt Disney World Speedway.
The contract, worth $13 million annually over five years, covered ten races, split between the broadcast and cable network.
[4] In August 2008, a now-unified IndyCar Series announced two separate television deals worth $10.9 million annually for the 2009 season.
Meanwhile, burgeoning cable sports network Versus signed a ten-year deal to cover thirteen races annually from the series through the 2018 season.
In a series' first, up to two races per season would be aired on NBCUniversal's new subscription streaming service Peacock, in addition to practice and qualifying sessions.
[8] On February 14, 2024, Racer reported that Fox Sports was preparing to make a serious bid for the series' television rights for the 2025 season and beyond.
Additionally, two sessions of time trials for the Indianapolis 500 will be televised on Fox, bringing the total annual windows on the network to nineteen.