The Comcast-NBC Merger Affects the Future of IndyCar?
Cross-Promotion
Right now, Versus stood alone in promoting its races. Sure, a graphic might pop up on an ABC telecast to let viewers know the remainder of the IndyCar schedule or to promote a future ABC race, but for the most part, Versus was left on its own. With the merger, this ends.
When NBC Sports begins its golf coverage with the Florida swing later this winter, it would behoove them and Versus to promote the beginning of the IZOD IndyCar season. During the U.S. Open, you think NBC can't or won't work a few promotions in for coverage of the Iowa Corn Indy 225, which runs a week later on Versus?
While the demographics for golf and IndyCar racing are different, they also have a giant tie – IZOD. The clothing manufacturer has line of clothing for both the golfer and race fan and would certainly want to bring those two together. Additionally, some of the sports' drivers are big golfers, like Graham Rahal and Tomas Scheckter. Working drivers into pro-ams or in-booth appearances to promote a race is a distinct possibility.
NBC presently airs the Dew Tours, a series of x-games styled events in the summer and winter. The market here is remarkably similar to that of the IZOD IndyCar Series – young, thrill-seeking males. Cross-promotions, or airing races and Dew Tour events back-to-back will bring in additionally eyeballs. SBNation.com
Lastly, NBC has the rights to one of the world's most global events – the Olympics. While auto racing is a long shot to gain a spot in the Olympics, the promotional opportunities for INDYCAR during an Olympics broadcast are endless. During the 2012 summer games, chances to promote the (potential) change in coverage of the Indianapolis 500 from ABC to NBC would exist, while the 2014 winter games could serve as a platform to promote the entire IndyCar schedule.
Competition
ABC has been bringing fans coverage of the Indianapolis 500 since 1965, and there are many over at 16th and Georgetown who may reluctant to leave a partner that helped the sport grow into the mid-1990's. However, the NBC-Comcast merger means that ABC (and ESPN) will have to step up their effort and coverage in order to retain their contract after 2012.
At his State-of-INDYCAR address, Randy Bernard remarked that they had been advised not to enter into contract negotiations on future TV contracts until after a merger had been announced. With the merger in place, Bernard is now in a position of power, knowing that NBC Sports would likely pursue "The Most Important Race in History," bringing the entire INDYCAR stable of races under NBC Sports/Versus control.
NBC devoted time and plenty of money to NASCAR back in the early part of the 2000's, helping fuel its growth; if similar resources were employed with INDYCAR, a similar growth pattern would likely occur. NBC would surely be happy to become the new home of the Indianapolis 500 as the race neared its 100th running in 2016.
On ABC/ESPN's side, they will surely have to devote more promotional activities to try and raise the bar for its broadcasts. INDYCAR executives will not sit on their hands when an announcer butchers a name or treats the series as NASCAR's ugly sister; now, the series has leverage, and should use it as much as possible to either improve the ABC/ESPN broadcasts and increase coverage on SportsCenter and other platforms, or go all in with NBC.
Randy Bernard has laid the foundation – with companies like Honda, Chevrolet and Lotus on board, advertising dollars are sure to follow (and if Firestone stays, all the better). The series is in place to grow, whether it comes in the form of fans at the track or in sponsorship and marketing dollars. With Comcast and NBC joining forces, Bernard has another ally in his push to return INDYCAR to its former place atop the American auto racing landscape.