Northern Light IRL: TV Package Brings Indy Racing to 50 Additional Nations in 2001
17 December 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
INDIANAPOLIS - Fifty additional countries throughout Europe and Africa will receive live telecasts of all 13 Indy Racing Northern Light Series events in 2001, including the Indianapolis 500, as part of an expansion of the Indy Racing Leagues existing international television distribution.
Most of these additional countries will broadcast Northern Light Series events for the first time next year. Fox Sports is distributing the programming via satellite.
"Were pleased to announce this new television package," Indy Racing League President and Chief Executive Officer Tony George said. "The exciting racing and personalities of the Indy Racing Northern Light Series are attracting more fans worldwide, and we think the addition of Indy Racing programming in 50 countries will provide enjoyment for those fans and attract new ones. This package also adds excellent global exposure for both series and team corporate partners."
The additional countries/regions which will receive Indy Racing broadcasts in 2001: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bulgaria, Chad, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Kuwait, Macedonia, Mauritania, Moldova, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
Indy Racing Northern Light Series events already are televised in numerous countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, Chile, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom. News footage of the series was transmitted to 176 countries or territories worldwide in 2000, reaching more than 780 million households.
The 2001 Indy Racing Northern Light Series schedule starts March 18 with the Pennzoil Copper World Indy 200 at Phoenix and concludes Sept. 16 with the Excite 500 at Fort Worth, Texas. The schedule has expanded nearly 50 percent, from nine events in 2000.
ABC and the ESPN/ESPN2 will televise all 13 Northern Light Series events in the United States in 2001.
The Indy Racing Northern Light Series is the premier open-wheel, oval-track auto racing series in the world. It is entering its sixth season in 2001.
Text provided by Paul Kelly
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