ESPN, ABC Sports and IMS formally announced a five-year
TV rights contract beginning in 2000. The agreement
includes rights for the Indy 500 and the entire 11-race Pep
Boys IRL series. ABC and ESPN/ESPN2 will televise the full
IRL series and the deal includes rights to historical
programs on ESPN Classic (ABC). In Indianapolis, Bill
Koenig notes that last year, ABC's relationship with IMS was
"on the rocks" and the Speedway was "getting cozy" with Fox.
But the appointment of new ABC Sports President Howard Katz
two months ago "changed the dynamics of negotiations with
the Speedway." Katz: "It's far worse to lose something
you've had for 34 years than to lose something you never had
in the first place" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 5/21). Katz
said the network also would continue its existing contract
with CART, but "our focus is on trying to support the IRL
because that's in our best interest." In Chicago, Dave Van
Dyck writes that there are "signs that the IRL-CART war may
be entering serious peace-talks stage." George "admitted
the sides have been meeting recently" (SUN-TIMES, 5/21).
