In an effort to "boost its television rights revenue, the Izod IndyCar Series is considering adding races to its 2012 schedule that would expand and sweeten the five-race package now held by ABC," according to Tripp Mickle of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. The rights agreement for ABC’s package, which includes the Indianapolis 500, is "set to expire this year." ABC "pays $6 million annually for the rights to the Indianapolis 500 and four other races: St. Petersburg, Milwaukee, New Hampshire and Las Vegas.” It has held the rights to the Indianapolis 500 for 46 consecutive years. IndyCar has hired IMG and Barry Frank to "represent it in its TV rights negotiations," and ABC has a "90-day exclusive negotiating window that runs from April through the end of June." IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard said, "ABC has been a great partner, but I also know there’s significant interest from other networks" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/2 issue).
GOING BACK FOR SECONDS: SPEEDTV.com reported IndyCar "received written commitment April 28 from the governor of the state of Rio Grande do Sul and the mayor of Porto Alegre of their intention to play host" to a second annual race in Brazil. IndyCar Commercial Division President Terry Angstadt said, "What’s exciting to us is this three-country platform -- to have a race in a section of Brazil with close proximity to Argentina and Uruguay. It’s a very business-friendly market so it’s perfect for IndyCar" (SPEEDTV.com, 4/30).
