Canadian IndyCar TV coverage details released

[Source: INDYCAR press release]

*

Paul Tracy, the 2003 CART champion and native of Scarborough, Ontario, will undoubtedly blend his humor with unvarnished analysis as he joins Sportsnet’s broadcasts of the IZOD IndyCar Series at select races this season.

Sportsnet, a Rogers Media company, announced today a five-year agreement with INDYCAR for exclusive Canadian multiplatform rights to IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights events, beginning with the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 24. Sportsnet will deliver more than 100 hours of racing coverage in 2013 across TV, online and mobile.

Additionally, through Sportsnet’s agreement with TVA Sports, the deal also includes expanded French-language race coverage across the same platforms.

“The IZOD IndyCar Series is the ultimate series in auto racing,” said Navaid Mansuri, vice president of Finance & Sports Programming for Rogers Media. “We are thrilled to partner with INDYCAR for the exclusive Canadian rights for this series and to deliver coverage of these events to Canadian auto racing fans like they’ve never seen. This agreement bolsters Sportsnet’s diverse portfolio of premium sports assets, content and championship events, as well as furthers Rogers’ and Sportsnet’s commitment to investing in sports to drive future growth.”

Sportsnet, launched in 1998, is comprised of the nationally distributed Sportsnet ONE and four regional channels. All are available in high definition.

Tracy, who is tied with Sebastien Bourdais and Dario Franchitti for seventh on the career victory list with 31, will join the Sportsnet broadcast team that features Canadian Motorsport Hall of Famer Bill Adam, pit reporter Todd Lewis and host Rob Faulds for the broadcasts of the Indianapolis 500, Honda Indy Toronto and a race to be determined.

Through RogersAnyPlaceTV.com, Rogers digital television customers can stream Sportsnet’s TV coverage. Rogers wireless customers will have access to streaming and additional sports content on their smartphones with the Rogers Anyplace TV mobile app available through the Apple App Store, Google Play and BlackBerry App World.

Sportsnet’s 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series broadcast schedule with channels

Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Sunday, March 24, noon (ET) — Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific

Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama
Sunday, April 7, 2:30 p.m. (ET) — Sportsnet ONE

Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
Sunday, April 21, 4 p.m. (ET) — Sportsnet East, Ontario, Pacific and ONE

Sao Paulo Indy 300
Sunday, May 5, 11 a.m. (ET) — Sportsnet ONE

Indianapolis 500
Sunday, May 26, 11 a.m. (ET) — Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific

Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit – Race 1
Saturday, June 1, 3:30 p.m. (ET) — City Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver

Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit – Race 2
Sunday, June 2, 3:30 p.m. (ET) — City Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver

Firestone 550
Saturday, June 8, 8:30 p.m. (ET) — Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific

Milwaukee IndyFest
Saturday, June 15, 4 p.m. (ET) — Sportsnet ONE

Iowa Corn Indy 250
Sunday, June 23, 2:30 p.m. (ET) — Sportsnet ONE

Pocono INDYCAR 400
Sunday, July 7, noon (ET) — Sportsnet ONE

Honda Indy Toronto – Race 1
Saturday, July 13, 3 p.m. (ET) — Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific

Honda Indy Toronto – Race 2
Sunday, July 14, 3 p.m. (ET) — Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific

Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio
Sunday, Aug. 4, 3 p.m. (ET) — Sportsnet ONE

GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma
Sunday, Aug. 25, 4 p.m. (ET) — Sportsnet ONE

Grand Prix of Baltimore
Sunday, Sept. 1, 2 p.m. (ET) — Sportsnet ONE

Shell & Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston – Race 1
Saturday, Oct. 5, 3 p.m. (ET) — TBD

Shell & Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston – Race 2
Sunday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m. (ET) — TBD

MAVTV 500
Saturday, Oct. 19, 8 p.m. (ET) — Sportsnet ONE