INDIANAPOLIS – MX1, a global solution provider of media services, and IMS Productions, a leader in media production and technology, announced today a partnership to provide distribution services for international race telecasts for the NTT IndyCar Series, the premier level of open-wheel racing in North America. 

Over the next three seasons, beginning with this week’s season opener at St. Petersburg, Florida, IMS Productions will be responsible for transmitting all NTT IndyCar Series races to international rights holders in approximately 100 countries around the globe, and MX1 will provide both operational support and distribution services. The partnership comes following the announcement in January that INDYCAR, sanctioning organization for the NTT IndyCar Series, has created INDYCAR Media, the in-house global distribution arm to negotiate international media rights. INDYCAR and IMS Productions are both subsidiaries of Hulman & Company.

“We are excited for the opportunity to work with IMS Productions and distribute content for INDYCAR, the world’s fastest and most diverse racing series,” said Susanna Mandell Montello, Vice President of Global Sports at MX1. “MX1’s satellite distribution business is used by many big-name broadcasters in the sports environment and has gained a stellar reputation for reliability and worldwide coverage.”    

IMS Productions will provide technical and engineering expertise and facilities for the creation of INDYCAR content and utilize its C- and Ku-band uplinks for the first mile of distribution, at which point MX1 will seamlessly receive the feed and distribute it to the world. 

IMS Productions is a long-established leader in broadcasting sporting events such as the NTT IndyCar Series and PBR (Professional Bull Riders). By providing media professionals with state-of-the-art, broadcast-quality cameras and other cost-effective equipment, IMS Productions brings efficiency and cost savings to sports production.  

MX1 is a leading media services provider with a global network that covers downlink/uplink and turnaround services from over 150 satellite platforms. With media centers located on three continents, MX1 will enable INDYCAR to access and distribute its content to even the most remote areas of the world.

“At IMS Productions, we pride ourselves on providing customers with a complete production solution, including mobile units, content services, and transmission services,” said Kevin Sublette, President at IMS Productions. “By collaborating with MX1, an expert in delivering flexible services that cut through transmission complexities, we can help INDYCAR distribute its racing content with the ultimate reliability and global reach that is imperative for live sports.”

Among the nations reaching agreements to broadcast INDYCAR content in 2019 are Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Spain, Sweden, France, New Zealand and Brazil. See the full list of countries and broadcast partners below.

Notably, in Canada, through INDYCAR’s partnership with Sportsnet, INDYCAR fans will be able to consume NTT IndyCar Series races and qualifying sessions on SN NOW+, Sportsnet’s direct-to-consumer platform. Additionally, all races except for the season opener (due to a scheduling conflict) will air in Canada on Sportsnet World, a Sportsnet linear television channel, with the Indianapolis 500 and the Honda Indy Toronto also airing on linear television via the Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet ONE channels, respectively.

In the United Kingdom, NTT IndyCar Series races, practices and qualifying sessions will air on Sky Sports F1, Sky’s premium motorsports channel. In addition to full-season coverage on linear pay television in Japan and Spain, the Indianapolis 500 also will air on free-to-air television in both countries with NHK and #Vamos (Movistar), respectively. INDYCAR will expand into the Nordics in 2019, and NTT IndyCar Series races can be seen live on Viasat channels in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway.

Rounding out the coverage, DAZN (pronounced Da-Zone), the popular and rapidly growing sports-only subscription video streaming platform, will show NTT IndyCar Series races in Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Brazil.

Stephen Starks, INDYCAR vice president of promoter and media partner relations, has spearheaded the effort for INDYCAR Media, along with London-based Heather White, INDYCAR Media’s licensing point of contact.

“We are pleased to offer this great content to so many people around the world,” Starks said. “These deals represent partnerships between INDYCAR, the broadcast partners and the race fans they reach. We believe that through our media arrangements, more people around the world will now have the opportunity to see the NTT IndyCar Series as the fastest and most diverse racing series available and experience the international flavor of drivers such as five-time series champion Scott Dixon of New Zealand and the return of Fernando Alonso and McLaren Racing to the Indianapolis 500 in May.”

The 103rd Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge will be held Sunday, May 26.

In addition to Dixon, who is the NTT IndyCar Series’ reigning champion, the list of active championship-winning international drivers includes Sebastien Bourdais and Simon Pagenaud of France, Tony Kanaan of Brazil and Will Power of Australia. Dixon, Kanaan, Power and Japan’s Takuma Sato have each won the Indianapolis 500. Brazil’s Helio Castroneves will return to this year’s Indy 500 bidding to win for a record-tying fourth time.

Canada’s James Hinchcliffe, England’s Max Chilton and NTT IndyCar Series newcomers Marcus Ericsson and Felix Rosenqvist of Sweden are among the other drivers to watch during the 2019 season.

INDYCAR International Broadcasters for 2019

Territories, Channel(s) – Check local listings for channel information:

Africa – Sub Saharan (French language), Canal+

Africa – South Africa/Sub Saharan (English language), SuperSport

Asia – Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Hong Kong, Guam, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, North Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and Mainland China (English language), Fox Sports/Star Sports

Australia, Fox Sports (one-hour version)

Austria, DAZN

Brazil, Bandeirantes/Band Sports/DAZN

Canada, Sportsnet World and SN NOW+

Denmark, Viasat

Finland, Viasat

France, Canal+

Germany, DAZN

Ireland, Sky Sports F1

Italy, DAZN

Japan, Gaora

Japan, NHK (Indianapolis 500 only)

Myanmar, Canal+

Netherlands, Ziggo

New Zealand, Sky Sport

Norway, Viasat

Portugal, Sport TV

Russia, Match TV/TV4 (one-hour version)

Russia, Viasat Sport East

Spain, Movistar

Sweden, Viasat/TV3, TV10 (one-hour version)

Switzerland, DAZN (German language)/Canal+ (French language)

United Kingdom, Sky Sports F1

Vietnam, VSTV

Worldwide, Mobil 1: The Grid (featured in the weekly motorsports program)