Fox Sports is setting its sights on the fans of its Sunday afternoon NFL games, with the intent of steering them towards its new racing programs. This innovative strategy is designed to lure a new audience and expand the fan base for its racing broadcasts.
The inaugural season of IndyCar on Fox is set to kick off on March 2. To stir up excitement and generate interest, Fox Sports plans to showcase footage of some of the sport’s most celebrated drivers to football fans during its NFL playoff games’ broadcasts. In addition, this promotional strategy will extend to Super Bowl LIX, which Fox will broadcast on February 9. Josef Newgarden, a two-time Indianapolis 500 champion, will feature in the first promotional video, which will also include a guest appearance from Tom Brady, Fox Sports’ leading NFL analyst.
IndyCar was previously broadcasted on NBC since 2019 and, prior to that, on Disney. Fox, however, sees an opportunity to introduce new fans to the NTT IndyCar Series and the iconic Indianapolis 500. Fox already holds the NASCAR rights, which encompass the annual Daytona 500 broadcast. IndyCar presents a new venture that Fox believes holds substantial growth potential. “Something new that we think has some growth opportunity,” expressed Robert Gottlieb, the President of Marketing for Fox Sports. He was optimistic about the potential to inflate the popularity of the sport during his interview.
Fox’s Sunday NFL games are among the highest-rated on TV, and Gottlieb believes this presents an opportunity to reach a wider audience. The promotional videos will be directed at the vast game-day crowd to raise awareness among viewers who may not typically watch racing or may not know that the races are being broadcasted on Fox. Moreover, Gottlieb hopes to attract the attention of racing fans, specifically of IndyCar and NASCAR.
“For us, the Indy fan comes first. We want them to be really fired up and excited about the switch to Fox,” says Gottlieb. “We want them to feel validated in their passion for the sport in advance, and feel like Fox understands them. They get this property; this is something new and special.”
On Tuesday, Fox Sports announced that veteran broadcaster Will Buxton will provide play-by-play commentary, with James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell offering analysis. Gottlieb also aims to alert NASCAR fans about the switch to Fox. “We know that there’s an affinity. If you’re a motorsports fan of NASCAR, it’s a shorter walk to become a fan of Indy,” says Gottlieb. “Our research and insights on the NASCAR audience suggest that they hadn’t rejected Indy. They just weren’t really aware of it, and it wasn’t on their radar.”
FAQs:
Q: When will the first season of IndyCar on Fox debut?
A: The inaugural season of IndyCar on Fox is set to kick off on March 2.
Q: Who will feature in the first promotional video for IndyCar on Fox?
A: Josef Newgarden, a two-time Indianapolis 500 champion, will feature in the first promotional video. The video will also include a guest appearance from Tom Brady, Fox Sports’ leading NFL analyst.
Q: Which other sports does Fox Sports hold the rights to?
A: Fox Sports holds the rights to NASCAR, including the annual Daytona 500 broadcast.
Q: Who will provide play-by-play commentary and analysis for IndyCar on Fox?
A: Veteran broadcaster Will Buxton will provide play-by-play commentary, with James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell offering analysis.
Q: What is Fox Sports’ strategy to attract NASCAR fans to IndyCar?
A: Fox Sports aims to raise awareness among NASCAR fans about IndyCar, banking on the existing affinity between the sports. They believe that NASCAR fans could easily become fans of IndyCar once they are aware of it.
Credit: variety.com
