NBC has been betting on sport-specific packages lately to boost subscriptions to its over-the-top streaming platform NBC Sports Gold. The company has already launched Premier League Pass, Track & Field Pass, and two golf services: PGA Tour Live, and the lifestyle and instructional programming-focused GOLFPASS. Now NBC Sports Gold is giving open-wheel racing the same treatment.
Today NBC revealed that it is rolling out IndyCar Pass. It will feature over 200 hours of programming, and is designed for some of the sport’s biggest fans.
IndyCar Pass will provide coverage of practice sessions and qualifying events. It will also offer some shoulder programming for races carried on NBC.
What IndyCar Pass will not provide is streaming coverage of any races.
While IndyCar Pass is aimed at appealing to racing super fans, Awful Announcing’s Andrew Bucholtz says there is reason to believe not all of them will be happy to hand over the $49.99 NBC is asking for each month.
It’s interesting that NBC is promising to bring “television-quality production” to the qualifying and practice sessions, and that may be the main selling point for this. However, not all fans are going to be happy about many of these sessions moving to a premium subscription product “on an exclusive basis,” as a lot of this content was previously available on YouTube or Periscope broadcasts for free (albeit with lower production quality). And this won’t be a solution for those who want to watch live races, as they’ll still need access to NBC and or NBCSN.
Andrew Bucholtz, Awful Announcing
NBC Sports Gold will utilize the new platform around the Indianapolis 500. NBC is promising that fans will get 50 hours of Indy-specific coverage around the May 26 event.
