NBC Ready To Impress With Net’s First Indianapolis 500 Broadcast

Indy 500 star announcer Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Sunday's Indianapolis 500 will be a "monstrous proving ground for NBC, which has taken the reins from ABC" and will broadcast the race for the first time, according to Jim Ayello of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR.

NBC will "try to halt the 500’s recent trend of plummeting TV ratings," which is highlighted by ABC last year drawing the race's lowest overnight rating ever.

NBC Coordinating Producer Rich O’Connor has spent more than a year "plotting NBC's nearly four-hour pre-race show." He said, “You only get one chance to make a first impression."

Ayello notes NBC has been "promoting the race with a vigor unseen in recent years." Ads for the race "began during the NFL playoffs in January and have hit another gear lately, including eight spots" during the Kentucky Derby. For the race itself, NBC is "arming itself with more than 140 cameras, a crew of near 400, a 14-person broadcast team, a helicopter, a blimp and a whole lot of star power" INDIANAPOLIS STAR.

AWFUL ANNOUNCING's Phillip Bupp noted NBC has "made sure everyone is aware" the network is airing the race. From advertising "during other sporting events … and other highly rated primetime shows," NBC is "hoping this pays off in terms of added viewership and bringing in both new and casual fans and turning them into diehard fans" AWFULANNOUNCING.com.