Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles said that the plans and infrastructure are “in place to black out the live broadcast of the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500 to central Indiana race fans,” according to Nathan Brown of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. The decision comes after three consecutive years of "lifting its longstanding blackout" or "without a way to enforce it." Last year, fans were able to watch Marcus Ericsson’s 500 win "live via a premium subscription” to Peacock. With that loophole available, NBC saw a 534% "increase in its digital audience for the 500." IMS “lifted the local live ban” on the broadcast of the race in 2016 when it “reached a rare, true sellout with an estimated crowd of 350,000 fans on race day." In 2020 and 2021, IMS also “lifted the local blackout of the live race broadcast with the COVID-19 pandemic” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/8).
IMS closes loophole allowing Indy 500 black out bypass through Peacock
