• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Fox Moving Some NASCAR Races To Speed?

NASCAR viewers have been dwindling the past few years so in that context this move doesn't seem to be well thought out. Bear in mind it is Fox doing this and not NASCAR but still, you'd think NASCAR would have some leverage to keep the races on the big signal.

SPEED is not on everyone's cable system nor is it on basic in a lot of them. There has been quite a lot of criticism from the various news story comments that people aren't about to pay for a sports tier just to get a few races on SPEED.

Given NASCAR's recent performance and the dislike of Fox's broadcast team it may not matter.
 
I like NASCAR but am just a casual fan. However one race about a month ago, they
"hooked up" behind each other (one car pushing the other) and all drivers stayed
hooked up for 500 miles!!! Now, that's the one they need to send to Speed.
 
Gregg, that race was at Talladega. Believe it or not, that race used to be a fan favorite until the new cars and the repaving of the track.
Now, with the "2 car draft" the drivers get spread out and it's not as exciting at 'Dega as it was in say, the 90s.

Anyway, I've heard somewhere that most of the races they're wanting to move are the Saturday night races. I'm assuming that means FOX Sports wants more primetime baseball since AMW is gone.
NASCAR isn't too happy about it, and FOX is going to have to pay a lot because moving races is a breach of their contract.
 
Earlier this year, SPEED did carry one race on a Saturday night - the "all-star race". I suspect that was a mere guinea pig for Fox eventually wanted to do (this) in the long run.
 
As previously hinted... moving races off Fox and to another network would prevent the possibility of this happening again... ::)
 
DToTheJ said:
I suspect that was a mere guinea pig for Fox eventually wanted to do (this) in the long run.
Click to expand...

Hardly a "guinea pig." That All-Star Race has been on Speed for several years now.

But, NASCAR audience notwithstanding, one wonders why Fox would want to take programming off the main network after demanding their affiliates cross their greedy palms with a mandatory 25 cents per head per month from retransmission fees (and we know who really pays those, don't we?).

Seems to me if I'm a Fox station, and I'm forced to pay up, I'd be expecting something more in return. Well, Rupert, where is it?
 
MarcB said:
My boss at Illusions tried to subscribe to Speed Channel for [the All-Star] race and no one was home at COMCAST at 6PM on a Saturday night.
Click to expand...

I understand in some areas, it's being treated as a "premium channel", as is the case in yours, Marc. Other cable systems include it in a "sports package" or an extended tier. I always thought it was a regular basic cable channel, but I suppose Fox wants to move races to Speed to state their case (see also: regular-season NFL games on NFL Network)...
 
DToTheJ said:
Earlier this year, SPEED did carry one race on a Saturday night - the "all-star race". I suspect that was a mere guinea pig for Fox eventually wanted to do (this) in the long run.
Click to expand...

It's an "All Star" Race, it doesn't count in the standings and is a showcase for NASCAR, as mentioned before it's been on Speed for many years, Fox doesn't want it because it doesn't add to NASCAR, it just shows it off.
 
Talladega "excitement" died with restrictor plates.
Click to expand...


landtuna, Actually restrictor plates make racing MORE exciting for the fans because the racing is much closer and the cars are more equal. So I think the exact opposite is true.

The drivers however do not like restrictor plates because the close racing increases the possibility of cars touching, which can cause chain reaction pileups.
 
avtosalon said:
landtuna, Actually restrictor plates make racing MORE exciting for the fans because the racing is much closer and the cars are more equal. So I think the exact opposite is true.

The drivers however do not like restrictor plates because the close racing increases the possibility of cars touching, which can cause chain reaction pileups.
Click to expand...

You need to read the fan blogs and mags more often. Neither the fans nor the drivers like plate racing. And couple plate engines with the aero packages the cars have now and you have nothing exciting except waiting for "the big one" which usually takes out 1/3 of the field. Watching the entire field go roundy-round follow the leader is not only not exciting, it is stupifyingly boring.

NASCAR needs to get back to its roots before it completely loses its first generation of fans. The second generation is already leaving in droves. There will not be a third generation unless they get back to the original concept of stock car racing.
 
You need to read the fan blogs and mags more often.
Click to expand...

No I don't. I've attended about 30 Cup races since the early 90's, so I do know what I'm talking about.


Neither the fans nor the drivers like plate racing.
Click to expand...

I already said that the drivers do not like restrictor plates, but drivers (like Mark Martin) have stated in interviews that restrictor plate racing is more exciting for the fans.


And couple plate engines with the aero packages the cars have now and you have nothing exciting except waiting for "the big one" which usually takes out 1/3 of the field.
Click to expand...

I think watching "the big one" is exciting to watch, as well as the close racing and having half the field racing in a pack is exciting.


Watching the entire field go roundy-round follow the leader is not only not exciting, it is stupifyingly boring.
Click to expand...

Isn't that what happens in every race (restrictor plate and non-restrictor plate)? So I'm not sure what your point is.
 
avtosalon said:
You need to read the fan blogs and mags more often.
Click to expand...

No I don't. I've attended about 30 Cup races since the early 90's, so I do know what I'm talking about.
Click to expand...

I've been following NASCAR since 1971 so naturally I think I know a bit of something as well. You may well know what you personally like but you are in a minority. Observe the number of empty seats in former sold-out tracks and the declining viewership. Also observe the number of empty seats in the Nationwide race. Typically the tracks sold both races but it is clear only a handful of fans are showing up for the Saturday race and the Sunday race is getting fewer and fewer ticket buyers. The economy might speak to the aluminum seat fan but not the TV audience.


avtosalon said:
I already said that the drivers do not like restrictor plates, but drivers (like Mark Martin) have stated in interviews that restrictor plate racing is more exciting for the fans.
Click to expand...

Mark made that statement several years ago but it has not proved to be accurate. Today's aero packages (wing, splitter etc.) make racing in "dirty air" almost impossible for passing and contribute to far more wrecks than they prevent. One glance at Martin's record before and after the new cars were introduced will tell you all you need to know about his expertise with the current setup.

avtosalon said:
I think watching "the big one" is exciting to watch, as well as the close racing and having half the field racing in a pack is exciting.
Click to expand...

Yes, the "big one" is exciting to watch....unless it's your guy who is injured or taken out of the points because he gets caught up in it. If you really want to watch wrecks why not go to one of the old figure-8 tracks? I prefer watching them race, not wreck, and hate to see a bunch of guys and their teams taken out by one small mistake by someone up front.


avtosalon said:
Isn't that what happens in every race (restrictor plate and non-restrictor plate)? So I'm not sure what your point is.
Click to expand...

I was specifically addressing the bumper-to-bumper racing that occurred last Talladega race where the only way to race was to team up with another car and race as a pair. If you like that sort of team competition then the Tour de France is more your game. I like cars having the ability to pass each other and not be limited by restrictor plates or aero packages.

NASCAR may not have much control over what Fox decides to put their races on but they better pay attention because, in addition to all the on-track and garage rules they've blown, they are now fiddling with their TV audience which will dwindle away to nothing very quickly if aggravated.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom