Now I Have Seen About Everything

[Defender]

Flipping around the TV dial this morning...came across ESPN Classic. They had film coverage of recent NASCAR races using snapshots.

It's bad enough they run manufactured 'coverage' of old NASCAR races to which they have no rights under the guise of the word 'classic' while completely ignoring decades of their own corporate coverage of Indy Car racing, but snapshots on ESPN Classic!?

What an honorable partner.

[dog-ring]

prolly got a better rating than the Fontana race did..........

[Indyknut]

Nascar sells, Indy car doesn't. Get over it.

[Defender]

Why not stick to the topic?

Whether or not a concocted ESPN Classic piece involving snapshots and years old footage as an excuse to carry a series they are not authorized to carry got higher ratings than the IRL Fontana race is not relevant to the topic at hand.

Neither is the widely recognized fact that NASCAR has a higher level of popularity than the IRL.

Lets not make excuses for the blatantly unprofessional behavior of ESPN. I was merely making a point about the shoddy, unacceptable treatment to which the IRL has become victimized.

There is absolutely no excuse for that programming considering the vault of Indy Racing material available to ESPN.

[Railbird]

There is absolutely no excuse for that programming


Dog just gave you the excuse


get over it

Like you like to remind, the IRL is getting paid.

[Defender]

Originally posted by Railbird
Dog just gave you the excuse

get over it

Like you like to remind, the IRL is getting paid.

Dog did not give me an excuse. He provided a flippant observation. I will not get over having a league that is a partner who is MORE than living up to its end of the bargain by providing the most exciting sports product on the racing scene today continue to get so thoroughly and completely hosed by an unprofessional broadcasting entity. It is unacceptable, and ESPN should pay the IRL ten times as much considering the abuse and damage they heap on the league.

Stop making excuses on ESPN's behalf and start expressing outrage if you're the racing fan you claim to be. There is no excuse for the behavior they exhibit. There has never in history been such unprofessional behavior by a broadcast entity. It must be taken care of immediately following Texas. Any continuance on the present course is not acceptable.

[Big Trak]

I don't know why IRL and NASCAR can't be friends. It's all about the ovals man. All about the ovals.

[Defender]

The IRL and NASCAR ARE friends. This is not about any lack of friendship or even a NASCAR slam. This is about reprehensible behavior of the IRL broadcast 'partner,' who is completely and totally wasting the best racing product on the market today.

[dog-ring]

Flippant? Not hardly. I WAS BEING SERIOUS JOHN. It probably got better ratings than the IRL race at Fontana.

[Indyknut]

Originally posted by Defender
The IRL and NASCAR ARE friends. This is not about any lack of friendship or even a NASCAR slam. This is about reprehensible behavior of the IRL broadcast 'partner,' who is completely and totally wasting the best racing product on the market today.

I agree. I think it's time for another good ol fashion TF Email bombardment. Light the torches fella's. I'm e-mailing ABC/ESPN after I type this to announce to them that in protest, I'm not watching the next race on either of those networks. That should raise some eyebrows if everyone here does the same.

BTW, what's the next race on either of those channels anyway??

[Truth Detector]

Lost in the thread seems to be the fact that Defender is right.

Dog was too.

Chicken or the egg..what comes first better TV treatment or better ratings?

Whichever one you pick please explain how you get there withouth the other.

[Defender]

I would add that the recent running of snapshots of recent NASCAR races on ESPN Classic did not, in fact, beat the IRL race at Fontana.

By the way, has anyone noticed any promotion at all, anywhere, for the Texas race, other than the highly commendable job done by Eddie Gossage?

Any promotion by the IRL? The 'partner?' Anyone?

Therein lies the primary problem, and perhaps the answer to T.D.'s question. My opinion is that the IRL provides a superior product that is much better than anything on the market. Yet the IRL refuses to promote it. ESPN and ABC, on the other hand, pay the IRL over 20 million dollars a year but still refuse to attempt to maximize their return on that investment. It defies logic. It's, frankly, a downright stupid business tactic.

Either way, the Disney family o' channels needs an arse whooping by the IRL, which is far too laid back in this matter. I find the entire tawdry affair disgusting and am saddened as a fan by its continuing present course.

[Big Trak]

Maybe ESPN views NASCAR as something that they can show and get ratings (sponsor $) with no extra effort ($), while putting a bunch of money behind promoting something right now to get ratings to rise by half a point is a money losing proposition?

Maybe their coffers are not full enough at this time to heavily pump something that would give little, no or negative return?

[Justin]

It seems to me that about the only time I see any ads for the IRL is during an IRL race - I presume somebody is paying for those. Why show them then? If I am already watching, I know how good it is, you don't need to tell me what I already know.

I don't generally watch drag racing, but does the IRL or ESPN/ABC show any IRL ads during those broadcasts? If not, why not? Seems like anybody watching that is probably a motorsports enthusiast and would be a good candidate to watch the IRL. Off-road would be another time slot to consider.

It seems to me that SPEED has in general been pretty fair with its coverage of the IRL, especially considering their CART relationship; why doesn't the IRL spend just a few bucks during some of their NASCAR/CART/Rally and motorsports weekly review shows to at least mention the next IRL race? Shouldn't cost too much, and again, should be fertile ground for new viewers.

In short, if the IRL doesn't want to spend much money on ads, at least spend what you can/will for spots that will generate new viewers. And focus on the NEXT race, with date and time.

[Big Trak]

Originally posted by Justin
It seems to me that SPEED has in general been pretty fair with its coverage of the IRL, especially considering their CART relationship; why doesn't the IRL spend just a few bucks during some of their NASCAR/CART/Rally and motorsports weekly review shows to at least mention the next IRL race? Shouldn't cost too much, and again, should be fertile ground for new viewers.

But why would SPEED sell ad space to promote a race on ESPN?