Richmond not on ABC or ESPN!?

[jock25]

I noticed that the US coverage of the next round at Richmond is not even going to be on ESPN, but on ESPN 2! This will be the third different channel in as many races and is, quite frankly, totally counter-productive.

The series organisers really need to be working harder towards establishing a greater degree of continuity in TV coverage for the series. I am not familiar with the ins and outs of the agreement but this situation is undermining the progress made in recent months.

At this stage, post-Indy, the order of the day should be consistency and continuity (e.g. all remaining races on one specific channel - period) above any attempts to channel hop for increased exposure. Those people who tuned back in for the 500 or Texas needed to know then that every other race this season could be found on ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 (delete as applicable). Clearly that will not be the case.

Thoughts and comments folks? Especially for those watching through ABC/ESPN/ESPN2...

[GP Racer]

For once, I'm in full agreement with you jock!

How is it that simple fans like us seem to know whats wrong with this series, but the powers that be, the guys that get paid the big bucks, just can't figure it out? It's a no-brainer, that ABC should be televising these races to cash in, and keep the momentum going from the Indy 500. I mean pre-empt the reality TV summer reruns already! Take a shot and actually try and build this sport up!

There are far more couch potato channel surfers scanning ABC on any given day, than they are ESPN2, and action packed races like Texas, and Richmond surely have the ability to get some of them watching.

It is maddening isn't it?

[jhansen]

Just a thought, but maybe getting a full network contract with ABC is no simple matter?

Perhaps the problem is easy to diagnose, but the solution may not be equally easy.

[GP Racer]

Originally Posted by jhansen

Just a thought, but maybe getting a full network contract with ABC is no simple matter?

Perhaps the problem is easy to diagnose, but the solution may not be equally easy.

The IRL/ABC contract is 1007 pages long, and there are alot of inticacies to it, but if you look on page 310, paragraph 7, part A, of sub text II, it states very clearly that ABC can...

Just kidding. I'm sure it is much more complicated than we know, but you just have to think there is some flexibility written into it to capitalise on something like the Indy 500...

[jock25]

Originally Posted by jhansen

Just a thought, but maybe getting a full network contract with ABC is no simple matter?

Perhaps the problem is easy to diagnose, but the solution may not be equally easy.

Quite right.

I agree that the IRL needs network coverage more than ABC/ESPN needs to give it. However I do not believe that it is simply a case of the networks having all the cards and the IRL possessing nothing with which it can leverage a deal.

I believe myself and GP Racer are of the opinion that the IRL itself needs to do more to encourage/cajole the TV networks into agreeing deals that are more beneficial for the series. I know from experience that there are many things championship/event organisers & promoters can do in the way of "sweetners" for TV coverage - one of the most effective is where the entire production costs are incurred by the organiser, within pre-defined parameters, leaving the network to be just that...a network distributing the product. The advantage is the minimal financial outlay incumbent upon the network. For the IRL, the burden of these costs should not be damaging and the additional control over output, combined with guaranteed coverage would be hugely beneficial.

IMHO the networks in the US (and the IRL itself) do not view the championship as irrelevant enough to be tossed from channel to channel as if it were merely a "filler". Perhaps the IRL management need to reappraise their own valuation of the series as a TV product.
It is certainly of significant enough value to at least demand a structured and continuous TV deal with a network, if not perhaps quite in a position to target major networks (e.g. ABC). It is probably unlikely that much can be done for the rest of the 2005 season, but the IRL management must at least take something from the negative aspects of the US TV coverage to date.

[macdaddy]

No broadcast whatsoever in Canada.

[TedN]

Originally Posted by macdaddy

No broadcast whatsoever in Canada.

These TV listings say it's live on TSN.

Ted

[IronLion]

Originally Posted by macdaddy

No broadcast whatsoever in Canada.

wow thats rough, we even get all the races here in Australia. most of the time live with a reply later that night.

We only have 1 espn channel here though all the irl races are shown on it for the whole season. So for us there isnt any changing of channels week in and week out.

[Tenoch]

I believe ABC/Espn Its a pretty good deal, as ESPN and ESPN2 are both pretty much basic cable.

[macdaddy]

I stand corrected, Ted.
I thought the race was this weekend.

[Kicking-back]

IronLion - that's been corrected - it is available in Canada.



Here in the UK, Sky Sports show every race.

[luke]

2 in 3 races are live.