North American Sportscar Media Thread

[NaBUru38]

24 Hours of Daytona TV ratings:

* Saturday (2:30 pm - 8:00 pm): 266 k viewers on USA.
* Saturday (10:00 pm - 12:00 am): 155 k viewers on USA.
* Sunday (6:00 am): 237 k viewers on USA.
* Sunday (12:00 pm): 986 k viewers on NBC.

https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/s...1-22-2023.html
https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/s...rk-finals.html
https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/s...rk-finals.html

[GT3_Fan]

Peacock was unwatchable honestly. Best way to follow was 1. IMSA Radio 2. Onboard streams on the IMSA site. Especially if your interest like me was mainly GTD 3. Live timing

Although I like that Off the Esses on youtube did a live watchalong in the last hour of the race. His channel is excellent. I highly recommend it. David Land is good too when he actually covers sportscars. Although Indycar is his first love clearly.

[NaBUru38]

The IMSA race at Mosport Park averaged 569 k viewers on NBC.

https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/202...ar-top-charts/

[GT3_Fan]

Do we know the status of IMSA Radio/Radio Show Ltd at this point? Why are they under threat from being removed? Is there a replacement in mind? Or is it NBC only going forward? We can't lose them.

[tomcug]

No news yet but John's final words during Petit Le Mans sounded like they might not come back next year. I still hope IMSA will renew their contract with Radio Show but who knows.

[seanyb505]

I haven't seen anything although I haven't been looking for those rumors. What did he say/when or around what lap did he say during petit?

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by seanyb505

I haven't seen anything although I haven't been looking for those rumors. What did he say/when or around what lap did he say during petit?

There were a few stabs at getting IMSA to agree to extension of the deal when Doonan was on RLM, it felt quite awkward in his announcement in due time John response. And then Hindy signing off felt like he was preparing to not be back and thankful for the time with everyone and the racing, but without straight up saying it.

[Adam43]

What I fear is less comprehensive coverage, less knowledgeable, and infinite commercials like it’s football, no Shea.

The opportunity I see is better commentary about the race, more knowledgable, and better sound levels.

Probably better the devil you know.

[J Jay]

The general trend is for broadcasts to be brought in-house - see WEC rather quickly using its own comms team and RSL quietly bowing out of covering ELMS. SRO series have been doing it this way since I remember following their series.

If this is the case for IMSA, and if RSL are okay with it, I think they can keep the commentary going with Hindhaugh/Shaw. But it looks like they need to be prepared to cede some control over broadcasts to IMSA to continue the business relationship.

It wouldn't be surprising to find out that Shea Adam has already been approached to do the same job, but under IMSA's employ.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Adam43

What I fear is less comprehensive coverage, less knowledgeable, and infinite commercials like it’s football, no Shea.

The opportunity I see is better commentary about the race, more knowledgable, and better sound levels.

Probably better the devil you know.

I agree with this. IMSA Radio really needs to improve the audio quality, and spend less time on Twitter. But in general, it's excellent.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by J Jay

RSL quietly bowing out of covering ELMS.

I like the current ELMS commentary.

[Adam43]

Watching the rugby final.

Media:

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Watching the rugby final.

Media:

Well someone had to be new Bob Costas, Diffey ain't got the presence though

[tomcug]

Originally Posted by seanyb505

What did he say/when or around what lap did he say during petit?

After the last lap, starting around 5:22:57 in this video:
https://youtu.be/SI2EQPB8uqo?t=19377

[GT3_Fan]

First time I ever heard of Leigh Diffey was the 2003 Daytona 24 hours. Two decades later he looks to be one of the key commentators for NBC for some of the big events in the next Olympic games.

[GT3_Fan]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

I agree with this. IMSA Radio really needs to improve the audio quality, and spend less time on Twitter. But in general, it's excellent.

I get this impression that negotiations are still in progress. Been quiet on the front so to speak since Petit Le Mans ended. If RSL thing falls through. I would hope Shea is picked up by IMSA. Best female auto racing commentator/reporter by a million miles. Ryan Myrehn is an excellent commentator too. He would be a great addition. Still I hope Radio Show Ltd comes back

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by tomcug

After the last lap, starting around 5:22:57 in this video:
https://youtu.be/SI2EQPB8uqo?t=19377

Thanks. I didn’t hear this at the time.

I was welling up when he was thanking everyone.
Although a little surprised right turn lover wasn’t called out.

[GT3_Fan]

I'm not sure how to do it but maybe the MP/GG This Week in Sportscars show will take a question about the IMSA/Radio Show Ltd situation. Can someone ask that.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by GT3_Fan

I get this impression that negotiations are still in progress. Been quiet on the front so to speak since Petit Le Mans ended. If RSL thing falls through. I would hope Shea is picked up by IMSA. Best female auto racing commentator/reporter by a million miles. Ryan Myrehn is an excellent commentator too. He would be a great addition. Still I hope Radio Show Ltd comes back

That's how I took it, negotiations ongoing but he took the opportunity in case it didn't go well to get out his feelings a bit. And good on him for it, letting it go without that and possibly some folks with connections reaching out to push for a new deal would have been a missed opportunity

[Adam43]

It was just in case and a false alarm.

https://x.com/radiolemans/status/173...549879779?s=20

[JT240Z]

Good to hear. Really would have hated losing RLM.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by Adam43

It was just in case and a false alarm.

https://x.com/radiolemans/status/173...549879779?s=20

That's good. The alternative would've been likely back to MRN, whom I love for NASCAR but they were a fish out of water when they last tried.

[NaBUru38]

IMSA uploaded the full race on YouTube, but not any highlights video. NBC uploaded neither. Very inconvenient.

[Adam43]

NBC forever! I’d missed this announcement on DSC from June Lots of percentages to get your head round here.

Originally Posted by DSC

… NBC Sports will present 17 hours of IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship coverage on the NBC broadcast network annually, almost a 50% increase of broadcast network coverage per year ….

NBC Sports’ IMSA viewership has grown 37% in the past five years …

2023 was NBC Sports’ most-watched season to-date (since 2019), delivering a 13% year-over-year viewership increase for its coverage on NBC and USA Network. Additionally, this year’s IMSA coverage on Peacock has seen roughly a 60% increase in total minutes streamed to-date vs. last year.

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2024/...extension.html

I came across that while looking for this: https://www.dailysportscar.com/2024/...he-moment.html
And a similar thing on racer: https://racer.com/2024/08/09/beyond-...cings-profile/

The sneaky introduction of the race on YouTube for international and the introduction of Win The Weekend.

Win the Weekend? Is it any good?

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Adam43

The sneaky introduction of the race on YouTube for international and the introduction of Win The Weekend.

Win the Weekend? Is it any good?

If you win it is.