| rupertberr | 03-03-2007 06:40 PM |
WRC on US TV!!!!
�
�
Just got off the phone with Kurt Hansen, owner of RaceCentral TV. He has just bought the US rights to the WRC and will start broadcasting shows with the Mexico round. The official announcement is coming out first thing next week. He said he will have daily segments about WRC on his normal show and full WRC coverage on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a ten minute wrap up on Monday. Natalie Richard will be on the broadcast team!
It will be broadcast on the Comcast Altitude Network as well as DirecTV 644 and Dish Network 410. There will also be live streaming and Pod casts if I understood correctly.
Web site doesn't have anything yet except for the WRC logo but more info should be coming.
[url]www.racecentral.tv[/url]
[url]www.racecentralmedia.com[/url]
:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:
It will be broadcast on the Comcast Altitude Network as well as DirecTV 644 and Dish Network 410. There will also be live streaming and Pod casts if I understood correctly.
Web site doesn't have anything yet except for the WRC logo but more info should be coming.
[url]www.racecentral.tv[/url]
[url]www.racecentralmedia.com[/url]
:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:
| Jay911 | 03-03-2007 06:57 PM |
[quote=rupertberr;17247152]It will be broadcast on the Comcast Altitude Network as well as DirecTV 644 and Dish Network 410. There will also be live streaming and Pod casts if I understood correctly.[/quote]
Hmm.
I will do my best to hold my breath until then... looking at the racecentral.tv website doesn't impress me much right now, honestly. But we'll see what we will see.
What are the two channels noted above (DTV 644 and Dish 410)? What are the odds they're national networks of some sort that I can get on ExpressVu in Canada (basically a subset/partner of Dish IIRC)?
Hmm.
I will do my best to hold my breath until then... looking at the racecentral.tv website doesn't impress me much right now, honestly. But we'll see what we will see.
What are the two channels noted above (DTV 644 and Dish 410)? What are the odds they're national networks of some sort that I can get on ExpressVu in Canada (basically a subset/partner of Dish IIRC)?
| rupertberr | 03-03-2007 07:09 PM |
Probably not Canada. He said it was US rights only and it was a pretty penny. Yea, the web site doesn't look great but he is using the standard WRC feed with voice overs by Kurt and Natalie.
| Mopho | 03-03-2007 07:19 PM |
[QUOTE=rupertberr;17247349] he is using the standard WRC feed with voice overs by Kurt and Natalie.[/QUOTE]
That's too bad, the commentator from the WRC is great this year
Never heard of RaceCentral TV and according to the website the only channels it appears to broadcast on are in Colorado :rolleyes:
That's too bad, the commentator from the WRC is great this year
Never heard of RaceCentral TV and according to the website the only channels it appears to broadcast on are in Colorado :rolleyes:
| Hondo88 | 03-03-2007 07:21 PM |
OK, it's not April or the 1st. Can this really be true?
| rupertberr | 03-03-2007 07:31 PM |
[QUOTE=Mopho;17247420]
Never heard of RaceCentral TV and according to the website the only channels it appears to broadcast on are in Colorado :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]
Me neither. I was driving to Boulder to shoot the last CU basketball game of the year and was listening to the Fan network. They had their weekly national NASCAR show on. I was about to turn it off when they announced that the TV show would start broadcasting all the WRC events. Didn't believe it. When I got back from the game I found their web site and e-mailed him. We ended up on the phone. The show is based in Colorado but is broadcast all over the country. If you have Comcast Cable it will be on every local Altitude Network. It will also be on the Dish Network.
I am like the rest of you. I'll believe it when I see it but this was announced on a National Radio show between all the NASCAR talk.
Never heard of RaceCentral TV and according to the website the only channels it appears to broadcast on are in Colorado :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]
Me neither. I was driving to Boulder to shoot the last CU basketball game of the year and was listening to the Fan network. They had their weekly national NASCAR show on. I was about to turn it off when they announced that the TV show would start broadcasting all the WRC events. Didn't believe it. When I got back from the game I found their web site and e-mailed him. We ended up on the phone. The show is based in Colorado but is broadcast all over the country. If you have Comcast Cable it will be on every local Altitude Network. It will also be on the Dish Network.
I am like the rest of you. I'll believe it when I see it but this was announced on a National Radio show between all the NASCAR talk.
| KC | 03-03-2007 07:32 PM |
So, it's on Colorado's local cable, DirectTV and Dish.
Hmmm.
Hmmm.
| KC | 03-03-2007 07:35 PM |
oops double post
| rupertberr | 03-03-2007 07:41 PM |
[QUOTE=KC;17247521]So, it's on Colorado's local cable, DirectTV and Dish.
Hmmm.[/QUOTE]
The web site has changed three times in the past three hours. It has all just happened today. Why would Colorado get it and no one else.
I am watching the show right now. They are saying huge announcement coming up and fading to Gronholm before a commercial.
Hmmm.[/QUOTE]
The web site has changed three times in the past three hours. It has all just happened today. Why would Colorado get it and no one else.
I am watching the show right now. They are saying huge announcement coming up and fading to Gronholm before a commercial.
| KC | 03-03-2007 07:50 PM |
Unless national Comcast picks up Altitude, Altitude is primarily Rockies.
[url]http://www.altitude.tv[/url][QUOTE]Altitude Sports & Entertainment hit the airwaves on September 4, 2004, and is already the most watched [B]regional [/B]sports network in the Rockies.[/QUOTE]
It's like New England Sports Network (NESN) broadcast up here in New England on multiple cable networks. Red Sox, Bruins, etc... all carried on NESN locally.
Altitude carries all the Colorado games, etc...
As far as satellite, that's not a regional thing. :)
--kC
[url]http://www.altitude.tv[/url][QUOTE]Altitude Sports & Entertainment hit the airwaves on September 4, 2004, and is already the most watched [B]regional [/B]sports network in the Rockies.[/QUOTE]
It's like New England Sports Network (NESN) broadcast up here in New England on multiple cable networks. Red Sox, Bruins, etc... all carried on NESN locally.
Altitude carries all the Colorado games, etc...
As far as satellite, that's not a regional thing. :)
--kC
| rupertberr | 03-03-2007 07:54 PM |
[QUOTE=KC;17247629]Unless national Comcast picks up Altitude, Altitude is primarily Rockies.
[url]http://www.altitude.tv[/url]
It's like New England Sports Network (NESN) broadcast up here in New England on multiple cable networks. Red Sox, Bruins, etc... all carried on NESN locally.
Altitude carries all the Colorado games, etc...
As far as satellite, that's not a regional thing. :)
--kC[/QUOTE]
Yep, just made the announcement, WRC exclusively on racecentral TV. You can see the show on the web site.
It must be on each regions version of Altitude, what ever the name is called.
[url]http://www.altitude.tv[/url]
It's like New England Sports Network (NESN) broadcast up here in New England on multiple cable networks. Red Sox, Bruins, etc... all carried on NESN locally.
Altitude carries all the Colorado games, etc...
As far as satellite, that's not a regional thing. :)
--kC[/QUOTE]
Yep, just made the announcement, WRC exclusively on racecentral TV. You can see the show on the web site.
It must be on each regions version of Altitude, what ever the name is called.
| KC | 03-03-2007 07:58 PM |
[QUOTE]It must be on each regions version of Altitude, what ever the name is called.[/QUOTE]
If that's true, then I'll be a happy camper, but I doubt it.
But watching it on the web could be just fine. :)
--kC
If that's true, then I'll be a happy camper, but I doubt it.
But watching it on the web could be just fine. :)
--kC
| Mopho | 03-03-2007 08:00 PM |
[QUOTE=KC;17247691]
But watching it on the web could be just fine. :)
--kC[/QUOTE]
Can already do that...
But watching it on the web could be just fine. :)
--kC[/QUOTE]
Can already do that...
| rupertberr | 03-03-2007 08:10 PM |
[QUOTE=KC;17247691]If that's true, then I'll be a happy camper, but I doubt it.
But watching it on the web could be just fine. :)
--kC[/QUOTE]
I am going to have lunch with the guy Tuesday. I'll try to clarify where it will be broadcast.
Go here:
[url]http://www.racecentral.tv/indexi.htm[/url]
Click: "Click here to watch Live" next to WRC and it will broadcast today's show. The last 8 minutes or so is all about WRC with the English commentators. Unfortunately the first 22 minutes is all about other stuff...
But watching it on the web could be just fine. :)
--kC[/QUOTE]
I am going to have lunch with the guy Tuesday. I'll try to clarify where it will be broadcast.
Go here:
[url]http://www.racecentral.tv/indexi.htm[/url]
Click: "Click here to watch Live" next to WRC and it will broadcast today's show. The last 8 minutes or so is all about WRC with the English commentators. Unfortunately the first 22 minutes is all about other stuff...
| Rice & Gravy | 03-03-2007 08:11 PM |
I believe you have to have teh sports sub. on DTV to get this channel.
| Jay911 | 03-03-2007 09:04 PM |
So there'll be an "official" streaming video source for each airing of each "episode" of the program (I presume WRC Magazine and each Day, plus maybe XS since you mentioned Thursdays too)?
Hell, that's just as good as getting it on broadcast TV.. having it on a Canadian dish hardly matters in that case. I've long said that broadcast to broadband is the way TV is going to go in the future, anyway.
Hell, that's just as good as getting it on broadcast TV.. having it on a Canadian dish hardly matters in that case. I've long said that broadcast to broadband is the way TV is going to go in the future, anyway.
| Jonnyfilmboy | 03-03-2007 09:11 PM |
I shall continue to DL WRC content from the internet until this goes nationwide or the internet content dries up. Either way, it's good news to get WRC legally broadcasting within US borders.
| Pallendo | 03-03-2007 09:31 PM |
[url]http://racecentral.web.aplus.net/video/racecentral.wmv[/url]
For the direct link to the video without having to watch it in a web browser. I need to check if I get this channel already. I don't think I have the sports pack on my DTV.
For the direct link to the video without having to watch it in a web browser. I need to check if I get this channel already. I don't think I have the sports pack on my DTV.
| shemoves | 03-03-2007 09:40 PM |
alright!
| LastResort | 03-03-2007 09:40 PM |
WTF is with giving a regional show exclusive rights to WRC?
| meebs | 03-03-2007 10:22 PM |
[QUOTE=LastResort;17248415]WTF is with giving a regional show exclusive rights to WRC?[/QUOTE]
It isn't about "giving" it... it's about who would take it.
It isn't about "giving" it... it's about who would take it.
| rupertberr | 03-03-2007 11:09 PM |
[QUOTE=LastResort;17248415]WTF is with giving a regional show exclusive rights to WRC?[/QUOTE]
I just got this reply from Kurt:
"if the viewer has, what we call in the industry a RSN..which is a regional sports package he should have Altitude Sports and Entertainment,its usually packaged with Fox Sports Net and like programming,he should call his provider and inquire,they should check there program guide and look for the abbreviation "ALT" as that is abbreviation for Altitude or ch 644 DirecTV or Dish Network 410...but checking with their provider is prob the fastest solution aside from checking their tv set.."
Not sure if that helps.
I just got this reply from Kurt:
"if the viewer has, what we call in the industry a RSN..which is a regional sports package he should have Altitude Sports and Entertainment,its usually packaged with Fox Sports Net and like programming,he should call his provider and inquire,they should check there program guide and look for the abbreviation "ALT" as that is abbreviation for Altitude or ch 644 DirecTV or Dish Network 410...but checking with their provider is prob the fastest solution aside from checking their tv set.."
Not sure if that helps.
| Jtree | 03-03-2007 11:25 PM |
so if comcast is in league on this, will their CN8 channel show it?
| PIECEOFTHEPIE | 03-04-2007 01:09 AM |
glad to see it back on in the us. i will buy another tv, as i though mine out when speed stopped covering it a forever ago.
| KC | 03-04-2007 07:44 AM |
[QUOTE=Jtree;17248989]so if comcast is in league on this, will their CN8 channel show it?[/QUOTE]No.
Altitude : Rockies :: NESN : New England
Just as NESN is shown on Comcast here in New England, covering our regions sports, same goes with Altitude out in the rockies. Comcast doesn't show NESN anywhere outside of New England.
In order to see this on the TV, you will have have DirectTV (or the other one) to pay the additional $12.99 for their additional sports package.
--kC
Altitude : Rockies :: NESN : New England
Just as NESN is shown on Comcast here in New England, covering our regions sports, same goes with Altitude out in the rockies. Comcast doesn't show NESN anywhere outside of New England.
In order to see this on the TV, you will have have DirectTV (or the other one) to pay the additional $12.99 for their additional sports package.
--kC
| Davenow | 03-04-2007 08:19 AM |
too bad time warner sucks ass :mad:
| LastResort | 03-04-2007 11:40 AM |
[QUOTE=rupertberr;17248898]I just got this reply from Kurt:
"if the viewer has, what we call in the industry a RSN..which is a regional sports package he should have Altitude Sports and Entertainment,its usually packaged with Fox Sports Net and like programming,he should call his provider and inquire,they should check there program guide and look for the abbreviation "ALT" as that is abbreviation for Altitude or ch 644 DirecTV or Dish Network 410...but checking with their provider is prob the fastest solution aside from checking their tv set.."
Not sure if that helps.[/QUOTE]
Thanks, I'll have to poke around and see what it takes to get that package here at media com.
"if the viewer has, what we call in the industry a RSN..which is a regional sports package he should have Altitude Sports and Entertainment,its usually packaged with Fox Sports Net and like programming,he should call his provider and inquire,they should check there program guide and look for the abbreviation "ALT" as that is abbreviation for Altitude or ch 644 DirecTV or Dish Network 410...but checking with their provider is prob the fastest solution aside from checking their tv set.."
Not sure if that helps.[/QUOTE]
Thanks, I'll have to poke around and see what it takes to get that package here at media com.
| OBShahn | 03-04-2007 12:52 PM |
[QUOTE=KC;17250598]No.
Altitude : Rockies :: NESN : New England
Just as NESN is shown on Comcast here in New England, covering our regions sports, same goes with Altitude out in the rockies. Comcast doesn't show NESN anywhere outside of New England.
In order to see this on the TV, you will have have DirectTV (or the other one) to pay the additional $12.99 for their additional sports package.
--kC[/QUOTE]
A couple of things of note.
In the rockies we have Fox Sports Rocky Mountain and Altitude (Altitude is owned by Kroenke Sports which is why they are the cable home for the Kroenke teams). Kurt has inferred that it has been intended that all of the regional sports coverage networks will end up carrying this coverage. So your local Fox Sports _____ or ______ Sports Network should end up with having this programming. As to what package you will need to have this programming remains dependent on your carrier and existing services.
There should be a full detailed press release by sometime tomorrow. Please support the coverage, if the new commentary is horrendous, let the producers know. RaceCentralTV could become the home of the WRC for the forseeable future so our support and positively themed feedback will be key on making this a successful and long term venture. Remember, VS, SPEED, ESPN, and a whole host of other networks failed to take advantage of the opportunity, these guys took the risk, let's try to atleast support that.
Altitude : Rockies :: NESN : New England
Just as NESN is shown on Comcast here in New England, covering our regions sports, same goes with Altitude out in the rockies. Comcast doesn't show NESN anywhere outside of New England.
In order to see this on the TV, you will have have DirectTV (or the other one) to pay the additional $12.99 for their additional sports package.
--kC[/QUOTE]
A couple of things of note.
In the rockies we have Fox Sports Rocky Mountain and Altitude (Altitude is owned by Kroenke Sports which is why they are the cable home for the Kroenke teams). Kurt has inferred that it has been intended that all of the regional sports coverage networks will end up carrying this coverage. So your local Fox Sports _____ or ______ Sports Network should end up with having this programming. As to what package you will need to have this programming remains dependent on your carrier and existing services.
There should be a full detailed press release by sometime tomorrow. Please support the coverage, if the new commentary is horrendous, let the producers know. RaceCentralTV could become the home of the WRC for the forseeable future so our support and positively themed feedback will be key on making this a successful and long term venture. Remember, VS, SPEED, ESPN, and a whole host of other networks failed to take advantage of the opportunity, these guys took the risk, let's try to atleast support that.
| williaty | 03-04-2007 01:27 PM |
Does anyone know if any of the channels available on Time Warner will carry this?
| Representexas | 03-04-2007 01:32 PM |
[QUOTE=Davenow;17250664]too bad time warner sucks ass :mad:[/QUOTE]
+2
billion.
+2
billion.
| LastResort | 03-04-2007 02:00 PM |
Hmm.....I'll be calling media com. It will cost me 10 bucks a month for the prerequisite equipment, and the Sports pack, assuming they cover it.
| Mopho | 03-04-2007 02:27 PM |
[QUOTE=OBShahn;17252019]Remember, VS, SPEED, ESPN, and a whole host of other networks failed to take advantage of the opportunity, these guys took the risk, let's try to atleast support that.[/QUOTE]
Remember, Speed took advantage of the opportunity for many years and the opportunity failed them!
I will remain skeptical. If an already established channel with a decent market share can't get enough people to watch WRC, I find it hard to believe some obscure channel that no one has heard about, will. Especially since there are "other ways" of watching it.
While I applaud this guys efforts, I am indifferent to this news. I can't justify adding another $120+/yr to my already fairly expensive cable bill by buying some sports package I don't want, just to see one show. I imagine a lot of people will feel similarly.
Good luck to him none the less!
Remember, Speed took advantage of the opportunity for many years and the opportunity failed them!
I will remain skeptical. If an already established channel with a decent market share can't get enough people to watch WRC, I find it hard to believe some obscure channel that no one has heard about, will. Especially since there are "other ways" of watching it.
While I applaud this guys efforts, I am indifferent to this news. I can't justify adding another $120+/yr to my already fairly expensive cable bill by buying some sports package I don't want, just to see one show. I imagine a lot of people will feel similarly.
Good luck to him none the less!
| LastResort | 03-04-2007 02:52 PM |
It's not just a raw numbers game. Allow me to use an example from my wife's TV viewing habits. Buffy the Vampire Slayer ran for seven years, with a loyal, but modest fan base. Evetually, Joss Whedon created a new series, Firefly and that ran for only one year. The catch is, Firefly had as many viewers every day, as Buffy did at the peak. So, Speed may have decided there were more profitable (to them), things to show over WRC. That doesn't mean WRC coverage won't be succesful for another network.
| Mopho | 03-04-2007 03:36 PM |
[QUOTE=LastResort;17252780]It's not just a raw numbers game. Allow me to use an example from my wife's TV viewing habits. Buffy the Vampire Slayer ran for seven years, with a loyal, but modest fan base. Evetually, Joss Whedon created a new series, Firefly and that ran for only one year. The catch is, Firefly had as many viewers every day, as Buffy did at the peak. So, Speed may have decided there were more profitable (to them), things to show over WRC. That doesn't mean WRC coverage won't be succesful for another network.[/QUOTE]
You really can't compare those shows as I believe they ran on different channels with different expectations, budgets, etc. (Buffy on the WB, Firefly on Fox).
Fact is, it is a numbers game, it is all about the money.
Speed spent years trying to promote WRC and they could not make the numbers work. WRC rights are very expensive and if you want to air it in a timely matter you need to buy the satellite feed as well. No one is going keep it on the air unless it is generating revenue. A small channel is going to have a harder time getting enough viewers to make up for the expense of the WRC rights
You really can't compare those shows as I believe they ran on different channels with different expectations, budgets, etc. (Buffy on the WB, Firefly on Fox).
Fact is, it is a numbers game, it is all about the money.
Speed spent years trying to promote WRC and they could not make the numbers work. WRC rights are very expensive and if you want to air it in a timely matter you need to buy the satellite feed as well. No one is going keep it on the air unless it is generating revenue. A small channel is going to have a harder time getting enough viewers to make up for the expense of the WRC rights
| Jay911 | 03-04-2007 03:47 PM |
[quote=Mopho;17253055]A small channel is going to have a harder time getting enough viewers to make up for the expense of the WRC rights[/quote]
I'm simply wondering aloud when I say this: How small is a channel when it offers its programming on the Internet for all to see from anywhere on the planet?
I caution you before trotting out the excuse that they don't get any revenue from internet subscribers.. they don't get any revenue from cable/dish subscribers either. Anyone who has any misguided belief that the $4.95/mo they pay to get channel XYZ from their local cable provider goes anywhere near channel XYZ is just uninformed.
The advertisers who are relevant to WRC are well aware of the fan base the sport has and, if smart (as most of them are, IMO) will jump at the chance to be seen on this man's network by the hordes of people who will be flocking to see WRC - whether they be watching on a local channel in Colorado or, like me, via the Internet from here in Canada.
WRC played a significant part in making Speed what it is today (in terms of size and viewer volume, I mean). Who's to say it won't play just as big a role in turning Altitude into something bigger than it is now?
I'm simply wondering aloud when I say this: How small is a channel when it offers its programming on the Internet for all to see from anywhere on the planet?
I caution you before trotting out the excuse that they don't get any revenue from internet subscribers.. they don't get any revenue from cable/dish subscribers either. Anyone who has any misguided belief that the $4.95/mo they pay to get channel XYZ from their local cable provider goes anywhere near channel XYZ is just uninformed.
The advertisers who are relevant to WRC are well aware of the fan base the sport has and, if smart (as most of them are, IMO) will jump at the chance to be seen on this man's network by the hordes of people who will be flocking to see WRC - whether they be watching on a local channel in Colorado or, like me, via the Internet from here in Canada.
WRC played a significant part in making Speed what it is today (in terms of size and viewer volume, I mean). Who's to say it won't play just as big a role in turning Altitude into something bigger than it is now?
| SparkysJDMSpeedWagon | 03-04-2007 04:19 PM |
[QUOTE=Mopho;17253055]Speed spent years trying to promote WRC and they could not make the numbers work.[/QUOTE]
Playing the Eurosport feed verbatum (with the exception of replacing the "Eurosport" logos with "S-P-E-E-D") and playing the shows at around midnight EST with 0 commercials daily for the show isn't my idea of "promoting" anything. Seems like they just wanted the numbers to point that it was a good idea to drop it so they could add another 90mins of Nascar TV.
Playing the Eurosport feed verbatum (with the exception of replacing the "Eurosport" logos with "S-P-E-E-D") and playing the shows at around midnight EST with 0 commercials daily for the show isn't my idea of "promoting" anything. Seems like they just wanted the numbers to point that it was a good idea to drop it so they could add another 90mins of Nascar TV.
| sureshot007 | 03-04-2007 04:30 PM |
Just do what I do - download the episodes after they air:
[url]http://enormouslysideways.net/DoubleUAreSea/[/url] or
[url]http://128.205.81.18[/url]
[url]http://enormouslysideways.net/DoubleUAreSea/[/url] or
[url]http://128.205.81.18[/url]
| LastResort | 03-04-2007 04:32 PM |
[QUOTE=Mopho;17253055]You really can't compare those shows as I believe they ran on different channels with different expectations, budgets, etc. (Buffy on the WB, Firefly on Fox).[/QUOTE]That's my point. different networks, different budgets, different goals.
[QUOTE=Mopho;17253055]Fact is, it is a numbers game, it is all about the money.[/QUOTE]Yes, but as I was illustrating different networks have different goals. What is a failure to Speed could be a success to other networks.
[QUOTE=Mopho;17253055]Fact is, it is a numbers game, it is all about the money.[/QUOTE]Yes, but as I was illustrating different networks have different goals. What is a failure to Speed could be a success to other networks.
| Jay911 | 03-04-2007 04:33 PM |
[quote=SparkysJDMSpeedWagon;17253327]Playing the Eurosport feed verbatum (with the exception of replacing the "Eurosport" logos with "S-P-E-E-D") and playing the shows at around midnight EST with 0 commercials daily for the show isn't my idea of "promoting" anything. Seems like they just wanted the numbers to point that it was a good idea to drop it so they could add another 90mins of Nascar TV.[/quote]
In all fairness to Mopho and to Speed, they did air them earlier and more frequently at one point. I agree that advertising for it was non-existent; I remember people (myself included) constantly barraging Erik Arneson on the Speed forums about how his network was dropping the ball.
IMO, Speed's past performance or motives for dropping WRC is irrelevant at this point, though. They are no longer holding the rights for WRC and probably won't in the future. As many of us (again, myself included) predicted long ago, Speed is hemorrhaging racing series left and right, and eventually will collapse under its own weight, going "if only we'd..."
The way to look at this right now, IMO, is to look forward to the coverage starting next week in Mexico, and [b]support the hell out of it[/b]. Thank the advertisers that will be shown on the network during the broadcasts - maybe even write to the big fish in the WRC (ahem: Subaru, Ford, BP, to name a few) and suggest that their support would be seen by millions not only on regional TV but all over the world via the Internet. Like I said in an earlier post, WRC helped make a small startup from North Carolina into a FOX-subsidized juggernaut. While we certainly don't want to see RaceCentral or Altitude go exactly the same way as Speed did, wouldn't it be great if some serious sponsorship and viewership of WRC helped propel this regional into something bigger, too, so even more of us could see its coverage (including WRC)?
In all fairness to Mopho and to Speed, they did air them earlier and more frequently at one point. I agree that advertising for it was non-existent; I remember people (myself included) constantly barraging Erik Arneson on the Speed forums about how his network was dropping the ball.
IMO, Speed's past performance or motives for dropping WRC is irrelevant at this point, though. They are no longer holding the rights for WRC and probably won't in the future. As many of us (again, myself included) predicted long ago, Speed is hemorrhaging racing series left and right, and eventually will collapse under its own weight, going "if only we'd..."
The way to look at this right now, IMO, is to look forward to the coverage starting next week in Mexico, and [b]support the hell out of it[/b]. Thank the advertisers that will be shown on the network during the broadcasts - maybe even write to the big fish in the WRC (ahem: Subaru, Ford, BP, to name a few) and suggest that their support would be seen by millions not only on regional TV but all over the world via the Internet. Like I said in an earlier post, WRC helped make a small startup from North Carolina into a FOX-subsidized juggernaut. While we certainly don't want to see RaceCentral or Altitude go exactly the same way as Speed did, wouldn't it be great if some serious sponsorship and viewership of WRC helped propel this regional into something bigger, too, so even more of us could see its coverage (including WRC)?
| Mopho | 03-04-2007 04:50 PM |
[QUOTE=Jay911;17253125]I'm simply wondering aloud when I say this: How small is a channel when it offers its programming on the Internet for all to see from anywhere on the planet?
[/QUOTE]
Well anyone can broadcast stuff on the internet. Being on the internet says nothing
[QUOTE]I caution you before trotting out the excuse that they don't get any revenue from internet subscribers.. they don't get any revenue from cable/dish subscribers either. Anyone who has any misguided belief that the $4.95/mo they pay to get channel XYZ from their local cable provider goes anywhere near channel XYZ is just uninformed.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, and the cable provider buys the rights to offer the channel to their subscribers. So the channel sees the subscribers money indirectly.
[QUOTE]The advertisers who are relevant to WRC are well aware of the fan base the sport has and, if smart (as most of them are, IMO) will jump at the chance to be seen on this man's network by the hordes of people who will be flocking to see WRC - whether they be watching on a local channel in Colorado or, like me, via the Internet from here in Canada.
[/QUOTE]
You mean like the DR log splitter and brush cutters?
Yes, because we all know how much American companies rush to support rally here.
Maybe if they are giving advertising time away really cheap.
[QUOTE]WRC played a significant part in making Speed what it is today (in terms of size and viewer volume, I mean). Who's to say it won't play just as big a role in turning Altitude into something bigger than it is now?[/QUOTE]
WRC did not have a significant part in the making speed what it is today, otherwise, it would still be on the channel.
I am sure it will help grow this channel, but when you can already download the show elsewhere for free, it does not give good reason to subscribe
[/QUOTE]
Well anyone can broadcast stuff on the internet. Being on the internet says nothing
[QUOTE]I caution you before trotting out the excuse that they don't get any revenue from internet subscribers.. they don't get any revenue from cable/dish subscribers either. Anyone who has any misguided belief that the $4.95/mo they pay to get channel XYZ from their local cable provider goes anywhere near channel XYZ is just uninformed.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, and the cable provider buys the rights to offer the channel to their subscribers. So the channel sees the subscribers money indirectly.
[QUOTE]The advertisers who are relevant to WRC are well aware of the fan base the sport has and, if smart (as most of them are, IMO) will jump at the chance to be seen on this man's network by the hordes of people who will be flocking to see WRC - whether they be watching on a local channel in Colorado or, like me, via the Internet from here in Canada.
[/QUOTE]
You mean like the DR log splitter and brush cutters?
Yes, because we all know how much American companies rush to support rally here.
Maybe if they are giving advertising time away really cheap.
[QUOTE]WRC played a significant part in making Speed what it is today (in terms of size and viewer volume, I mean). Who's to say it won't play just as big a role in turning Altitude into something bigger than it is now?[/QUOTE]
WRC did not have a significant part in the making speed what it is today, otherwise, it would still be on the channel.
I am sure it will help grow this channel, but when you can already download the show elsewhere for free, it does not give good reason to subscribe
| Mopho | 03-04-2007 05:04 PM |
[QUOTE=SparkysJDMSpeedWagon;17253327]Playing the Eurosport feed verbatum (with the exception of replacing the "Eurosport" logos with "S-P-E-E-D") and playing the shows at around midnight EST with 0 commercials daily for the show isn't my idea of "promoting" anything. Seems like they just wanted the numbers to point that it was a good idea to drop it so they could add another 90mins of Nascar TV.[/QUOTE]
Some of us actually remember a little farther back than the last year Speed aired Rally.
Before that, they aired it at all different hours, including primetime. They even had one hour long, day of the event coverage. They did a ton of advertising to promote the show as well
Some of us actually remember a little farther back than the last year Speed aired Rally.
Before that, they aired it at all different hours, including primetime. They even had one hour long, day of the event coverage. They did a ton of advertising to promote the show as well
| Jay911 | 03-04-2007 05:09 PM |
[quote=Mopho;17253550]Well anyone can broadcast stuff on the internet. Being on the internet says nothing[/quote]
... except that you get more exposure and 'broadcast footprint' than you do as a cable-only regional. The fact that Altitude programming is/will be seen in places where Altitude isn't even offered conventionally does "say something", it says "hello" to all the people viewing, from the shows and advertisers who otherwise wouldn't be seen/heard.
[quote=Mopho]You mean like the DR log splitter and brush cutters?[/quote]
No, I mean like Subaru, Pirelli (well, not this year), etc. It's not a fair comparison for you to make when the coverage has been absent for 15+ months. The rally magazines I buy have a lot of American-centered advertising relating to rally, from American-based or American-located companies.
Believe me, I have been critical of Speed's short-sighted advertising contracts for years. But I know I'm not the only person who bought a Subaru because, in large part, of its rally heritage. Subaru existed on American shores before their involvement in WRC, of course, but the Impreza turned them from just another import into a hugely successful automaker here.
[quote=Mopho]WRC did not have a significant part in the making speed what it is today, otherwise, it would still be on the channel.[/quote]
Oh, believe me, it certainly did. So did other series and shows which have gone by the wayside. As one of the few who has been watching since Speedvision came around in the 90s, I can vouch for that.
While it is true that Fox and NASCAR have a large part to play, currently, Speed's road to success can be directly attributed to a lot of things which they have trampled on and tossed out like the trash, such as WRC, V8SC, loyal motorsports fans, etc etc etc.
Again, I don't think this thread should be focusing on Speed's failures and shortcomings, or giving rally fans grief because they want this new endeavor to succeed. I think rally fans should be supportive of this fellow and what he's trying to do, which is bring the sport back to North American television to a hungry audience that's been starving for almost a year and a half.
... except that you get more exposure and 'broadcast footprint' than you do as a cable-only regional. The fact that Altitude programming is/will be seen in places where Altitude isn't even offered conventionally does "say something", it says "hello" to all the people viewing, from the shows and advertisers who otherwise wouldn't be seen/heard.
[quote=Mopho]You mean like the DR log splitter and brush cutters?[/quote]
No, I mean like Subaru, Pirelli (well, not this year), etc. It's not a fair comparison for you to make when the coverage has been absent for 15+ months. The rally magazines I buy have a lot of American-centered advertising relating to rally, from American-based or American-located companies.
Believe me, I have been critical of Speed's short-sighted advertising contracts for years. But I know I'm not the only person who bought a Subaru because, in large part, of its rally heritage. Subaru existed on American shores before their involvement in WRC, of course, but the Impreza turned them from just another import into a hugely successful automaker here.
[quote=Mopho]WRC did not have a significant part in the making speed what it is today, otherwise, it would still be on the channel.[/quote]
Oh, believe me, it certainly did. So did other series and shows which have gone by the wayside. As one of the few who has been watching since Speedvision came around in the 90s, I can vouch for that.
While it is true that Fox and NASCAR have a large part to play, currently, Speed's road to success can be directly attributed to a lot of things which they have trampled on and tossed out like the trash, such as WRC, V8SC, loyal motorsports fans, etc etc etc.
Again, I don't think this thread should be focusing on Speed's failures and shortcomings, or giving rally fans grief because they want this new endeavor to succeed. I think rally fans should be supportive of this fellow and what he's trying to do, which is bring the sport back to North American television to a hungry audience that's been starving for almost a year and a half.
| Mopho | 03-04-2007 05:10 PM |
[QUOTE=LastResort;17253420]That's my point. different networks, different budgets, different goals.
Yes, but as I was illustrating different networks have different goals. What is a failure to Speed could be a success to other networks.[/QUOTE]
My point is that WRC costs a lot to buy the rights. If a channel like Speed, which is already in a lot of homes, can't get enough viewers to justify the cost than a small start up channel that is not readily available is going to have even more difficulty. Now add in the fact that you can download the coverage elsewhere for free, and it does not give good reason for people to pay extra for the channel
Yes, but as I was illustrating different networks have different goals. What is a failure to Speed could be a success to other networks.[/QUOTE]
My point is that WRC costs a lot to buy the rights. If a channel like Speed, which is already in a lot of homes, can't get enough viewers to justify the cost than a small start up channel that is not readily available is going to have even more difficulty. Now add in the fact that you can download the coverage elsewhere for free, and it does not give good reason for people to pay extra for the channel
| Jay911 | 03-04-2007 05:26 PM |
[quote=Mopho;17253667]My point is that WRC costs a lot to buy the rights.[/quote]
And they've been bought. Over and done with. That's like the argument that "Eurosport almost didn't buy it either" when explaining why Speed didn't pick it up. Doesn't matter. Eurosport [b]did[/b] buy it. Almost doesn't count. This guy at RaceCentral has put out for the balance of the 2007 season. It's a done deal, so all the information seems to imply.
[quote]If a channel like Speed, which is already in a lot of homes, can't get enough viewers to justify the cost than a small start up channel that is not readily available is going to have even more difficulty.[/quote]
Don't believe everything you hear for why Speed dropped WRC. There's no truth to the claim that they couldn't get enough viewers to justify the cost.. what's closer to the truth is that they couldn't get a big enough profit. Buying rights from the FIA for WRC costs a lot more than getting a redneck hillbilly to shout into a toilet and put that up on as a "totally unreal" reality show. That, and, forgive me for edging into the NASCAR-bashing camp (I don't mind NASCAR, really), but removing WRC which does have a significant fan base here makes room for zero-production-cost junk like repackagings of last week's race with behind-the-scenes footage that wasn't interesting enough to get on the race coverage the first time around.. and we all know the majority of NASCAR viewers will watch just about anything, and that generates $.
So don't think for a moment that rally is not popular here. If it wasn't generating interest, ESPN wouldn't have Rally America this year, OLN/VS wouldn't have Dakar, and (although this is a smaller fish than the others) ChumCity here in Canada wouldn't have the Canadian Rally Championship 2 years running.
[quote]Now add in the fact that you can download the coverage elsewhere for free, and it does not give good reason for people to pay extra for the channel[/quote]
That which you download is not free - someone is paying for the horrendous bandwidth that people are incurring for hosting it. And despite the fact that it is pretty much assuredly legal, there are those who will try to have it stopped, especially now that there is a registered US rights holder. Lastly, like I've said before, you don't necessarily have to pay extra for "the channel", so long as you have broadband Internet. But supporting a legitimate, sponsored broadcast will get more attention and interest than downloading Eurosport coverage will.
I get the impression you and I are going to have to disagree on this. I see this as nothing but good news, and while I was trepidatious when the announcement first came out, I'm now eager to believe that this is a solid genuine deal and that it's important for those of us who are fans to get in on the ground floor, so to speak, and support it fervently so that we don't have to worry about where 2008 coverage will come from. Insinuating this is a failure before it even starts is just wrong.. I once heard a story about a once-obscure rock band that found one of their songs was getting a ridiculous amount of airplay in a small US city suddenly.. that was because it was one of the first videos that the upstart channel "MTV" aired when it first came to be. So telling me that there's no market for WRC in North America, while at the same time talking about the guy who are paying four-and-five-digit bandwidth overage fees to supply WRC to North Americans over the Internet, kind of goes against everything that I'm seeing.
And they've been bought. Over and done with. That's like the argument that "Eurosport almost didn't buy it either" when explaining why Speed didn't pick it up. Doesn't matter. Eurosport [b]did[/b] buy it. Almost doesn't count. This guy at RaceCentral has put out for the balance of the 2007 season. It's a done deal, so all the information seems to imply.
[quote]If a channel like Speed, which is already in a lot of homes, can't get enough viewers to justify the cost than a small start up channel that is not readily available is going to have even more difficulty.[/quote]
Don't believe everything you hear for why Speed dropped WRC. There's no truth to the claim that they couldn't get enough viewers to justify the cost.. what's closer to the truth is that they couldn't get a big enough profit. Buying rights from the FIA for WRC costs a lot more than getting a redneck hillbilly to shout into a toilet and put that up on as a "totally unreal" reality show. That, and, forgive me for edging into the NASCAR-bashing camp (I don't mind NASCAR, really), but removing WRC which does have a significant fan base here makes room for zero-production-cost junk like repackagings of last week's race with behind-the-scenes footage that wasn't interesting enough to get on the race coverage the first time around.. and we all know the majority of NASCAR viewers will watch just about anything, and that generates $.
So don't think for a moment that rally is not popular here. If it wasn't generating interest, ESPN wouldn't have Rally America this year, OLN/VS wouldn't have Dakar, and (although this is a smaller fish than the others) ChumCity here in Canada wouldn't have the Canadian Rally Championship 2 years running.
[quote]Now add in the fact that you can download the coverage elsewhere for free, and it does not give good reason for people to pay extra for the channel[/quote]
That which you download is not free - someone is paying for the horrendous bandwidth that people are incurring for hosting it. And despite the fact that it is pretty much assuredly legal, there are those who will try to have it stopped, especially now that there is a registered US rights holder. Lastly, like I've said before, you don't necessarily have to pay extra for "the channel", so long as you have broadband Internet. But supporting a legitimate, sponsored broadcast will get more attention and interest than downloading Eurosport coverage will.
I get the impression you and I are going to have to disagree on this. I see this as nothing but good news, and while I was trepidatious when the announcement first came out, I'm now eager to believe that this is a solid genuine deal and that it's important for those of us who are fans to get in on the ground floor, so to speak, and support it fervently so that we don't have to worry about where 2008 coverage will come from. Insinuating this is a failure before it even starts is just wrong.. I once heard a story about a once-obscure rock band that found one of their songs was getting a ridiculous amount of airplay in a small US city suddenly.. that was because it was one of the first videos that the upstart channel "MTV" aired when it first came to be. So telling me that there's no market for WRC in North America, while at the same time talking about the guy who are paying four-and-five-digit bandwidth overage fees to supply WRC to North Americans over the Internet, kind of goes against everything that I'm seeing.
| cooleyjb | 03-04-2007 05:35 PM |
Great news and I hope that it works out for them and the network. I'll never see it though as I don't have dish or access to dish networks.:rolleyes:
[QUOTE=Jay911;17253655]
Oh, believe me, it certainly did. So did other series and shows which have gone by the wayside. As one of the few who has been watching since Speedvision came around in the 90s, I can vouch for that.
While it is true that Fox and NASCAR have a large part to play, currently, Speed's road to success can be directly attributed to a lot of things which they have trampled on and tossed out like the trash, such as WRC, V8SC, loyal motorsports fans, etc etc etc.
[/QUOTE]
WRC and all the series you mentioned had a lot to make Speedvision what Speedvision was. I remember watching it from teh beginning on one of the big satellite dishes. That is what Speedvision was back then. But to say that those series are the reason Speed is what it is today is just naive. NASCAR is the reason Speed is what it is today. Once the NASCAR marketing machine got moving and money came it Speed became what it is today.
[QUOTE=Jay911;17253655]
Oh, believe me, it certainly did. So did other series and shows which have gone by the wayside. As one of the few who has been watching since Speedvision came around in the 90s, I can vouch for that.
While it is true that Fox and NASCAR have a large part to play, currently, Speed's road to success can be directly attributed to a lot of things which they have trampled on and tossed out like the trash, such as WRC, V8SC, loyal motorsports fans, etc etc etc.
[/QUOTE]
WRC and all the series you mentioned had a lot to make Speedvision what Speedvision was. I remember watching it from teh beginning on one of the big satellite dishes. That is what Speedvision was back then. But to say that those series are the reason Speed is what it is today is just naive. NASCAR is the reason Speed is what it is today. Once the NASCAR marketing machine got moving and money came it Speed became what it is today.
| cooleyjb | 03-04-2007 05:46 PM |
[QUOTE=Jay911;17253780]
That, and, forgive me for edging into the NASCAR-bashing camp (I don't mind NASCAR, really), but removing WRC which does have a significant fan base here. [/QUOTE]
Fan base yes, significant I doubt it. I have a feeling that when NASCAR can put fill places like Daytona the number of WRC fans relative to NASCAR fans is insignificant. It sucks, I wish it were different but it isn't[QUOTE=Jay911;17253780]
So don't think for a moment that rally is not popular here. If it wasn't generating interest, ESPN wouldn't have Rally America this year, OLN/VS wouldn't have Dakar, and (although this is a smaller fish than the others) ChumCity here in Canada wouldn't have the Canadian Rally Championship 2 years running.
[/QUOTE]
Rally America is marketable thanks to Ken Block and even moreso Travis Pastrana in the US who made their names to the US in the Xgames. The people are generating as much if not more interest than the event itself.
You can't compare Dakar to WRC that easily, what are the differences in cost to carry the two to begin with.
That, and, forgive me for edging into the NASCAR-bashing camp (I don't mind NASCAR, really), but removing WRC which does have a significant fan base here. [/QUOTE]
Fan base yes, significant I doubt it. I have a feeling that when NASCAR can put fill places like Daytona the number of WRC fans relative to NASCAR fans is insignificant. It sucks, I wish it were different but it isn't[QUOTE=Jay911;17253780]
So don't think for a moment that rally is not popular here. If it wasn't generating interest, ESPN wouldn't have Rally America this year, OLN/VS wouldn't have Dakar, and (although this is a smaller fish than the others) ChumCity here in Canada wouldn't have the Canadian Rally Championship 2 years running.
[/QUOTE]
Rally America is marketable thanks to Ken Block and even moreso Travis Pastrana in the US who made their names to the US in the Xgames. The people are generating as much if not more interest than the event itself.
You can't compare Dakar to WRC that easily, what are the differences in cost to carry the two to begin with.
| OBShahn | 03-04-2007 06:00 PM |
[QUOTE=Mopho;17252646]Remember, Speed took advantage of the opportunity for many years and the opportunity failed them!
I will remain skeptical. If an already established channel with a decent market share can't get enough people to watch WRC, I find it hard to believe some obscure channel that no one has heard about, will. Especially since there are "other ways" of watching it.
While I applaud this guys efforts, I am indifferent to this news. I can't justify adding another $120+/yr to my already fairly expensive cable bill by buying some sports package I don't want, just to see one show. I imagine a lot of people will feel similarly.
Good luck to him none the less![/QUOTE]
I'm just going to say this.
The other networks had other goals and they may or may not apply to the race central TV effort. In addition to that, the commercial rights picture has changed in the US from when SPEED dropped it, I imagine the contract offered to RaceCentral was very different than the last one SPEED had; RaceCentral also seems to be taking a very different approach.
Hopefully this works out, I know I'll be supporting the effort (remember SPEED replaced WRC with higher viewer shows with presuabmly lower production costs, just because they increased their bottom line doesn't mean they were loosing money before (maybe they were, but their dropping of the WRC doesn't mean it was a money loser), it just means there were more proffitable endeavours).
There is one more hidden implication to all of this. This is all speculation but this sets up RaceCentralTV to have the rights in 2008, when Pastrana will be in the PWRC by all accounts. Buying again in 2008 would also infer having a lead on rigths to 2009 when we may see Pastrana in a WRC, or in the PWRC again. The fact that RaceCentral seems to be working, on some level, with Kroenke Sports (the Altitude connection), would indicate a level of financial solvency that they may stick it out until the Pastrana effect hits WRC viewership in the US. Running a slightly independent broadcast from ISC also implies the possibility of including more Pastrana related coverage which, might be part of their business plan for all we know....
I will remain skeptical. If an already established channel with a decent market share can't get enough people to watch WRC, I find it hard to believe some obscure channel that no one has heard about, will. Especially since there are "other ways" of watching it.
While I applaud this guys efforts, I am indifferent to this news. I can't justify adding another $120+/yr to my already fairly expensive cable bill by buying some sports package I don't want, just to see one show. I imagine a lot of people will feel similarly.
Good luck to him none the less![/QUOTE]
I'm just going to say this.
The other networks had other goals and they may or may not apply to the race central TV effort. In addition to that, the commercial rights picture has changed in the US from when SPEED dropped it, I imagine the contract offered to RaceCentral was very different than the last one SPEED had; RaceCentral also seems to be taking a very different approach.
Hopefully this works out, I know I'll be supporting the effort (remember SPEED replaced WRC with higher viewer shows with presuabmly lower production costs, just because they increased their bottom line doesn't mean they were loosing money before (maybe they were, but their dropping of the WRC doesn't mean it was a money loser), it just means there were more proffitable endeavours).
There is one more hidden implication to all of this. This is all speculation but this sets up RaceCentralTV to have the rights in 2008, when Pastrana will be in the PWRC by all accounts. Buying again in 2008 would also infer having a lead on rigths to 2009 when we may see Pastrana in a WRC, or in the PWRC again. The fact that RaceCentral seems to be working, on some level, with Kroenke Sports (the Altitude connection), would indicate a level of financial solvency that they may stick it out until the Pastrana effect hits WRC viewership in the US. Running a slightly independent broadcast from ISC also implies the possibility of including more Pastrana related coverage which, might be part of their business plan for all we know....
| Mopho | 03-04-2007 06:36 PM |
[QUOTE=Jay911;17253655]... except that you get more exposure and 'broadcast footprint' than you do as a cable-only regional. The fact that Altitude programming is/will be seen in places where Altitude isn't even offered conventionally does "say something", it says "hello" to all the people viewing, from the shows and advertisers who otherwise wouldn't be seen/heard.[/QUOTE]
Again, anyone can broadcast on the internet, and there is already WRC broadcasts on the internet
[QUOTE]No, I mean like Subaru, Pirelli (well, not this year), etc. It's not a fair comparison for you to make when the coverage has been absent for 15+ months. The rally magazines I buy have a lot of American-centered advertising relating to rally, from American-based or American-located companies. [/QUOTE]
Huh? WRC was on TV for years before the last 15 months, and it did not a lot of advertising
What rally magazines, Rallyworld? They're circulation is tiny and advertising is cheap.
It's a well known fact that Rally is not popular in the US
[QUOTE]Believe me, I have been critical of Speed's short-sighted advertising contracts for years. But I know I'm not the only person who bought a Subaru because, in large part, of its rally heritage. Subaru existed on American shores before their involvement in WRC, of course, but the Impreza turned them from just another import into a hugely successful automaker here.
[/QUOTE]
Irrelevant.
You can't use NASIOC as a measurement of rally fans in America
[QUOTE]Oh, believe me, it certainly did. So did other series and shows which have gone by the wayside. As one of the few who has been watching since Speedvision came around in the 90s, I can vouch for that.[/QUOTE]
:lol: I watched it too
Sorry, but just because it was aired "back in the day" and you (and I)watched it, does not mean it made Speed what it is today. As a matter of fact Speed channel has grown tremendously since they changed direction (to the dismay of the fringe motorsports fans, myself included)
Now of course WRC was part of their original programing (when it was Speedvision and practically a different channel) that got the channels start, but that is hardly a business case for the popularity of the show
[QUOTE]Again, I don't think this thread should be focusing on Speed's failures and shortcomings, or giving rally fans grief because they want this new endeavor to succeed. I think rally fans should be supportive of this fellow and what he's trying to do, which is bring the sport back to North American television to a hungry audience that's been starving for almost a year and a half.[/QUOTE]
No one is giving grief, just looking at it objectively and with a little skepticism based on experience
[QUOTE]And they've been bought. Over and done with. That's like the argument that "Eurosport almost didn't buy it either" when explaining why Speed didn't pick it up. Doesn't matter. Eurosport did buy it. Almost doesn't count. This guy at RaceCentral has put out for the balance of the 2007 season. It's a done deal, so all the information seems to imply.
[/QUOTE]
My point is how long can it be sustained if there is not much of an audience. Eurosport has the audience
Being broadcast on the internet is nothing to get excited about, we already have that
[QUOTE]Don't believe everything you hear for why Speed dropped WRC. There's no truth to the claim that they couldn't get enough viewers to justify the cost.. what's closer to the truth is that they couldn't get a big enough profit.[/QUOTE]
And what is the difference? They are in business to make money, there was not enough viewers to make money.
And I believe what I heard from insiders who were trying to get rally broadcast on Speed and Nicky Grist who was the commentator. The ratings were not good enough, period!
[QUOTE]So don't think for a moment that rally is not popular here. If it wasn't generating interest, ESPN wouldn't have Rally America this year, OLN/VS wouldn't have Dakar,[/QUOTE]
I spent 8 years involved in Rally (US, Canada, and some WRC) and it's marketing, I am fairly well informed about the popularity of the sport in the US.
Rally is on ESPN because of the XGames and the rights to the rally show are not big bucks (as a matter of fact, I bet RA is probably paying ESPN, not the other way around)
Dakar is a one event, one time buy, not a whole seasons broadcast, and is probably a whole lot cheaper than WRC.
[QUOTE]That which you download is not free - someone is paying for the horrendous bandwidth that people are incurring for hosting it.[/QUOTE]
My point was, for the end user, it is free.
[QUOTE]. Lastly, like I've said before, you don't necessarily have to pay extra for "the channel", so long as you have broadband Internet. But supporting a legitimate, sponsored broadcast will get more attention and interest than downloading Eurosport coverage will.[/QUOTE]
As it stands, it is hard to get excited about a channel that many people can't get or yet another source (that may have commercials) to download WRC off the internet
If it was being broadcast on a channel that was readily available as part of your cable package, now that would be worth getting excited about.
Sorry, but it seems you are being blinded by your enthusiasm for the sport and not looking at this objectively.
I will remain skeptical until I see differently, I've been around rally and it's let downs for too long
Even F1 is a hard sell in the States
Again, anyone can broadcast on the internet, and there is already WRC broadcasts on the internet
[QUOTE]No, I mean like Subaru, Pirelli (well, not this year), etc. It's not a fair comparison for you to make when the coverage has been absent for 15+ months. The rally magazines I buy have a lot of American-centered advertising relating to rally, from American-based or American-located companies. [/QUOTE]
Huh? WRC was on TV for years before the last 15 months, and it did not a lot of advertising
What rally magazines, Rallyworld? They're circulation is tiny and advertising is cheap.
It's a well known fact that Rally is not popular in the US
[QUOTE]Believe me, I have been critical of Speed's short-sighted advertising contracts for years. But I know I'm not the only person who bought a Subaru because, in large part, of its rally heritage. Subaru existed on American shores before their involvement in WRC, of course, but the Impreza turned them from just another import into a hugely successful automaker here.
[/QUOTE]
Irrelevant.
You can't use NASIOC as a measurement of rally fans in America
[QUOTE]Oh, believe me, it certainly did. So did other series and shows which have gone by the wayside. As one of the few who has been watching since Speedvision came around in the 90s, I can vouch for that.[/QUOTE]
:lol: I watched it too
Sorry, but just because it was aired "back in the day" and you (and I)watched it, does not mean it made Speed what it is today. As a matter of fact Speed channel has grown tremendously since they changed direction (to the dismay of the fringe motorsports fans, myself included)
Now of course WRC was part of their original programing (when it was Speedvision and practically a different channel) that got the channels start, but that is hardly a business case for the popularity of the show
[QUOTE]Again, I don't think this thread should be focusing on Speed's failures and shortcomings, or giving rally fans grief because they want this new endeavor to succeed. I think rally fans should be supportive of this fellow and what he's trying to do, which is bring the sport back to North American television to a hungry audience that's been starving for almost a year and a half.[/QUOTE]
No one is giving grief, just looking at it objectively and with a little skepticism based on experience
[QUOTE]And they've been bought. Over and done with. That's like the argument that "Eurosport almost didn't buy it either" when explaining why Speed didn't pick it up. Doesn't matter. Eurosport did buy it. Almost doesn't count. This guy at RaceCentral has put out for the balance of the 2007 season. It's a done deal, so all the information seems to imply.
[/QUOTE]
My point is how long can it be sustained if there is not much of an audience. Eurosport has the audience
Being broadcast on the internet is nothing to get excited about, we already have that
[QUOTE]Don't believe everything you hear for why Speed dropped WRC. There's no truth to the claim that they couldn't get enough viewers to justify the cost.. what's closer to the truth is that they couldn't get a big enough profit.[/QUOTE]
And what is the difference? They are in business to make money, there was not enough viewers to make money.
And I believe what I heard from insiders who were trying to get rally broadcast on Speed and Nicky Grist who was the commentator. The ratings were not good enough, period!
[QUOTE]So don't think for a moment that rally is not popular here. If it wasn't generating interest, ESPN wouldn't have Rally America this year, OLN/VS wouldn't have Dakar,[/QUOTE]
I spent 8 years involved in Rally (US, Canada, and some WRC) and it's marketing, I am fairly well informed about the popularity of the sport in the US.
Rally is on ESPN because of the XGames and the rights to the rally show are not big bucks (as a matter of fact, I bet RA is probably paying ESPN, not the other way around)
Dakar is a one event, one time buy, not a whole seasons broadcast, and is probably a whole lot cheaper than WRC.
[QUOTE]That which you download is not free - someone is paying for the horrendous bandwidth that people are incurring for hosting it.[/QUOTE]
My point was, for the end user, it is free.
[QUOTE]. Lastly, like I've said before, you don't necessarily have to pay extra for "the channel", so long as you have broadband Internet. But supporting a legitimate, sponsored broadcast will get more attention and interest than downloading Eurosport coverage will.[/QUOTE]
As it stands, it is hard to get excited about a channel that many people can't get or yet another source (that may have commercials) to download WRC off the internet
If it was being broadcast on a channel that was readily available as part of your cable package, now that would be worth getting excited about.
Sorry, but it seems you are being blinded by your enthusiasm for the sport and not looking at this objectively.
I will remain skeptical until I see differently, I've been around rally and it's let downs for too long
Even F1 is a hard sell in the States
| Mopho | 03-04-2007 06:55 PM |
[QUOTE=OBShahn;17254007]I'm just going to say this.
The other networks had other goals and they may or may not apply to the race central TV effort. ....[/QUOTE]
Kevin, my point in responding to your post was that these channels did not FAIL to take advantage of the opportunity as you suggest, they CHOSE not to take the opportunity because they could not make a business case for it.
Maybe this guy can, but we won't know for years.
Anyhow, I see no reason to be excited at this point. I want to be able to watch WRC on TV, which is something I can't currently do, and it appears this is not changing that.
The other networks had other goals and they may or may not apply to the race central TV effort. ....[/QUOTE]
Kevin, my point in responding to your post was that these channels did not FAIL to take advantage of the opportunity as you suggest, they CHOSE not to take the opportunity because they could not make a business case for it.
Maybe this guy can, but we won't know for years.
Anyhow, I see no reason to be excited at this point. I want to be able to watch WRC on TV, which is something I can't currently do, and it appears this is not changing that.
| OBShahn | 03-04-2007 07:26 PM |
[QUOTE=Mopho;17254409]Kevin, my point in responding to your post was that these channels did not FAIL to take advantage of the opportunity as you suggest, they CHOSE not to take the opportunity because they could not make a business case for it.
Maybe this guy can, but we won't know for years.
Anyhow, I see no reason to be excited at this point. I want to be able to watch WRC on TV, which is something I can't currently do, and it appears this is not changing that.[/QUOTE]
Fair enough.
It can be difficult to discern someone arguing with the principle of what you are trying to say versus the mechanics of the message.
I have reason to believe that ISC approached a lot of vendors and distributors with the TV rights this year with far better terms than in years passed; which, lead to my terming of failed instead of chose. The market is shifting again to provide opportunities to rally (has happened before though, I know), and if other markets are any indication, we might see a rise in the interest level in the WRC with Travis becoming involved, the lack of long term vision here is what I was referencing more to with failed.
I hope him the best. If he has very modest goals I think he can meet them. If he is shooting for the moon, well, hopefully he doesn't lose his shirt.
Maybe this guy can, but we won't know for years.
Anyhow, I see no reason to be excited at this point. I want to be able to watch WRC on TV, which is something I can't currently do, and it appears this is not changing that.[/QUOTE]
Fair enough.
It can be difficult to discern someone arguing with the principle of what you are trying to say versus the mechanics of the message.
I have reason to believe that ISC approached a lot of vendors and distributors with the TV rights this year with far better terms than in years passed; which, lead to my terming of failed instead of chose. The market is shifting again to provide opportunities to rally (has happened before though, I know), and if other markets are any indication, we might see a rise in the interest level in the WRC with Travis becoming involved, the lack of long term vision here is what I was referencing more to with failed.
I hope him the best. If he has very modest goals I think he can meet them. If he is shooting for the moon, well, hopefully he doesn't lose his shirt.
| rupertberr | 03-04-2007 09:44 PM |
OK, so I talked to Kurt again today on the phone and swapped e-mails. Here are some clarifications. He doesn't want me to discuss much more until the press release goes out.
[QUOTE]full WRC coverage on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday[/QUOTE]
Looks like this is the goal but won't happen immediately.
[QUOTE]wrap up show[/QUOTE]
Might be how the first couple of events go as the WRC coverage gathers advertising. See the new sentence posted on the web site under WRC since yesterday:
[url]http://www.racecentral.tv/indexi.htm[/url]
Bottom line at this stage, IMHO, don't go buy the special sport packages till the program is sorted and expanded. If you get it anyway, cool.
If you are getting full coverage of the internet don't quit. That will still be the best start to finish coverage.
RaceCentral will be a good supplement in the beginning and hopefully much more as time moves on.
[QUOTE]full WRC coverage on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday[/QUOTE]
Looks like this is the goal but won't happen immediately.
[QUOTE]wrap up show[/QUOTE]
Might be how the first couple of events go as the WRC coverage gathers advertising. See the new sentence posted on the web site under WRC since yesterday:
[url]http://www.racecentral.tv/indexi.htm[/url]
Bottom line at this stage, IMHO, don't go buy the special sport packages till the program is sorted and expanded. If you get it anyway, cool.
If you are getting full coverage of the internet don't quit. That will still be the best start to finish coverage.
RaceCentral will be a good supplement in the beginning and hopefully much more as time moves on.
| rallysquirrel | 03-05-2007 09:46 PM |
I think FUEL should've picked this up. It would fit in with the "extreme" sports.
| skuttledude | 03-08-2007 11:11 AM |
[url]http://www.altitude.tv/whatson/default.aspx?day=3/9/2007[/url]
That is their programming guide per day. I looked for the whole weekend and came up with nothing about WRC Mexico or rally.
The car program they do showing regularly is all about Nascrap.
Are there any updates? I have this channel on DirecTV (part of my sports package) and will gladly pass the info around if they do indeed show it.
That is their programming guide per day. I looked for the whole weekend and came up with nothing about WRC Mexico or rally.
The car program they do showing regularly is all about Nascrap.
Are there any updates? I have this channel on DirecTV (part of my sports package) and will gladly pass the info around if they do indeed show it.
| OBShahn | 03-08-2007 12:56 PM |
[QUOTE=Davis K Powers;17285810][url]http://www.altitude.tv/whatson/default.aspx?day=3/9/2007[/url]
That is their programming guide per day. I looked for the whole weekend and came up with nothing about WRC Mexico or rally.
The car program they do showing regularly is all about Nascrap.
Are there any updates? I have this channel on DirecTV (part of my sports package) and will gladly pass the info around if they do indeed show it.[/QUOTE]
Rally Mexico coverage will be included in the regular RaceCentralTV programming.
That is their programming guide per day. I looked for the whole weekend and came up with nothing about WRC Mexico or rally.
The car program they do showing regularly is all about Nascrap.
Are there any updates? I have this channel on DirecTV (part of my sports package) and will gladly pass the info around if they do indeed show it.[/QUOTE]
Rally Mexico coverage will be included in the regular RaceCentralTV programming.
| rupertberr | 03-08-2007 03:19 PM |
[QUOTE=Davis K Powers;17285810][url]http://www.altitude.tv/whatson/default.aspx?day=3/9/2007[/url]
That is their programming guide per day. I looked for the whole weekend and came up with nothing about WRC Mexico or rally.
The car program they do showing regularly is all about Nascrap.
Are there any updates? I have this channel on DirecTV (part of my sports package) and will gladly pass the info around if they do indeed show it.[/QUOTE]
Check it out tonight. 6 PM Eastern, 4 PM Mountain. It is part of the Race Central program. It won't be all Nascrap any more. Tonight they will be showing some highlights from Mexico 2006. Repeats at 11:30 PM EST.
The amounts of positive e-mails and web site hits since this weekend to Race Central, Altitude and WRC HQ in Europe is stunning the top executives. If the shows get a ratings spike and advertisers jump on board it could expand quickly. Race Central's web site almost crashed Sunday morning after taking almost 18,000 hits when word got out about the WRC coverage.:devil: :banana: :disco: Good job guys.:devil:
That is their programming guide per day. I looked for the whole weekend and came up with nothing about WRC Mexico or rally.
The car program they do showing regularly is all about Nascrap.
Are there any updates? I have this channel on DirecTV (part of my sports package) and will gladly pass the info around if they do indeed show it.[/QUOTE]
Check it out tonight. 6 PM Eastern, 4 PM Mountain. It is part of the Race Central program. It won't be all Nascrap any more. Tonight they will be showing some highlights from Mexico 2006. Repeats at 11:30 PM EST.
The amounts of positive e-mails and web site hits since this weekend to Race Central, Altitude and WRC HQ in Europe is stunning the top executives. If the shows get a ratings spike and advertisers jump on board it could expand quickly. Race Central's web site almost crashed Sunday morning after taking almost 18,000 hits when word got out about the WRC coverage.:devil: :banana: :disco: Good job guys.:devil:
| rallysquirrel | 03-08-2007 04:24 PM |
anyone know if Time Warner is carrying any of those channels?
I'd like to watch it tonite and NOT have to download it.
I'd like to watch it tonite and NOT have to download it.
| Jay911 | 03-08-2007 04:48 PM |
[quote=rupertberr;17288858]Check it out tonight. 6 PM Eastern, 4 PM Mountain. It is part of the Race Central program. It won't be all Nascrap any more. Tonight they will be showing some highlights from Mexico 2006. Repeats at 11:30 PM EST.
The amounts of positive e-mails and web site hits since this weekend to Speed Central, Altitude and WRC HQ in Europe is stunning the top executives. If the shows get a ratings spike and advertisers jump on board it could expand quickly. Race Central's web site almost crashed Sunday morning after taking almost 18,000 hits when word got out about the WRC coverage.:devil: :banana: :disco: Good job guys.:devil:[/quote]
I presume you mean "Race Central" not "Speed Central" :D Though Speed deserves to know how they screwed the pooch anyway.
However... for what it's worth, the website still shows "Due to high traffic, the streaming feed is currently unavailable" as it has since this time yesterday.
The amounts of positive e-mails and web site hits since this weekend to Speed Central, Altitude and WRC HQ in Europe is stunning the top executives. If the shows get a ratings spike and advertisers jump on board it could expand quickly. Race Central's web site almost crashed Sunday morning after taking almost 18,000 hits when word got out about the WRC coverage.:devil: :banana: :disco: Good job guys.:devil:[/quote]
I presume you mean "Race Central" not "Speed Central" :D Though Speed deserves to know how they screwed the pooch anyway.
However... for what it's worth, the website still shows "Due to high traffic, the streaming feed is currently unavailable" as it has since this time yesterday.
| rupertberr | 03-08-2007 05:04 PM |
[QUOTE=Jay911;17290148]I presume you mean "Race Central" not "Speed Central" :D Though Speed deserves to know how they screwed the pooch anyway.
However... for what it's worth, the website still shows "Due to high traffic, the streaming feed is currently unavailable" as it has since this time yesterday.[/QUOTE]
Oops. Fixed it. The streaming problem is because of all the traffic. They are working on it. Pod Casts might work better.
Interestingly, someone wrote about the new WRC TV deal on the SpeedTV Website and the thread was immediately locked down. Sore losers?
However... for what it's worth, the website still shows "Due to high traffic, the streaming feed is currently unavailable" as it has since this time yesterday.[/QUOTE]
Oops. Fixed it. The streaming problem is because of all the traffic. They are working on it. Pod Casts might work better.
Interestingly, someone wrote about the new WRC TV deal on the SpeedTV Website and the thread was immediately locked down. Sore losers?
| digitalseance | 03-08-2007 05:12 PM |
I just posted this on the local car forums, hopefully the people around my area will call our cable provider and get enough people wanting it that the Altitude Network will be added to our lineup.
| Jay911 | 03-08-2007 05:16 PM |
[quote=rupertberr;17290404]Interestingly, someone wrote about the new WRC TV deal on the SpeedTV Website and the thread was immediately locked down. Sore losers?[/quote]
Partly. I posted a reply in an existing thread hinting at the new coverage, without further explanation, because it was only the same day you'd announced it and I didn't want to go all overboard before we had further info. Someone else posted a new thread and the always-rabid Speed censors, I mean, monitors, aka board moderators in any other language, shut it down saying there was already discussion on the topic.
I do think that Speed's staff (and/or the apologists who may or may not be staff) are pretty upset about the fact that their ludicrous claims - about no interest in rally in North America, and about the price being completely unaffordable and designed that way by the ISC - have been proven wrong.
For what it's worth, I did also write emails to a couple of WRC's primary sponsors and participants asking them to consider supporting Altitude and RaceCentral by advertising, etc., in the hopes that big support = big money = big results for RaceCentral.
Partly. I posted a reply in an existing thread hinting at the new coverage, without further explanation, because it was only the same day you'd announced it and I didn't want to go all overboard before we had further info. Someone else posted a new thread and the always-rabid Speed censors, I mean, monitors, aka board moderators in any other language, shut it down saying there was already discussion on the topic.
I do think that Speed's staff (and/or the apologists who may or may not be staff) are pretty upset about the fact that their ludicrous claims - about no interest in rally in North America, and about the price being completely unaffordable and designed that way by the ISC - have been proven wrong.
For what it's worth, I did also write emails to a couple of WRC's primary sponsors and participants asking them to consider supporting Altitude and RaceCentral by advertising, etc., in the hopes that big support = big money = big results for RaceCentral.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét