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IndyCar Deals Itself a Terrible Blow
I had really hoped that this afternoon's announcement would reveal a title sponsor. Instead, its just about the worst possible news we could receive.
This is per Curt Cavin this morning.
ABC, Versus to share IndyCar series TV coverage
This kills any chance for building momentum in 2009. Who watches Versus? I'm a total sports nut and even I don't watch Versus!!
The IndyCar Series will return to ABC-TV for five races in 2009, including the Indianapolis 500, but the rest of the races will move from ESPN and ESPN2 to Versus, series and television officials confirmed Wednesday.
This is per Curt Cavin this morning.
ABC, Versus to share IndyCar series TV coverage
This kills any chance for building momentum in 2009. Who watches Versus? I'm a total sports nut and even I don't watch Versus!!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jim Huntington on -
Being cable challenged, I have no access anyway but I agree, it does sound like a dumb move. When they should have done everything in their power for a deal with a network that would have yielded greater, wider, better access, they are content to accept table scraps. It sure looks like a capitulation to powerlessness and embrace of weakness.
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Permalink Reply by Mikey B on -
No! I totally agree with you X and Jim. I would go as far to say the series has already gained momentum this season and this will completely kill it moving forward. Though the difference, at first glance, between 73 million viewers (Versus) and 96 million viewers (ESPN) isn't immediately alarming (being both are very large numbers), I would HAVE to think making a decision to decrease the number of viewers to see the majority of races by 20 million + viewers is one that was made for the short-term. Also, from personal experience, if there is nothing on TV I immediately check out ESPN, ESPN 2 and ESPN News, not Versus. This was a chance to catch other casual television viewers who might not know the race is on, but could stick around to watch it.
Though I don't have the numbers infront of me, I can just feel Nascar losing momentum and would guarantee their are numbers from this year that would back that up. The more exposure IndyCar has, I believe, the more fans it will pick up. So, give it to as many as you can. Then once you have a fan base who the MAJORITY will go the extra mile and make sure they have Versus to see the races, then make the switch, 2 or 3 years down the road.
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Permalink Reply by Kyle on -
Is it really a bad move? I would say it is too soon to tell. The quality of the product can't get any worse than what we see on ABC / ESPN / ESPN 2. The quality of the promotion again can't get any worse. ABC / ESPN / ESPN 2 does NOTHING to promote the series. The only thing they do is capture casual sports fans who are channel flipping.
What VS brings to the table is expanded programming and hopefully if the IRL did their homework a commitment to promote. VS is bigger than VS. Comcast has other channels that are popular to non sports fans that brings about a great opportunity to put the IndyCar Series in front of new fans. Which could mean more growth in the long term. It really depends on how the IRL / VS markets this new tv deal. Seeing a tv schedule on the back of a coke truck was exciting but just a start.
The same thing happened when the schedule was announced and I pointed it out in talkback then (with negative response). We as "fans" are quick to criticize what doesn't benefit us personally. The loss of a local race or the loss of abc which means having to buy cable now, etc. It's easy to do. HOWEVER, we need to remember if we are a fan of the series growth is going to come with sacrifice and if sacrifice is for the benefit of the majority it's worth it. We need to stop looking at the moves the IRL makes with blinders on and stop being so myopic and start taking what were given (schedule, tv, etc) and saying how can we help grow the series. What can we do...support sponsors, bring friends to races, sport ICS merchandise to create awareness, etc. That's only going to help vs (no pun intended) being critical of every move the series makes.
Now is the time for us to step up and be supportive and focus on positive growth.
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Permalink Reply by xorpheous on -
"Now is the time for us to step up and be supportive and focus on positive growth."
Its hard to be supportive, when you can't watch the races. I'm fortunate enough to have DirecTV and I fork out for the extra $$$ for the third-tier of programming so I get Versus. Anyone in my hometown who has cable, though, is out, as are several of the other surrounding communities. Versus isn't even an option. They can have the absolute best programming on the planet, but if there's no one to watch, will it matter?
I really hope that I'm wrong and that this deal does enable the series to grow and move forward, but I'm exceedingly skeptical of this decision.
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Permalink Reply by Mikey B on
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I agree. While the races are being show on VS, I'll be able to show my support by logging onto indycargarage.com and talking on the forums and chat with other members who can't watch the race.
The best way to get support is to make it accessible.
That being said, I do agree with Kyle's statements about the promotion of the sport on the ESPNs and ABC. And maybe VS will do a better job, but me seeing more commercials and plugs won't help my ability to support the viewer numbers by watching the race. Pre and Post race coverage is great, for those who can see it.
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Permalink Reply by Kyle on
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I realize that it's an expense but you can watch on Indycar.com. I don't know if I get vs yet. Not been home to even see. So I too would be upset if I couldn't watch the races but as a lifelong open wheel fan, I would continue to follow the series online, go to races, etc. Look Speed (which has seen numbers grow in MSA), hopefully that's the future for VS.
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Permalink Reply by xorpheous on
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I really hope you're right, Kyle. This move by the IRL to Versus for the next ten years could be a real hero move if the network does evolve and grow into a more widely known and widely available outlet. If, however, it languishes where it is now, its a real zero move. This is a huge gamble.
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Permalink Reply by Kyle on
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We are just seeing what were told by ICS communications. The IRL has been given a "second chance" I would hope that their is a lot we aren't seeing that's been planned discussed and agreed upon on the backend.
I don't know anything just being optimistic.
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Permalink Reply by joey kowailw on -
this is a awful move. the nhl is in great shape isn't it? there mainly on vs. all the hard work to start to rectify the lost years of the spilt and now this? vs goes to 20 million less homes then epsn. how on earth do you expect to attract sponsors when your not seen? i dread to think what there next move is. if this is for the good of the series. yes espn have done a shit job to promote the series (the complete over hyping of danica and bowing to nascar's every whim and fancy) but vs i guess indycar wants to promote itself as a niche sport?
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Permalink Reply by joey kowailw on
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vs is 151 on dish network. i'm not sure what the lowest package is to get it.
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Permalink Reply by Mikey B on
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So, here is my next question. What does this do for the drivers? As a fan, I love to believe every team and athlete is in it for the love of the sport. But, the ultimate game is success and self promotion. If I am Danica Patrick, I would not be happy about this move on a personal level. Does this move have the ability to make drivers think about a switch to the (currently) more exposed Nascar? That would be a catastrophic blow to the series to lose anyone because of this move. How will this affect sponsorships? Would you want your product on VS instead of ESPN? I mean which sounds better in a boardroom? Talk about making a hard sell even harder. I just feel like this could be putting many (especially struggling) drivers behind the eight ball.
The numbers are everywhere. This move reduces the number of households reached by AT LEAST 20 million people. This isn't taking into account the fans who don't have access to VS. I am not going to say this is the wrong move and there is no way it will work. Obviously, I HOPE, there are numbers, data and statistics the IRL has that shows this as a solid move. I am very interested to see how this turns out, though I am not interested in watching the race on my computer screen or just reading about it.
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Permalink Reply by joey kowailw on
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let me tell a little story that became something very popular and very big after something a story just like this.
In 1992 the English Football Premier League was formed and what it did was break away from the traditional English FA system of divisions. So the biggest game in England had a top division. The TV rights at the time were held by the terrestrial networks (BBC and ITV). But a new tv network joined the race and was expected to bid be told thank you but ITV and BBC are the preferred bidders. But in 1992 the English Premier League was seen live only on Sky (part of the rupert mudoch empire). At the time, english football was thought of as a poor league. no wanted to play in it and no one wanted to watch it. Thru promotion and growth of there network (home subscriptions and pubs) the premier league is the now in the top 3 football leagues in the world. it has foreign tv rights amassing to nearly a $1 billion not to mention the $2 billion it will earn this contract thru domestic tv rights.
the key to this whole ramble is this at the time sky was a no one, satellite tv at the time was a novelty but thru promotion english football is the biggest earning league in the world. with espn and there coverage, there tv time and 2 hours on a sunday formula indy car wasn't going to grow. if vs delievers a package like it says with extra programing like a saturday show. spread the coverage too. theres more than danica to indycar and there's alot more better things to talk about then her. espn does ruin itself with its constant danica coverage.
but there is, this football in england (like the rest of the world) is the biggest sport there is. indycar isn't but vs might do a good job. there's is something still on terrestial with the indy 500. personally i don't like this deal due to the hide away nature of it. we only have vs cause we have the top 250 package and that is too get the premier for me (being a ex pat) thou the deals length is worrying. nascar hasn't done too bad with espn back in the day did it?
12 years of shit hasn't done any one any good. but you would hope that this could be a shoot of rebirth. its not the end it could well be the start. its still to early to tell thou. but i wouldn't of gone to vs. but who would of offered anything like the package they are getting speed or espn? i doubt it.
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