Has Spud TV gotten off the pot about FIA coverage? So far, there's nothing on their web site about schedules. And the (admittedly lame FIA format) Rallye Monaco is this weekend -- but no mention of WRC on the program schedule. Or should I be checking OLN's web site?
I also have been looking for WRC coverage. No mention of TV and/or Speed Channel on WRCs site. Not on schedule posted on SpeedTV.com. Bummer. I enjoyed the coverage for the past couple of years.
Cancelled for the time being. Apparently they want more coverage for Nascar http://www.petitiononline.com/SpdTV/petition.html. Less coverage on the Grand Prix, WRC and F1 races.
No WRC, F1 is still unknown, but I wouldn't take the fact that WRC is out as automatic proof F1 will be also. The commercial rights to the two are held by completely seperate companies, Bernie does F1 and Dave Richards owns a company which handles WRC. F1 is a MUCH bigger sport, and much more relevant here in the states, and SPEED's own commitment to it is far more thorough than it ever was to WRC. As for the WRC getting dropped, SPEED claims it had some of their lowest ratings and DR was charging a fortune. From what I understand, even the European coverage was in doubt until the last minute. Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending them, I've done that before only to end up disappointed. Just stating their side, FWIW. The internet is here, we don't need these stinkin buggy whip cable stations. I have all 3 days of the Monte coverage which will be posting later today. It is a PITA, but whatever, I will do what I must to see the races.
I am a newbie when it comes to satellites and television broadcasts. Is there any way to buy an 18" satellite dish that will receive broadcasts of F1, WRC, DTM, etc?? And if so, to what channels would I need to subscribe to be able to watch? For me, it has to be 18" because I believe that is the size the Feds say you can use even if you are in a condo or apartment, and the association can not prevent you from mounting the dish in a position that allows for clear reception. Maybe this would be better as a new thread?
i'd imagine they would be beefing up F1 coverage ...especially now that Scott Speed has a seat next year.
I had to laugh at lunch, I threw on Speed inbtw watching CNBC and noticed that NASCAR was having their 2006 meeting, in which one of the heads was talking about NASCAR's "car of tomorrow" via a primitive powerpoint presentation. "Car of tomorrow"???? 1955 SBC, carburetion, single dizzy, solid rear axle, steel rims, etc. I'm pretty sure he was serious. Speed is starting to get a bit old IMO. Better than what was before (total lack of coverage), but they surely leave a lot to be desired. I think a large part of their problem is the total lack of consistency in time slots that results from trying to play things live. I agree that it is nice to see F1 in real time, but for those of us that go out Saturday night, it's not always the easiest to be up at 6:30am on Sunday to watch what usually amounts to a blow out. If they played NASCAR at 7am on Sundays, I'm sure those ratings would go down too.
F1 is (supposdly) the most watched motorsport in the world and yet we struggle to get consistent overage here in the US. Why doesn't speed just spin off a totaly channel dedicated to NECKCAR and let the original "SPEED" get back to things like WRC, Bikes, shows, Goodwood, Documentaries, F1, etc...there's obviously a market for both. I personally think that Speed was up and comming and they sold out to the NASCAR band wagon. Thus they lost a lot of the fan base that was making them grow. BS!
I don't care for Speed anymore. The only times I watched it is for F1 races, but before I used to watch it all the time. I don't care what channel the races are showed on as long as it's live. They could put it on WE channel or HGTV, doesn't matter to me.
I'm all for bashing SPEED, but do try to make sure you have your facts straight. They show the F1 races live, which most of us view as a big positive, and always do a same-day prime time replay. If that doesn't fit with your party schedule do yourself a favor and invest in a Tivo, you'll be glad you did.
Koby: Definetely agree with you, except for the part about bashing SpeedTV. I get up at 7AM to watch F1 live, even if we did not get home until 2AM. And I am old! NASCAR races are on a US time zone, and are usually around 1PM, so they won't be running them live at 7AM. SpeedTV is a business for profit. Speed has to sell advertising to make a profit, and you can command a higher price for your advertising when you have high constant viewership. I will give you one hint which racing format has the highest US viewership ratings: the with the beer companies' names emblazoned on the cars. F1 does not have much of a following in the USA compared to NASCAR or even the IRL. So Speed has to do what it has to do to be a profitable company, and at least give us some F1 coverage, which loses money. The only reason Speed even considers F1, is because some of its management are fans. NASCAR makes them money, F1 does not. So be thankful we have what we have, and that Speed hasn't completely sold out. Yet.
Speed Sucks. Recently they've been covering Bobsleding. The Barrett-Jackson auction all day yesterday was nothing but musclecars and customs. I guess they need the space to do round table talk and tobacco spitting episodes with people who may or may not have some affiliation with NASCAR, just in case there is some mystery as yet uncovered about how one goes about turning left. But who here supports rally racing in the US/Canada? Who has been to a stage rally here? If rallying is to become popular stateside, we need your support. There are 3 sanctioning bodies and over 20 National level rallies on the 2006 calandar in N America. Rally America, NASA and Canadian Assoc of Rallysport. Come enjoy yourself as spectator or sign up to work a rally (workers get best locations to watch). See you there, Car #42 in Rally America events
Life is so much clearer now. Thanks. My point was in reference to the general inaccesibility of F1 and assorted other European racing series. And as far as getting facts straight, they bounce btw prime-time (midday on Sunday) and late-night replays depending on the live-time of the race. So, since we are playing semantics, it's impossible to have a 1pm race and a prime-time replay on the same day, as you state they "always" do. And yes, I know that's not what you meant, and I know what you mean, but the point is, if you're gonna lecture others on getting facts straight... I must have been confusing in the first post. I agree with showing the race live, but I personally enjoyed them replaying it at a consistent (re: the same) time each Sunday there was a race. That simple. If there was a race that day, you knew you could catch it or set the VCR at "X" time (which used to be 9pm, but could be anytime really).
I have given up on the Speed channel, the only good programming they have left is F1, which given this channels history, won't last. At this rate the channel will probably have a 6 hour home shopping show for NASCAR affiliated gear. I have been trying to get DirecTv to carry Eurosport or ITV channels, and from my understanding they are planning on expanding the European television coverage, very soon. Which channels will be added is still unknown.
If I owned the Speed Channel I would expand my NASCAR coverage to increase the "FU" money that would continue to flow into my bank account. BUT I would also create another channel with all the forms of road racing many of us desire. (and make even more money)
With the political correctness squad preaching that cars are "bad", and cars moving faster than pedestrians even moreso, and states verging on making it illegal to even change your own oil, the fan base for all motorsports is declining in the united sticks. So spud TV is wrassling a couple of dozen channels for the larger BillyBob-Car fan base -- the people who still have cars old enough that you can see the engine when you open the hood. The F1, WRC, RallyAmerica, and Dakar fan base is smaller -- consisting of those who have pushed a vehicle and themselves to the limit. But while the fan base is smaller, the channel that carries these events gets 100% of those fans. Something to consider. I find myself watching OLN more than Spud TV, these days. I think part of the problem is the perception of "a fortune" when it comes to motorsports coverage. Put one camera on a crane in the middle of a Noosecar circuit, and you can cover the whole race. Compare that to the flying wire cameras in F1, or to the battalion of cameras needed to cover WRC. And you practically need your own spy satellite to cover Dakar. (Okay, a wee bit of exaggeration.) WRC coverage is going to be more expensive to produce than coverage of "the merry-go-round broke down". When the suits get used to lower prices, they don't want to pay more. I imagine there are also people, whose standards are set by drudge boxes, who ask, "Why would anyone spend all that money on a car, just because it says 'Ferrari' on it?". And when OLN graduates to being "just a business", they'll probably go for the quick buck too. And then we'll have to find another upstart channel run by people actually interested in their own programming -- like speedvision used to be.
No, it isn't. Speed have the contract for 2006, and now have permission for on site broadcasting, which will be filled by Peter Windsor, so expect a grid walk a la Martin Brundle and ITV. The speed forums are down right now but there's a sticky thread at the top of the F1 forum.
No F1 coverage to me is the end of the world. It is the only sport (aside from Word Cup) that I care about. I started a sticky thread in the forum. Please tell all your friends.
As I posted in the "sticky" (and perhaps should not have), this would not be the first time F1 was a last second deal with them.
Well F1 is most watched motor-sport in the world. But Speed TV market is US. There is higher percentage of NECKCAR fans than F1 in us. You can buy Neckcar merchandise in Home Depot, probably even at Walmart - i haven't been to one in a long time, nor do i shop for Neckcar merchandise. But people how shop at wallymart want a channel for their sport... I watched ITV (i think it's UK) broadcast of 2004 USGP - very nicely done. I'd miss SpeedTV's commentators, but i can live with ITV. Now we need somebody to broadcast ITV in US. BTW, Anybody knows where i can get 2003 USGP (the rain race) in English ? - that was one heck of a drive by MS !!!
