tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post4282673043935941298..comments2024-03-05T06:32:37.180-05:00Comments on The Daly Planet: ESPN's Stick-And-Ball Feeding FrenzyDaly Planet Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834588435004023666noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-49445455379187514992008-10-10T11:36:00.000-04:002008-10-10T11:36:00.000-04:00The ESPN/SEC deal is not just ESPN and ESPN2. The...The ESPN/SEC deal is not just ESPN and ESPN2. The deal also gives Disney Television Distribution the syndication rights to the SEC's syndicated football and basketball package, and SEC baseball. Already the reaction is heavy in South Carolina, where deposed rights-holder Raycom O&O's are plenty (WIS, WCSC, WFXG, WBTV, WMBF, WTOC). None of the O&O's are likely to bid on the DTD package.<BR/><BR/>Last year we learned how "unfaithful" ESPN was in moving from Broadcast Network to ESPN2 Kansas after the race ran long (weather) in order to protect Desperate Housewives, a show I've referenced as one which has a "franchise" tag.Bobbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02366544608847776006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-50103152804193341752008-10-09T23:46:00.000-04:002008-10-09T23:46:00.000-04:00to anon @ 11:09, I think you may be a little off o...to anon @ 11:09, I think you may be a little off on your Big Ten statement. Since the Big Ten has its own network, I don't believe their games are apart of the ESPN College Game Plan pay per view package any more. Also, if NASCAR pay per view was commercial free, I may be interested. Of course it would depend on who was in the booth...Haus14https://www.blogger.com/profile/06348382223779617438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-52240327009611065072008-10-09T23:09:00.000-04:002008-10-09T23:09:00.000-04:00Maybe the money spent getting all these college ga...Maybe the money spent getting all these college games make a more pay per view for ESPN.Last year the Big Ten was free on DISH, now it's $29.95 per game through ESPN...Does that make sense now for them getting more of the college games..<BR/><BR/>Maybe ESPN will want to PPV Nascar next...??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-59118375710042864802008-10-09T19:47:00.000-04:002008-10-09T19:47:00.000-04:00Anon at 1:45: what do you mean, "your female?" (It...Anon at 1:45: what do you mean, "your female?" (It should be "you're," btw.) <BR/>Cut out the sexist remarks. A ton of women post here. Doesn't Nascar boast that something like 49% of fans are female?Tracy Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14361101058670921686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-88475035834148020072008-10-09T18:59:00.000-04:002008-10-09T18:59:00.000-04:00Anon 3:45PM,Versus is a digital cable network. It ...Anon 3:45PM,<BR/><BR/>Versus is a digital cable network. It comes with the digital cable box and on some systems is housed in an additional cable sports package for a extra fee.<BR/><BR/>Since Comcast bought the network and moved it to Philly, they are working hard to get it expanded and available everywhere. <BR/><BR/>This is Comcast's attempt at building their own version of ESPN just like Prime Network was TCI/Liberty Media's attempt in the early 1990's.<BR/><BR/>Versus is working hard to develop the production and operations needed to support the kind of sports product it will be seeing in 2009. I wish them good luck.<BR/><BR/>JDDaly Planet Editorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13834588435004023666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-40602567042969483002008-10-09T16:03:00.000-04:002008-10-09T16:03:00.000-04:00Just some random thoughts and open questions...Wit...Just some random thoughts and open questions...<BR/><BR/>With the Big West now being mainly a basketball conference with no football, I would not give it so much worry specifically. I have pretty much given up on watching the Nationwide Series for various reasons (mostly for too many Buschwhackers) to care whether or not E$PN carries the practices and qualifying for that series. Even then, it would only affect the first two months of the NASCAR season until March Madness was over.<BR/><BR/>I wonder...does E$PN's lust for soccer have anything to do with America's rapidly changing demographics? While the growth in NASCAR interest seems to have plateaued, I would think there will be nothing but potential growth in soccer interest considering this country's current immigration patterns (which I am stating only for fact and with no inference intended as to whether that is bad or good).<BR/><BR/>On the subject of PTI, I will stick up for Michael Wilbon. While he plainly admits that he is not an informed racing observer, he has always been generally curious, inquisitive, and courteous on those admittedly rare occasions that the program discusses any form of racing. It is Kornheiser who is the bad one, and the one time Dan LeBetard was charged with asking questions of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. still makes me cringe when I think about it.<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure what's going to happen with all of this as it relates to E$PN, and I'm not sure how much I really care. As a big IndyCar fan, I am changing my mind as time passes and becoming more and more glad that, no matter how obscure, the coverage on Versus can't be any worse than what E$PN/ABC has provided ever since the American open-wheel split. I don't expect the world, but I do expect to be shown some inkling that my patronage as a customer (fan) is at least occasionally appreciated by the sanctioning body, telecasters, and the major sponsors. Even with the great improvements E$PN made over last year's debacle that tried to pass as racing coverage, I still mostly feel like I am not wanted at almost every portion of their broadcasting day except when college football is on (as I love that sport as much as I love my racing). I guess that there's just not enough of us to make the final pushes needed to get things back to the competent days of Bob, Benny, and Ned and those times when NASCAR fans were the <I>true</I> kings in the mind of the France family. If I continue to not feel wanted, it's only going to take the retirement of a few more drivers before I completely throw in the towel after what now stands at 23 years of being a loyal and dedicated NASCAR follower.KoHoSohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00457687879505057220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-11268798510402273642008-10-09T15:45:00.000-04:002008-10-09T15:45:00.000-04:00Versus isn't an obscure "digital cable" network. ...Versus isn't an obscure "digital cable" network. Not in all markets, at least. <BR/><BR/>When I lived on the west coast, Comcast offered Versus in it's basic cable lineup. Now that I live in North Carolina, Time Warner also offers Versus in it's basic cable lineup. <BR/><BR/>I may be familiar with only two cable television markets, but in both cases the Versus network was not digital (except for the HD channel, of course). <BR/><BR/>Not that I disagree with your point. If I remember correctly, ESPN offered "only" $280M for the rights to nearly half of a NASCAR season for six years. While that was a 40% premium over what NBC thought was too substantial a pricetag, it still pales in comparison to the deal with the SEC.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-9191850232937740022008-10-09T15:17:00.000-04:002008-10-09T15:17:00.000-04:00NASCAR shouldn't be surprised by any of this. The...NASCAR shouldn't be surprised by any of this. They had these same problems in the 1990s with ESPN, only back then it was arguably worse. I remember several races being pre-empted or dumped early or tape-delayed or joined-in-progress, which was maddening for me since my cable operator didn't provide ESPN2 back then.<BR/><BR/>Of course, the difference now is NASCAR's popularity is far beyond what it was then. You would think NASCAR would now be a priority to ESPN. <BR/><BR/>Apparently its not.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-74483531072521397352008-10-09T13:45:00.000-04:002008-10-09T13:45:00.000-04:00Hey Jayhawk...Hummm...your female....RIGHT?Hey Jayhawk...<BR/>Hummm...your female....RIGHT?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-42951327120606262762008-10-09T12:37:00.000-04:002008-10-09T12:37:00.000-04:00Given that college football is about ten thousand ...Given that college football is about ten thousand times more exciting and interesting than stock car racing as NASCAR presents it, I think ESPN's decision makes perfect sense. Watching paint dry is more exciting that NASCAR.Jayhawkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00756807802218022043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-55978085460123959232008-10-09T11:50:00.000-04:002008-10-09T11:50:00.000-04:00Isn't ESPN somehow violating the terms of contract...Isn't ESPN somehow violating the terms of contract with Nascar when it treats it like the red head step child?<BR/>Speaking of ... someone put a bug in Dale Jr.'s ear. He's rollin', let him hook up with Tony Stewart and start their own dang coverage with no points for f-bombs and media obsessions with radio chatter. That would be some real race coverage there. I'd bet we'd even get to see some midget, IRL etc. if those two went into broadcasting.<BR/>SPREAD THE BRAND BOYS!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-11947663428982427232008-10-09T11:43:00.000-04:002008-10-09T11:43:00.000-04:00"Tom said...Sad. I truly believe that ESPN was res..."Tom said...<BR/>Sad. I truly believe that ESPN was responsible for NASCAR and it's booming popularity in the 80's and 90's. They had solid broadcasts, good announcers, and fairly simple, yet innovative, technical aspects (the original "Digger"). Today none of these things are true. "<BR/><BR/>That was when the broadcasts on ESPN/ABC were classics (Bob, Benny, John Kernan, Ned Jarrett). Now new management is always throwing it's weight.<BR/><BR/>You need to remember, NASCAR and ESPN cannot break the contract until 2014. Sorry to say that. <BR/><BR/>ESPN/ABC can only go up in quality for now. Until then, we need to start listing improvements for them and remain vocal till we get the point through.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-68328569197987622202008-10-09T10:43:00.000-04:002008-10-09T10:43:00.000-04:00JDGreat article. The most telling thing was your s...JD<BR/>Great article. The most telling thing was your sentence about soccer & Skipper. He wants more soccer. Great. Theres a marginal sport,but still considered a sport by espu because it involves a ball.<BR/><BR/>the espn channels do not have enough room to air live what they have committed to Now, how when the feeding frenzy is over, will they have room? espn3,4,5????<BR/><BR/>It is high time for NA$CAR to admit it was a mistake & break that contract, set the fans & drivers free & get back to SPEED. <BR/><BR/>We are a Sport that espu ridicules, & casually hates. On espu family of channels, save NN, there is only derogatory, cursory mention (if any). We are the red headed stepchild or rented mule.Its time to go.<BR/><BR/>We all know that - would someone please give King Brian & Co their meds - so they may join us in reality land & save the sport?<BR/>Or has Brian been so busy being a NYC resident millionaire he has forgotten what pays the bills & got his family started?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-81201080293593996602008-10-09T10:35:00.000-04:002008-10-09T10:35:00.000-04:00haus20, once again you nailed it.haus20, once again you nailed it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-5963584700819910392008-10-09T10:26:00.000-04:002008-10-09T10:26:00.000-04:00ESPN foolishness is not a loss for NASCAR. It's an...ESPN foolishness is not a loss for NASCAR. It's an opportunity. <BR/><BR/>For the consumer, looming on the event horizon, is free, over the air, digital TV.<BR/><BR/>The picture is as clean and crisp as cable. The audio is perfect. Channels are broken up into groups of ten. For example, the available channels between channel "2" and "3" is 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, etc.<BR/><BR/>It's easy to see possibilities. For example, ABC could put Sticks on one channel, Balls on another, and NASCAR on another.<BR/><BR/>I think it's absolutely nuts for ABC, ESPN, Disney, NASCAR, and all the rest of 'em, to not take advantage of this opportunity while they have the chance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-29566035601594798942008-10-09T10:01:00.001-04:002008-10-09T10:01:00.001-04:00This reminds me of the "we dont' get no respect" s...This reminds me of the "we dont' get no respect" syndrome that seems to attach to many a popular form of entertainment. And yes, Nascar is entertainment as well as a sport. I'm highly entertained! But I can say that I feel the same way about a great baseball game with a pitching duel or a slammin' book. I belong to a writing organization that represents 9,000authors who garner 54% of the mass market publishing pie. The numbers are rock solid and its profits support many other aspects of the publishing industry. But its members feel highly slighted, and rightly so, by the media. They're denigrated regularly as the purveyors of porn, as the biddies of bodice rippers. The "we don't get no respect" label fits and it seems as if there's nothing they can do about it. But they fight back every chance they get. And it doesn't hurt to be financially successful for the corporations that publish them.<BR/><BR/>So what do we, as people who enjoy Nascar or a good romance novel, do to fight back? We buy the books, we go to races, we let the powers-that-be know we demand our fair share of respect for our racing or literary favorites, as the case may be. Don't just post on this blog. WRITE Espn. Write Nascar. Let them know how you feel. You may not get a response (more than likely), but it's the only way to let your voice be heard.<BR/><BR/>Sorry, I get this bee in my bonnet now and then. . .Tracy Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14361101058670921686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-74358116560448846382008-10-09T10:01:00.000-04:002008-10-09T10:01:00.000-04:00Things pop in my head I have to get them out befor...Things pop in my head I have to get them out before they disappear and I'm not good at typing, that being said,I know Bill France Jr. was not really running the show the last years of his life, what I mean is if he were I don't beleive he would have let the shabby treatment we see happen at all. His family needs to try to atleast keep some of His and Bill France Sr. vision alive. 60 years in the sports world deserves that much.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-88754296836824063292008-10-09T09:52:00.000-04:002008-10-09T09:52:00.000-04:00anon@7:37 said, "I think ESPN's focus on programmi...<B>anon@7:37 said,</B> <I>"I think ESPN's focus on programming shows an attitude held by the general sports viewer that readers of this blog don't want to admit. The majority of sports fans see Nascar as an entertainment business, rather than a sport. They see the cars covered in sponsor logos and the driver's racing suits looking like walking billboards..."</I><BR/><BR/>I must ask, have you been to a stick & ball sporting event lately? Have you noticed the billboards everywhere around the stadiums? Have you ever checked out the names of the stadiums, fields and arenas? Companies pay upwards of $20 million for the naming rights to the stadiums. Have you seen Manchester United's uniforms lately or any other professional soccer teams uniform for that matter? It is nothing but company logos and sponsorships. <BR/><BR/>I think it has less to do with that and more to do with a lack of understanding of the sport. No matter what the sport is, if you don't understand what is going on or how the game is played, you will have a lack of interest in the sport. For example, cricket is very popular in England and other countries in Europe as well as around the world. However, I have no interest in watching the sport. I have tried, but I don't know what is going on and I don't understand the rules therefore I am lost when I watch it. The same can be said for NASCAR, until a few years ago, I had no interest in watching cars go "around in circles" for 4 hours, but then I had some friends who were fans and they helped to instill an interest in the sport. Since I had an interest, I started to learn about it. Now I prefer Nascar over most any other sporting event on TV.<BR/><BR/>It is all about having an interest and and understanding of the sport. You can create interest by producing good competition and rivalries in the sport. You also create interest through the quality of the broadcast of your sport. If you watched the last 10 laps at Talladega, you would have thought that DJ was the PxP guy. JP was barely heard from. The announcers can make or break a broadcast. When hardcore NASCAR fans are turning off the broadcast, what do you think the casual fan is doing?Haus14https://www.blogger.com/profile/06348382223779617438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-84248113897114967622008-10-09T09:41:00.000-04:002008-10-09T09:41:00.000-04:00ESPN wants as many live shows on as possible and r...ESPN wants as many live shows on as possible and racing does not fit well because of the unpredictability of the "sport". Football, basketball and other sports have a starting time that does not vary plus overtimes are infrequent that makes finishing times predictable. Baseball is frequently postphoned when the weather is bad. However, racing's starting time can be delayed for hours due to weather and wrecks, red flags, rain delays, etc. makes the finishing times unpredictable. Racing messes up their schedule badly. <BR/><BR/>Before the end of the contract, you you think NA$CAR might start their own network to take the "burden" off of ESPN. This would be a good excuse and it might have been the plan all along.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-70338804110284946752008-10-09T09:39:00.000-04:002008-10-09T09:39:00.000-04:00When is NASCAR going to wake up to the lack of res...When is NASCAR going to wake up to the lack of respect their TV partners show. I can not believe anything close to this would be happening if Bill France Jr. were still with us. I know not all agree but we lost alot on Febuary 18 2001. and again June 2007. They need to take a stand or there may not be awole lot to stand up for. So much going on in the world, you need your escape ,for me NASCAR has been it for many years. I hate to see the level of poor treatmeant ESPN mostly shows. Be it the drivers, fans, races, they really don't seem to get itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-14455381396829803272008-10-09T09:34:00.000-04:002008-10-09T09:34:00.000-04:00JD: Well, indeed this is lousy news BUT as most o...JD: Well, indeed this is lousy news BUT as most of us have been grousing about for a long time and that is NASCAR has got to negate their K with ESPN and let ESPN do their other sports rather than shift racing around to their other various channels at their whim. It is really unconscionable what is happening and either NASCAR steps up to the plate and makes this happen or else they will continue their downward spiral. I am at a loss as to suggest an alternative but my gut reaction would be to put ALL racing in all series on SPEED and keep it there - have SPEED surround themselves with the best announcers and PxP, and pit people and crank it out - after all, SPEED Channel means racing - throw IRL, ARCA, some F1, some regional series in to the mix and voila! SPEED will be a star and the masses will come back and watch. Short of this, I think we're all in deep trouble! Thanks John - but I'm glad you reported the bad news, lousy though it is.chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10751889821381250237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-89568217006008536762008-10-09T09:32:00.000-04:002008-10-09T09:32:00.000-04:00You know , there is a possible silver lining in al...You know , there is a possible silver lining in all of this . ESPN has botched the NASCAR coverage about as badly as they could have . SPEED has done a fair job on NASCAR , but their regular line- up of non stop infomercials and that horrible Pinks leaves the door open for an interesting possibility . <BR/>The arena is wide open for a brand new network to step in and do what ESPN and especially SPEED always promised but never delivered . Quality AUTO RACE programming . A channel that has non stop auto racing , no infomercials , and race broadcasts that are repeated two to three times at differing hours . This idea sound familiar . It is . Thats what we were promised but never really received . NASCAR contract tied up for another year or two . Fine . Show all of the USAC races , bring along a version of Thursday Night Thunder , DIRT series ( or whatever they call themselves these days ) , Austrailian Super Cars . The list of possible race shows is endless .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-80259776197920310402008-10-09T09:05:00.000-04:002008-10-09T09:05:00.000-04:00It makes me wonder how much longer that NASCAR wil...It makes me wonder how much longer that NASCAR will be on the four letter network because they hate any form of auto racing. I think it is high time that NASCAR voids this contract and gives it to TNT. They gave us the best coverage of any of them. I never thought I would say that, but the entire team was good and entertaining as well, they also provided us with race buddy and that was great too. It is high time that NASCAR listened to the fans and did something because it is obvious that the four letter network definitely does not have racing's interest at heart at any level.majorshousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01061887437257431963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-17981697577161868332008-10-09T08:52:00.000-04:002008-10-09T08:52:00.000-04:00dot-a furkid is a pet, ie, dog or cat. I'm sin...dot-a furkid is a pet, ie, dog or cat. I'm single & don't have any children, but I do have a "furkid". think she mite be spoiled? ;)<BR/>I have stopped taping practice & quals on the four letter network. There's just no point..They don't seem to get that in general, the "casual" fan does NOT watch those shows anyway. I know I didn't the first couple of yrs I was watching racing. But found that I was missing some good info, so I started. When it's presented correctly, it's fun & informative.PammHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05300459856268781781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-91542318057515567652008-10-09T08:41:00.000-04:002008-10-09T08:41:00.000-04:00@dot--yes a "furkid" is your dog, cat, hamster, et...@dot--yes a "furkid" is your dog, cat, hamster, etc. :).<BR/>Yes Saturday is going to be interesting...like I said in the other thread, while they have the post-game shows to help with OT, who knows if it does go there, if they'll try to still have their full 30 minute wrap up show, especially after the last game. And Classic is the only available channel as everyone else has football.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com