tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post874584308830845664..comments2024-03-05T06:32:37.180-05:00Comments on The Daly Planet: Watkins Glen Coverage Did Not Click With ViewersDaly Planet Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834588435004023666noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-77034891704403640912008-08-14T20:49:00.000-04:002008-08-14T20:49:00.000-04:00Diane"Amen" and "dittos" to your post.:)Diane<BR/><BR/>"Amen" and "dittos" to your post.<BR/><BR/>:)Sophiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789033556426951026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-55791787562541014052008-08-14T19:58:00.000-04:002008-08-14T19:58:00.000-04:00Watkins Glen was fine for me because my driver is ...Watkins Glen was fine for me because my driver is Ambrose and he got a lot of coverage. During Indy, I would have no idea where he was during the race if not for the computer, so I understand the frustration if your driver is not one of the "chosen few" that gets covered. I agree that has the Chase gets closer the mention of other drivers only gets less.<BR/><BR/>If I'm a sponsor and my car gets little to no face time running 15-43 then I would think long and hard about my sponsor dollars.<BR/><BR/>I think the Nascar audience has peaked as some of the newer fans drift off to other things. Making most of the races a lot shorter would help.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-76161290085098396142008-08-14T19:53:00.000-04:002008-08-14T19:53:00.000-04:00The Olympics probably played some part, but the go...The Olympics probably played some part, but the good chance you would not see your driver during the race is another. I am a fan of several drivers/teams, thankfully one is the 48 so I know I will see them but I can go an entire race without one mention of my others. If you have to check the internet to see how your team is doing why waste the 4+ hours, listen to the radio and do something else.Newracefanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16324764517098771035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-83386544116374390932008-08-14T19:23:00.000-04:002008-08-14T19:23:00.000-04:00It isn't some top-flight sports event the race was...<B> It isn't some top-flight sports event the race was up against. It is THE sports event. </B><BR/><BR/>Not exactly.<BR/><BR/>I know quite a few sports reporters who don't like to do Olympics stories because the games are not "real sports." This is a common sentiment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-36275874931472179242008-08-14T17:24:00.000-04:002008-08-14T17:24:00.000-04:00A good percentage of Canada was once again kept in...A good percentage of Canada was once again kept in the dark due to the ESPN Canadian affiliate TSN broadcasting on one of their secondary cable outlets. Add in a couple of million fans here, what happens to the ratings then? This is really starting to frost me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-4125814450137192462008-08-14T14:31:00.000-04:002008-08-14T14:31:00.000-04:00The ratings are down , but so are ticket sales . A...The ratings are down , but so are ticket sales . And i'm afraid i know what that means . Could it be that people are simply losing interest in NASCAR ? <BR/>If that is the underlying reason , the blame can be spread evenly over a number of factors . But one of the most obvious is the poor quality of tv coverage . Week after week people complain about ALL of the networks , the on air personalities , the camera work ( or lack thereof ) , the pre and post race coverage , the blatent bias toward certain drivers ,teams , and sponsors , and the constant increase in commercials . The mention of Bob Jenkins , a race analyst that can do it correctly , brings up an interesting point . Why isn't he used on NASCAR broadcasts ? But his mention also brings up a theme we see all of the time on this site . NASCAR coverage in the past was far superior to what we have now . As i and others have said many times before , this can be laid at the feet of the producers and directors of these awfull shows . They are responsible for hiring the on airs . They are responsible for the in car cameras that never get used . They dictate who gets interviewed and when . <BR/>The point is , if people are simply losing interest , you could hardly blame them . It has almost become a chore to sit through a NASCAR race on any of the networks . And thats sad . The fix , instead of moving people around from the booth to the studio to the pits and back again ( deck chairs on the Titanic ) bring in brand new producers and directors , give them tapes of the 1980s ESPN broadcasts of NASCAR , and then let them start fresh . Really top quality , entertaining , informative broadcasts of NASCAR could very possibly revive interest in the sport .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-83540722288000029792008-08-14T14:07:00.000-04:002008-08-14T14:07:00.000-04:00I think some have misunderstood what I was trying ...I think some have misunderstood what I was trying to say regarding the COT and the safety issue. Most people don't watch races for "the big one" but for the thrill of racing and the danger. People do all sorts of things for the thrill of it (the chance of getting caught). When there is the perception that there is no danger, there is no thrill in it for many people. People are more interested in watching a sport where there is potential for injury and they root for their favorite to be successful and not be injured. The favorite sport is football and it has tremendous potential for injury whereas less popular sports are relatively safe (basketball, tennis, golf, etc).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-91001916300855193182008-08-14T12:15:00.000-04:002008-08-14T12:15:00.000-04:00WOW..when I mentioned the COT I meant how hard it ...WOW..when I mentioned the COT I meant how hard it is to pass, impossible to steer for many, and the lack of finding that tiny sweet spot for the cc and drivers. <BR/><BR/>I don't think the lack of danger is an issue is it? Many were grateful to see more and more use of the SAFER barriers and hans devices. I think the COT is just too boxy for good racing and the wing is an issue for BLIND spots as were older style race cars I have read about.<BR/><BR/>THe level of the playing field has spelled IROC for many.<BR/><BR/>Personally, I am HAPPY to see drivers walk away from horrible looking crashes. I can't IMAGINE watching years ago when folks got killed or badly injured after the big one or slamming into the wall.<BR/><BR/>Count me as one who enjoys watching in the modern era but the COT does have many problems that need to be addessed for GOOD Racing.<BR/><BR/>Still, no excuse for tv guys to IGNORE the fact there are 43 cars on the track. I think the ticker, though not updated sometimes, makes announcers lazy in filling us in with details as well. The ticker just tells another small part of the picture..but does not tell us WHY folks are so many laps down, or are out, or back in....<BR/><BR/>I am looking forward to MIS but will miss RBuddy and the pretty camera work...I think that is where the gorgeous sunsets were captured!!<BR/><BR/>:)Sophiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789033556426951026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-84937697375763595682008-08-14T11:14:00.000-04:002008-08-14T11:14:00.000-04:00Oh, Red -- that is a great comment and so true! "...Oh, Red -- that is a great comment and so true! "level the playing field" well, the field is so freaking level, it's billiard table flat and watching drivers attempt to race is painful."<BR/><BR/>You seriously hit it, right on the head. I want to see side by side and passes for the lead ON the track, along with a fight for the finish of the race.GinaV24https://www.blogger.com/profile/10828669350024430018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-14405014122528109152008-08-14T10:38:00.000-04:002008-08-14T10:38:00.000-04:00ken said...I think the greatly improved safety of ...ken said...<BR/>I think the greatly improved safety of the COT has had an impact on the drop in interest of NA$CAR. <BR/><BR/>i disagree with you on this, ken. i don't think it's the safety aspect of the cot that has led to a drop in interest. speaking for myself, i don't watch "waiting for the big one" to happen. i watch for the racing, the competition, not the wrecks. your comment, intentionally or not, echoes what many detractors say about the sport: people only watch it for the crashes. i STRONGLY disagree with that sentiment.<BR/><BR/>but to me, the cot IS the root of the problem in terms of viewership. fans now have come to see that this brick of a car simply doesn't produce good racing and there is a perception that the safety features could have been incorporated into last year's model fairly easily and we'd be watching exciting racing this year. but nascar wanted to do 2 things simultaneously: increase safety and "level the playing field" well, the field is so freaking level, it's billiard table flat and watching drivers attempt to race is painful.<BR/><BR/>add to that the once every 4 years olympics moment plus a road course race ( i don't know if the majority of nascar fans appreciate road course racing!) and you have lower ratings.<BR/><BR/>i think there was very little espn was looking to do to go head to head with the olympics. there were many changes they could have put into place prior to the n'wide race coverage but by the end of saturday, we knew they were in way over their heads and so some of us had to make a conscious decision to tune in on sunday. <BR/><BR/>the broadcasts for that weekend, both saturday and sunday, were just so abysmal that all i can hope for is that a return to an oval course might make a difference. but i think the problem runs far deeper than just the kind of track this past weekend . . .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-10566814664141540292008-08-14T10:00:00.000-04:002008-08-14T10:00:00.000-04:00I think the greatly improved safety of the COT has...I think the greatly improved safety of the COT has had an impact on the drop in interest of NA$CAR. Whenever the COT is mentioned, much is made about the increased safety. People don't want the drivers to get hurt but they want them to perform with the knowledge that they might be seriously injured. <BR/><BR/>There is little interest in a high wire act or trapeze act unless it is done without a net. People watch a magician escape from being tied up under water only because of the danger. People watched the attempt to jump over the Snake River Canyon on a motorcycle only because of the possiblility of disaster. <BR/><BR/>People want their heros to be brave and risk takers. It is hard to warm up to a sport that is risk free. NA$CAR pushing the safety of the COT has given much of the public the impression that racing is much less risky than it really is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-80178621567233132622008-08-14T09:47:00.000-04:002008-08-14T09:47:00.000-04:00And we notice watching the truck races, Phil Parso...And we notice watching the truck races, Phil Parsons always manages to tell the viewers the sponsor on the number such and such truck I think the cup broadcasters should review those races for ideas on improving viewership . I think the last 2 weeks have been boring race maybe at Bristol the ratings will grow. I'm curious about the numbers for the Nationwide races at Montreal & the Glen to see if they have gone down too.Vicky Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13084198036514255332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-49374902930034329652008-08-14T09:23:00.000-04:002008-08-14T09:23:00.000-04:00Strickinfan and others hit the nail on the head. I...Strickinfan and others hit the nail on the head. It is horrifying to know just how ESPN does its coverage of races. I have railed against Punch who sounds like a tired and bored announcer before - it resonates to the viewers who seek other means by which to 'hear' a race being called. Despite Petree and DJ being the 'saving grace', Bestwick should be called to the booth immediately. ESPN has to rid themselves of their interminable pre-race show and tack an hour on after the race dedicated to post-race issues. The 'idea' of another network using 'spotters' around the track and having their announcers actually WATCH the race as its happening and not on monitors is certainly a novel idea for ESPN to ponder - those of us who have gone to races in 'real time' know there is so much more going on at any given track than what you see and hear on TV. NASCAR probably isn't going to do anything to muddy their financial waters but they should do. I also feel the COTs contribute to the lagging viewership in a big way. NASCAR has alot to fix and fix it they must if they want to continue to be top of the gravy chain. Wasn't there some mention quite a while ago of Bruton Smith wanting to start a similar series? Perhaps he would pay attention to the fans both at the tracks and who watch via TV - it just might work! Thanks JD for your column -- great food for thought!chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10751889821381250237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-50661550548280575272008-08-14T08:01:00.000-04:002008-08-14T08:01:00.000-04:00Mr. Daly,Although I agree with some of your commen...Mr. Daly,<BR/><BR/>Although I agree with some of your comments on what ESPN could do better, I have to lump my opinion in with those who agree a drop in ratings for this race had to have been affected by the Olympics.<BR/><BR/>It's simple economics. The Olympic's broadcast is a scarce product. It only comes once every four years, so if given a choice a customer will choose the scarce product if it is the same price as the standard product (NASCAR race).<BR/><BR/>This doesn't mean that I disagree with the fact that ESPN needs to step up its game and cater to racing fans instead of catering to the corporation. However, lets not ignore the Olympics just to make an argument work better.Ritchiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09884549705336979557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-18031095436370430862008-08-14T06:21:00.000-04:002008-08-14T06:21:00.000-04:00Bestwick,Jarrett and Petree do an excellent job.If...Bestwick,Jarrett and Petree do an excellent job.If I never heard or saw Punch,Rusty and Brad again,it would be a blessing. Many Nascar fans do not enjoy the road races which may affect viewer ratings. Many road races have mind-numbing long caution flags with little passing. Sunday's 45 minute Red Flag didn't help.500 miles at Pocono the week before was just insane. I was ready to pack it in at the half way point. Only the Sports Bars must enjoy these marathons. I've long favored some kind of format similar to the Shootout at Lowes in May. I couldn't believe that as the field approached the green flag at the start of the Glen race, they tossed to some distant camera that actually panned back to show the stands above the pits! I don't recall the network last year ,but for a critical restart, they panned to just the grandstands as the green dropped. You could hear the cars take off but couldn't see them.ESPN needs people in the control booth that understand Nascar. That could be a stretch for a network that featured Brent Mussberger and Suzy Kolber. What were they thinking???? We used to spend the Weekend at the Glen race going back to the second one (1987?). The race now starts about an hour later so there is often little time to interview anyone other than the top 2-3 guys after the race.ESPN may be better this year, but they have a LONG way to go!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-87608975867818688062008-08-14T03:56:00.000-04:002008-08-14T03:56:00.000-04:00As ESPN TV viewers are aware, the network has an b...<I>As ESPN TV viewers are aware, the network has an buttoned-up image and network guidelines that often result in an on-air look that resembles a courtroom or a meeting of the board</I><BR/><BR/>Remember when they launched ESPN2 and the big difference was the announcers wore golf shirts instead of suits? :)bevohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07186936436307739896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-62700238457268393282008-08-13T23:51:00.000-04:002008-08-13T23:51:00.000-04:00Charliewe were posting at the same time. Yes, you...Charlie<BR/><BR/>we were posting at the same time. Yes, you worded for me better than I did myself regarding the 43 drivers. We always want to see how they will do.<BR/><BR/>Sadly, imho, I think the LACK of focus on the 'bottom thirty plus cars' is ADDING to the sponsor issue though nobody admits that..at least years ago all cars were on the screen with the sponsor names. Now, with the zoom zoom cam or horrible overly tight car shots on LOWES, HOME DEPOT, DUPONT, M&M cars...lather, rinse, repeat...the sponsor names get little exposure.Sophiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789033556426951026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-11483149568384976892008-08-13T23:47:00.000-04:002008-08-13T23:47:00.000-04:00nice to see others shocked at how well they liked ...nice to see others shocked at how well they liked TNT 's coverage this year!! <BR/><BR/>I must admit I am SHOCKED to keep reading how HIGH the ratings for for the Olympics! I read as high as 60 PER CENT of the country was watching. How the hello do they determine that? I still don't get this whole Nielsen numbers game (knew somebody that worked for them years ago and they explained how even they could splay the numbers but my brain forgets..and that was the paper diary days...we did that at my parents house when I was about 12...decades ago!)<BR/><BR/>I get tired of coming across so much swimming and gymnastics. At the Y today thankfully the tv's are muted with cc but I see they now have MEN's sychronize diving. Who knew?<BR/><BR/>ALso I know many do NOT like NASCAR's road courses, Would be interesting to see how a Daytona or Dega race would hold up to the O games.<BR/><BR/>I was never a fan of the crashfest at Bristol and know many folks hate that place now so who knows what those ratings would be like on their own.<BR/><BR/>But from what I am reading, if one can believe what they read, the Olympics are quite the behemoth!!<BR/><BR/>:)Sophiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789033556426951026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-78924059180623408032008-08-13T23:36:00.000-04:002008-08-13T23:36:00.000-04:00I like one thing that sophia said in partictular. ...I like one thing that sophia said in partictular. She said " there can NOT be 43 winners every week but most all driver have FANS. I think another why to say this is - there can not be 43 winners every week but most all drivers have fans that wished there driver would win.<BR/>That is the main reason I watch, to see how well my driver will do. ESPN or any network that does a race have to show the drivers to the fans.Charliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03003781121938153072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-41111830545514523362008-08-13T23:18:00.000-04:002008-08-13T23:18:00.000-04:00ITA with the Olys comments, including anon 7:44. ...ITA with the Olys comments, including anon 7:44. It's an every 4 years event, fairly rare in sports even with 'big' events. While it sounds like ESPN maybe didn't 'step it up' for the broadcast (haven't seen this race yet on TV), no one could know that in advance. If coverage had been first rate for all these months it might have made a *slight* difference. I think one can make too much of the numbers. I'm an *avid* race fan, but I would have been watching the Olys too if I wasn't at the race. I'm guessing Michigan will be hit too.<BR/><BR/>Not seeing why you'd put the Infield studio on the backstretch. The most action (if that's how you gauge it) happens in turn 1, the chicane at times (unless that's what you mean by backstretch, which is long), and turn 11 (contrary to popular belief, lots of wrecks happen there.) Something to think about though. It's just an iffy thing, sometimes lots of stuff goes on, some years not.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-83283715764545534112008-08-13T23:08:00.000-04:002008-08-13T23:08:00.000-04:00I was able for once to listen to MRN and flip back...I was able for once to listen to MRN and flip back and forth to the television coverage by ESPN. I had really forgotten what the level of excitement on MRN was all about and they were covering all of the cars and not the chosen few like usual on tv. I watched an old Watkins Glen race from 1988 last week with Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarret and Benny Parsons, now that was really good tv and the current crew, especially Jerry Punch could take some real lessons from them and now wonder as boring as the race coverage is on ESPN that their numbers are sliding. I never thought I would say that I enjoyed TNT's coverage better than any of the others this year. It was very obvious to me that they really listened to what the fans wanted and then they delivered the goods.majorshousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01061887437257431963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-1056366157980586922008-08-13T22:32:00.000-04:002008-08-13T22:32:00.000-04:00Well, I'm one of the people who watch with the TV ...Well, I'm one of the people who watch with the TV muted and the radio and my computer on. Since I don't have a Nielson box, they don't count my nose in the ratings anyway, but ESPN just doesn't get it done for me as far as providing me with the best race coverage. I get tired of Fox's gimmicks and DW's incessant talking about himself, Mikey and whoever else is his flavor of the week. TNT did the best job this year and I was surprised as heck cuz I hated their coverage last year. Plus, I think that the cinderblock of today, boring races, an overemphasis on the "chase" and Kyle Busch winning so much is contributing to people turning off. TV should cover the RACE -- the whole field, not just the chosen few, otherwise, if you're not a fan of those specific drivers, there's no reason to watch. If I have to follow my driver by the ticker at the top of the screen, then I'll use another method to follow the race and as you said, JD, there are lots of ways to do that these days.GinaV24https://www.blogger.com/profile/10828669350024430018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-63837357109863299512008-08-13T22:17:00.000-04:002008-08-13T22:17:00.000-04:00"I strongly believe the olympics had something to ..."I strongly believe the olympics had something to do with the ratings decline. Fans had no idea that the presentation wasnt going to be up to par. So why would ratings be down for the race if fans had no prior knowledge? I don't think I have met a sports fan who refuses to watch their FAVORITE sport if the TV broadcast is bad. They will find other ways to deeal with it. But one of them I dont think includes turning off the TV. "<BR/><BR/><B>I agree with this. Most people I know hate the ESPN approach to Monday Night Football, but they still watch -it's football - and the ratings have not suffered.<BR/><BR/>I think a lot of people probably made a decision to watch the Olympics and not watch Watkins Glen beforehand, not during the race because they didn't like what they saw. As Dale Jr once said, with baseball and NASCAR, you can skip the middle of the season and tune in towards the end and catch up. So an event like the Olympics made Watkins Glen fine to miss.</B><BR/><BR/>"Ratings for the Nationwide Series on ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 are up from last season. Ratings for the Brickyard 400 were up and Pocono were the same. This is one of the few times thiis season ratings have been down."<BR/><BR/><B>ESPN Nationwide ratings are only up (slightly) compared to last year's horrific drop in Busch Series ratings on ESPN. It's a slight reversal of a ratings decline that's been going on for three years in Busch and Cup. NASCAR ratings are nowhere near what they were in 2003 to 2005. The only series really growing in ratings percentages is Trucks and it has a very small audience to begin with.</B>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-27403297641692408512008-08-13T21:54:00.000-04:002008-08-13T21:54:00.000-04:00JD I totally repect your opinion, but Im going to ...JD I totally repect your opinion, but Im going to have to disagree. The ESPN presentation was not the reason ratings were down. <BR/><BR/>I strongly believe the olympics had something to do with the ratings decline. Fans had no idea that the presentation wasnt going to be up to par. So why would ratings be down for the race if fans had no prior knowledge? I don't think I have met a sports fan who refuses to watch their FAVORITE sport if the TV broadcast is bad. They will find other ways to deeal with it. But one of them I dont think includes turning off the TV. I think a few minority may do that, but not majority.<BR/><BR/>I will just re-state what I said above in more simple terms. A 12% loss in ratings for one telecast has little to do with coverage, domination, or any of that. It has to do with the olympics plain and simple. The olympics comes only every couple of years and it is a worldwide event. Ratings not just for NASCAR, but for other sports shown last weekend were down as a hole. <BR/><BR/>As for the Kyle Busch domination having an effect onn things. I dont really buy that side either. Last year Jimmie Johnson annd Jeff Gordon had an even BIGGER dominatiion. This season we are actually seeing new winners. I don't buy people turning off the TV because "kyle busch will win today." If so. I really question them being a fan, since you never know what can happend in a race.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-60438149808918832422008-08-13T20:23:00.000-04:002008-08-13T20:23:00.000-04:00I believe the one concept that applies to ESPN the...I believe the one concept that applies to ESPN the best is The Peter Principle: "In a Hierarchy Every Employee Tends to Rise to His Level of Incompetence." With few exceptions, such as Bestwick, Jarrett, and Petree, one would be in a quandary to select many others associated with ESPN's motor racing broadcasts-on or offscreen that do not fit this description. The best and most obvious example is Dr. Jerry Punch. The man has stood head and shoulders above his peers in his former job description for over two decades and some Einstein at ESPN decided he needed a promotion. This has been to his detriment and ours. We are on the second broadcast season now, cringing over every show, wishing somehow this decision would be undone. Deafness is screaming loud in Bristol, CT and no one there seems to show any concern. This example certainly underlines a statement I made on here recently about the phrase that keeps coming to mind. Total Disdain. Each and every broadcast of a motor contest by the clowns at ESPN reeks of total disdain for the motorsports crowd. There appears to be no end in sight.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com