The New NASCAR TV Buzzword Is "Convergence" - Updated 1/16/08

Last season, The Daly Planet talked about how the challenge of finding NASCAR video highlights and interviews anytime was being met by the Internet. Interestingly, it was not the TV networks or the big sports magazine websites that were stepping-up to meet this need.

In fact, it seemed that many of the "big boys" were mired in internal issues like joining a club or paying a small fee or even making users download a new media player. What NASCAR fans found out in 2007 in no uncertain terms was that the fans themselves were taking control of NASCAR footage and editing it...for each other.

Since the time that we drew attention to YouTube and other NASCAR video-hosting sites, the scene has exploded. One reason was the absence of original NASCAR TV programming during the off-season. Even with pre-season testing shows now underway on SPEED, it was only a late schedule change by ESPN that brought some older Daytona 500 highlight shows to ESPN Classic. Other than that, it was pretty bleak.

As many fans know, the popular website Jayski.com has undergone some changes since it was bought by ESPN. One early change was the addition of NASCAR video with links to ESPN.com. Now, we see that Jay has added a "comment option" on his news posts that links directly into the ESPN.com comments section. Things in Internet land continue to change where NASCAR content is concerned, and here is one reason why.

The situation is about to get even more interesting when SPEEDtv.com rolls-out a brand new look on February 6th. The Fox-owned network has always been struggling with its online philosophy, as this network has many of the same issues as ESPN. Both are hybrid TV networks that are unique in nature. There is no road map.

Just as we have seen with ESPN.com, the folks at SPEED have clearly made video and portable access the priority for their "new look" website. "We are creating the hub and definitive home for all motor sports on the web," said SPEED VP Kevin Annison. "SPEEDtv.com is the online motor sports authority and destination point for all motor sports fans on the web."

The method to Mr. Annison's madness is very clear. SPEED has more motor sports video of all kinds than any other network. By shifting the site to cater to the user with broadband access, SPEED is pushing the agenda of video-on-demand, user interactivity, and the ability to use hand-held devices to access the same content.

Listen to Annison's remarks on that topic. "This is just the beginning in the evolution of SPEEDtv.com and SPEED Interactive, where the environment is more conducive to broadband vertical initiatives and digital brand extensions for the linear network," he said. Yes, some people do talk like that in real life.

Step back for a minute and look at sites like ESPN.com, Jayski.com, NASCAR.com and SPEEDtv.com. Think about what they have in common. Look at the direction in which they are going and what they are investing time, money and technology in building. If you squint your eyes, it's easy to see. They all want to be your TV.

The term for this is "convergence." The definition of a technological convergence is "the modern presence of a vast array of technology to perform very similar tasks." We have websites wanting to be your video source, TV networks asking for your email, and telephones and hand-held devices that you can use to watch the entire technology battle unfold while group texting your fantasy racing club.

In 2008, nowhere will that battle be bigger than NASCAR. Daly Planet readers will once again be multi-tasking with a wide variety of devices that always paint a hilarious picture of fans at home on race day.

Think of the ways to get race info. The HDTV has the TV network video, the Sirius Satellite radio player has the audio, the computer has Raceview from NASCAR.com while the whole race is being recorded on the DVR or TiVo. Throw in a second TV on DirecTV's Hot Pass, texts from NASCAR buddies on the cell phone and Internet checks on several websites to see what everyone is talking about. The word for this mess might be "non-convergence." In some form, don't we all do it?

Eventually, the technology convergence will result in one device that can handle all of the tasks listed above. It might be an HDTV look-a-like that can toggle between any kind of digital source, and allow you to change sources by simply touching the screen or using a voice command. A big flat screen on your wall that can handle any audio, video, Internet, phone or any other function without blinking an eye.

In the meantime, thirty-one days out from the Daytona 500, NASCAR fans have something else on their mind. Checking on the Sirius contract, dusting off the computer keyboard, renewing their Hot Pass, cleaning the old shows off the DVR and trying to remember how they laid things out last season in the "NASCAR media room."

How will you be watching the Daytona 500 this year? Are you one of the many multi-taskers? If you are going to be viewing or listening to more than just the NASCAR on Fox telecast, can you tell us the reason why? Both the TV networks and the Internet guys are fighting tooth-and-nail for your time and attention. How are you going to "consume" the Daytona 500 this season?

Update: For a fascinating video glimpse of what is out there and on-the-way, click on this link and then play the video. How interesting!

Thanks for taking the time to tell us your thoughts on this topic. To add your comment, just click on the COMMENTS button below and follow the instructions. There is nothing to join and we do not want your email address. We just want to know how many buttons you will be pushing and on what device you will be typing as you watch the first Sprint Cup race of 2008.

Larry McReynolds Leads The Pack At Daytona

There might have been all-star drivers like Dale Junior and DJ on the track, but the real story of Monday's Pre-Season Thunder on SPEED was not out there turning left. He was seated up in the TV studio alongside host John Roberts. Much to the relief of many NASCAR fans, Larry Mac was back.

After a 2007 season that separated McReynolds from all the other NASCAR TV analysts in terms of information and dedication, he showed that 2008 will continue his dominance. Working on the Fox, TNT, and SPEED TV packages, Larry Mac seemed to be everywhere last season.

Few of us can forget his 2007 performance at Sonoma. Sick as a dog, perched on the TNT infield studio set next to the track and with his voice fading, McReynolds hung-in there as the voice-of-reason and guided viewers through the chaos of the race.

Monday at Daytona, it didn't take McReynolds thirty seconds to get back to his hyper-excited ways. He had all the info from testing right down to the fine details. This was a bit of a shift from Jeff Hammond, who tends to offer more of a commentary than McReynolds type of detailed explanations.

It is this combo of personalities that serves them well when they work with Steve Byrnes on TV assignments like Trackside, practice and qualifying shows. Alone at Daytona, they offer the same information in two very different styles of delivery.

McReynolds had Kevin Harvick as an in-studio guest, and did a great interview with this owner/driver. As fans know from last season, once testing is over the public access to the Sprint Cup drivers is limited. So far, it has been great to see these high-profile figures in an informal and relaxed setting. One thing is clear, they like to talk with McReynolds.

This week, Truck Series pit reporter Adam Alexander is covering the garage area. Monday, he tried to interview Tony Stewart right out-of-the-box. Things did not go well. Stewart was pleasant, but gave Alexander absolutely no information and looked like he would rather have a sharp stick-in-the-eye.

McReynolds did a great recap of the new COT issues at Daytona in terms even the casual fan could understand. This type of reporting is where he shines, especially when he can be in the garage with examples of what he is talking about. He certainly did set the stage for some interesting issues to appear later in testing.

This higher-profile TV presence for SPEED at Daytona has also served to promote the Rolex 24 and even the Barrett Jackson Auction. Even while serving those purposes, the network has not forced the kind of "promo intrusion" that we saw with TNT.

In wrapping the show, all three SPEED personalities were on the set and presented the kind of top-notch appearance and professionalism that this cable network has been working hard to achieve for years.

So far, the 2008 season on TV has to be very pleasing to the networks, the fans and most of all...NASCAR. There is a lot riding on the next four weeks, and if SPEED keeps up this type of performance, it may be the perfect "ramp-up" to Speedweeks.

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Ken Squier Kept The Excitement High

As ESPN Classic continues its series of Daytona 500 highlight shows, fans on this Monday were treated to "The Dean" of American motorsports, Ken Squier.

The 1979 race was shown in two hour edited form without the intrusive graphics of other ESPN Classic offerings. The network let this program stand alone to pay homage to the incredible content and the outstanding announcing that thrilled viewers decades ago.

Back then, Squier had to do some smooth talking to get CBS to carry the race live. "It was a tough sell," Squier said. "There was a general feeling that this was more of a novelty thing and that it wouldn't work on a national level."

Needless to say, it did. Squier wound-up announcing every Daytona 500 from that original 1979 race right up to 1997. He then passed the baton to Mike Joy, who follows closely in the Squier mold of continually updating the action and keeping the fans interested throughout the event.

Now in his seventies, Squire is a proud Vermont resident and still owns and operates the Thunder Road Speedway in Barre, VT. He has won many awards in his life, is a member of several Halls of Fame, and continues to have an impact on the national motorsports scene.

The 1979 race allowed viewers to watch the very different style of racing in those days, despite the high speeds. Everything seemed to be a bit more casual, from the safety workers to the track security. The one thing that was not casual was the racing.

Squier was a master at informing the viewers about an individual driver while simultaneously providing the call of the race. His frequent reference to hometowns, rookie status, and past racing experience layed the groundwork for the focus on the individual drivers in this personality-driven sport.

While the last lap of the race became a classic, it was Squier directing the cameras from the announce booth that put the focus first on Richard Petty and his crew, and then turned the attention to the continuing action between Cale Yarborough and the Allison brothers on the backstretch.

Once again in this program, viewers saw much wider camera shots than we see in today's NASCAR coverage. The old CBS style almost never showed just one car, and rarely put the focus of the telecast on the leader. Squier understood that every story needed to be updated, and used his pit reporters in just that way.

It was clear throughout the program that Squier was totally prepared, and his background information on even the drivers not running up front made it clear that he valued everyone in the race equally. He made it clear that he appreciated their effort, and not just their results.

This series continues on ESPN Classic next Monday with the 1990 race which saw heartache for the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. and unexpected success for Derrike Cope. Once again the program will be in a two hour format for those of you recording this series.

In the middle of the off-season, with testing at Daytona in-progress and the anticipation of a new season building, it was quite fitting to hear the voice of Ken Squier at the speedway bringing home another flag-to-flag telecast.

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