Re: NHRA boots ESPN!
 

Other than the Triple Crown, how much horse racing do you watch on TV?

Jim

Re: NHRA boots ESPN!
 

TV set aside, to really boost interest in the drags bring in on track betting. Give fans a chance to get some skin in the game.

How many ways could you work this?

Storms v Boyce:
win
MOV
package
reaction time
dial to ET

Dale

Re: NHRA boots ESPN!
 

None but that is several hours of TV time and about 2 minutes of actual horse racing. The rest of the time is just talking heads analyzing what is going to happen in the actual race. Not a good comparison. Drag racing if properly presented is a great show. The HRA's need to think outside of the box to grow the sport and the fan base.

Re: NHRA boots ESPN!
 

Re: NHRA boots ESPN!
 

Now that looks like they did a good job with the new package.

Jim

Re: NHRA boots ESPN!
 

The National Hockey League increased their revenue ~60% and just about doubled their average TV ratings since they ended their deal with ESPN. I know that's miles away from an apples-to-apples comparison but I remember the same concerns being voiced back then; I mean how could you take a sport seriously when their primary TV deal was with what was then called the Outdoor Life Network!?!?

I guess what I'm getting at is, I can't see how this could be any worse than the ESPN deal was. Alan brings up a good point about the time slots and pre-emptions. It's true that a lot of people may not have FS1, but at the same time, I don't think a lot of people are watching broadcasts that start at 2am or are delayed for upwards of an hour because of some football hall of fame speech that's already being shown on ESPN News.

Re: NHRA boots ESPN!
 

Drag racing is about the cars and the drivers just as much as it is on the on track action.
Perhaps showing everything live isn't the best answer.

Its about the guys that thrashed in the evening all week to change transmission or rear-end then drove for 6 hours from a different part of the country through a blinding rain storm to wait in line to get into the track.

They have to find a way to have a lot more stories like that in between the pro runs, classes, and clean-ups and unfortunately, it takes a lot of production and editing to do that, so showing everything live.
Merely interviewing the pros in this dead time has gotten old really quick. There are may personalities at a drag race other than the pro's that can make the TV viewing a lot more interesting, but it will be a challenge to do more on TV with the intent of keeping everything live or even tape delay with only 3-4 hours of editing.

Re: NHRA boots ESPN!
 

I remember the Wide Would of Sports

They did a Summer Nationals and it was exciting.
But it was all edited by the time it was shown on TV.

They showed all the classes and they did interviews with fans, management and Drivers.

Not one of them mouthed off all their sponsors in a 15 second burst.
They showed the drivers working on their cars.

Cameras were mounted on a pole or crane. Which allowed them to use different shots. Even was able to show the handicap between the cars in the different classes and why the cars were being handicapped.

Showing Drag Racing live for the viewer is not the way to go.
Their has to be a mental and excitement build up for the viewers.

Pinks was successful adding the human element the experience the racers go through. Despite a lot of the fans in the bleachers being racers themselves. They had a packed attendance.

Re: NHRA boots ESPN!
 

[QUOTE=Dan Fahey;476500]I remember the Wide Would of Sports

They did a Summer Nationals and it was exciting.
But it was all edited by the time it was shown on TV.

They showed all the classes and they did interviews with fans, management and Drivers.

Not one of them mouthed off all their sponsors in a 15 second burst.
They showed the drivers working on their cars.

Cameras were mounted on a pole or crane. Which allowed them to use different shots. Even was able to show the handicap between the cars in the different classes and why the cars were being handicapped.

Showing Drag Racing live for the viewer is not the way to go.

I agree Dan......sadly, live drag racing does not and probably will not make for great TV. There is too much downtime for today's viewers and the announcers can only talk about so much.

Everyone (pros too) would have to be able to hot lap to keep fans interest live.

Re: NHRA boots ESPN!
 

Pinks was:

Drama
Conflict
Tension
Resolution

That's why it was successful.

Jim