Programming wish (2 Viewers)

[FC138fan]

I know it's probably not going to happen but just a discussion starter here...

I am married with two (soon to be three) kids, and a homeowner. What this means, it that on weekends if I am not taking care of my kids, I am cutting the grass, fixing things on the house, or if I'm lucky enjoying somewhere with my family. I work every week day, and with two kids and a wife finishing her degree, I have very little free time.

I of course am a huge drag racing fan, but with my free time few and far between, I just don't have 5 or 6 hours to watch the drags. Even if I DVR it, I don't have time to skip past uninteresting parts to watch the big show (nitro and PS - let alone find time for alcohol or pro mod - which I would also enjoy).

I know this scenario is probably common with many older adults, probably a big chunk of the fan base. As a result, the 6 hours of drag races that take up space on my DVR usually get deleted by the end of the week because episodes of Dora the Explorer, Little Einsteins, or the sitcoms my wife watches take up too much memory.

I know the latter is a weak excuse, but my wish is the following:

ESPN put together an hour, maybe an hour and a half highlights show, perhaps only showing the full burnouts staging and backup sequence for the last 3 rounds. This way I could surely find an hour to watch the race, and keep up to date so when I go to Brainerd I'm knowing who's hot and who's not.

You could air this show at 2:30 am on Tuesday, or whenever, my DVR will find it.

I get my gossup and off track news on this website, so there is no need to broadcast these things in that recap show. Just show the racing.

Thank you!

 

[indidad- The Guy- Uncle Steve]

Great idea. But why not just make the original show 1-1 1/2 hours?

I don't need to see Hagan's explosion from 2 weeks ago. After all, it just got 100 bazillion views worldwide. I also don't need to see the Force's drive to the track.

Make the 7pm broadcast the hour and a half show, put all the fluff that consumes the other 2 hours on at 2am Tuesday.

 

[Chili]

I would love to see an 1 1/2 hour show with the final rounds being live. I think this would actually help the ratings. Only diehard fans like those here are going to watch the entire show.

 

[Fast16Racer]

I know it's probably not going to happen but just a discussion starter here...

I am married with two (soon to be three) kids, and a homeowner. What this means, it that on weekends if I am not taking care of my kids, I am cutting the grass, fixing things on the house, or if I'm lucky enjoying somewhere with my family. I work every week day, and with two kids and a wife finishing her degree, I have very little free time.

I of course am a huge drag racing fan, but with my free time few and far between, I just don't have 5 or 6 hours to watch the drags. Even if I DVR it, I don't have time to skip past uninteresting parts to watch the big show (nitro and PS - let alone find time for alcohol or pro mod - which I would also enjoy).

I know this scenario is probably common with many older adults, probably a big chunk of the fan base. As a result, the 6 hours of drag races that take up space on my DVR usually get deleted by the end of the week because episodes of Dora the Explorer, Little Einsteins, or the sitcoms my wife watches take up too much memory.

I know the latter is a weak excuse, but my wish is the following:

ESPN put together an hour, maybe an hour and a half highlights show, perhaps only showing the full burnouts staging and backup sequence for the last 3 rounds. This way I could surely find an hour to watch the race, and keep up to date so when I go to Brainerd I'm knowing who's hot and who's not.

You could air this show at 2:30 am on Tuesday, or whenever, my DVR will find it.

I get my gossup and off track news on this website, so there is no need to broadcast these things in that recap show. Just show the racing.

Thank you!

Yep! That would be great! Same reasons as you.

Frustrating that they rush through round one of Pro Stock and then show Hagan's deal over and over and over....

Problem is, what you describe appeals to us hardcore race fans and they are trying to attract viewers that tune in to see the explosion or wreck...

 

[Rat]

I know it's probably not going to happen but just a discussion starter here...

I am married with two (soon to be three) kids, and a homeowner. What this means, it that on weekends if I am not taking care of my kids, I am cutting the grass, fixing things on the house, or if I'm lucky enjoying somewhere with my family. I work every week day, and with two kids and a wife finishing her degree, I have very little free time.

I of course am a huge drag racing fan, but with my free time few and far between, I just don't have 5 or 6 hours to watch the drags. Even if I DVR it, I don't have time to skip past uninteresting parts to watch the big show (nitro and PS - let alone find time for alcohol or pro mod - which I would also enjoy).

I know this scenario is probably common with many older adults, probably a big chunk of the fan base. As a result, the 6 hours of drag races that take up space on my DVR usually get deleted by the end of the week because episodes of Dora the Explorer, Little Einsteins, or the sitcoms my wife watches take up too much memory.

I know the latter is a weak excuse, but my wish is the following:

ESPN put together an hour, maybe an hour and a half highlights show, perhaps only showing the full burnouts staging and backup sequence for the last 3 rounds. This way I could surely find an hour to watch the race, and keep up to date so when I go to Brainerd I'm knowing who's hot and who's not.

You could air this show at 2:30 am on Tuesday, or whenever, my DVR will find it.

I get my gossup and off track news on this website, so there is no need to broadcast these things in that recap show. Just show the racing.

Thank you!

I have the perfect advice. ESPN 3 replay. Of course you have to wait till the events ends, but you are in control of what you wanna see and never any commericals. You also get to Sportsman.

 

[Dave]

I would love to see an 1 1/2 hour show with the final rounds being live. I think this would actually help the ratings. Only diehard fans like those here are going to watch the entire show.

I'm as diehard as they come and I can't tell you the last time I actually watched a broadcast in full, but I WILL watch ESPN3 during most of the day because it's live. Sounds dumb, but in this age of instant media via twitter, or NHRA/dragracecentral.com giving instant round by round results or live audiocast, there's no point in watching knowing the outcome.

Unlike the old days when they had the 2 hour live ESPN2 show, and then a condensed 1 hour ESPN version, they finish all production and editing same day and move on. I think the only way to see a short show would be if they did a re-air and cut out round one. Or some hacked version of the original. Think of when they condensed them into the 1 hour espn classic shows, how much was missing. The problem is all the "fluff" pieces will still be in there as they would only take out from commercial break to commercial break. The cost of producing and editing 2 seperate shows would make it not worth it. Especially at a 2am tuesday time slot when nobody is watching.

 

[mick]

if the show is......
a) on too early sunday, or
b) have something planned sunday evening

i get results online from drc
it's a 3 hour show in about a minute

 

[FC138fan]

The ESPN 3 - I have to admit I'm not sure what they have to offer, but if it's on live I would have the same issues as I do today with planning weekends around the drags... it should be the other way around.

I was thinking of those ESPN 2 speedworld type recordings from the mid to late 90's would be perfect. They summarized qualifying, and first round, while showing the *highlights*. Then went into showing a tape delayed rounds 2, 3, and 4.

These would have to be created by editing the full 5-6 hour show and airing it later... perhaps Tuesday at 3am or whatever. But they should realize most people have DVR's, failing that a VHS tape recorder - and if they consistently air in a time spot - say 3am on Tuesday - you could set your VHS to it.

 

[Dave]

The ESPN 3 - I have to admit I'm not sure what they have to offer, but if it's on live I would have the same issues as I do today with planning weekends around the drags... it should be the other way around.

I was thinking of those ESPN 2 speedworld type recordings from the mid to late 90's would be perfect. They summarized qualifying, and first round, while showing the *highlights*. Then went into showing a tape delayed rounds 2, 3, and 4.

These would have to be created by editing the full 5-6 hour show and airing it later... perhaps Tuesday at 3am or whatever. But they should realize most people have DVR's, failing that a VHS tape recorder - and if they consistently air in a time spot - say 3am on Tuesday - you could set your VHS to it.

He was saying if you watch the ESPN3 replay, after the live version is over, then you can skip around to watch what you want to watch.

 

[FC138fan]

He was saying if you watch the ESPN3 replay, after the live version is over, then you can skip around to watch what you want to watch.

I can do that now with my DVR. I'm just annoyed with having to sift through everything to get to the racing. I thought it would be nice to have ESPN do the editing for me.

I guess it can be laziness on my part, but from me personally I end up deleting the entire broadcast because I can't find the time to watch the current show, and just feel that there's a whole bunch in there I don't want to watch.

I don't know anything about broadcasting or whats involved with cutting down the 5 hour show into an hour and a half, but it would be nice. Perhaps take the condensed version and archive them on a YouTube channel - There are a bunch of those speedworld races out there that I occasionally check out when time permits.

 

[Jim]

I can do that now with my DVR. I'm just annoyed with having to sift through everything to get to the racing. I thought it would be nice to have ESPN do the editing for me.

Nick,

I'm sure you're trying to be positive here but - looking for ESPN or NHRA to respond to your particular problem - DVR overload etc - comes off being just a bit whiney.

The package we're getting right now (HD ESPN2 and live action Sunday and semi-live Friday via ESPN3) is betr than anyone could dream of three years ago.
In a world of shrinking numbers (unfortunate reality) and increasing production costs, ESPN and NHRA are doing an outstanding job!

 

[flapjack]

Definitely off topic, but when I read the subject line of this thread, I thought it was going to be about computer programming.

back to the regularly scheduled thread.

I watch ESPN 3 because I am single and have the time. But I understand the point being made. Skipping past crap (be it commercials or stuff you just don't want to watch) is a pain. I always end up going past the point I want to skip to, end up backing up, backing up too far, repeat with a smaller increment until I get it just right.

 

[mike]

I can do that now with my DVR. I'm just annoyed with having to sift through everything to get to the racing. I thought it would be nice to have ESPN do the editing for me.

the part about ESPN3 that works for me is it doesn't take up any space on my DVR, and they save the events for months...

but ya, it would be nice to have something like the American Sports Cavalcade version of the events to go along with the live show on ESPN3 and the "gossip show" on ESPN2

 

[Dave]

the part about ESPN3 that works for me is it doesn't take up any space on my DVR, and they save the events for months...

but ya, it would be nice to have something like the American Sports Cavalcade version of the events to go along with the live show on ESPN3 and the "gossip show" on ESPN2

I will happily take the ESPN raw feed and edit it into a hour/hour and a half with PSB show... IF! Dave McClelland does the voiceover on it.

 

[FC138fan]

Nick,
ESPN and NHRA are doing an outstanding job!

I agree, and if they had this show back in 1997 when I was still in high school I would be loving every minute of it. Being a working class dad my weekend time is tight, I just can't sit for a quarter of it watching all that they put on there.

My dad too, he's retired and has all the time in the world, but if the weather is nice he will be out doing yard work, or going to car cruises, or laying under a tree somewhere. He doesn't have a DVR so he misses the race entirely.

Another spin on it would be can you attract new fans by having them watch the 5 hour program of an event where the best part lasts under 4 seconds? Or can you get their attention by putting all the highlights into a short 1.5 hour show? Maybe the answer is to do the 5 hour program, again I have no idea. All I know is that it is just too much for me to watch.

I always end up going past the point I want to skip to, end up backing up, backing up too far, repeat with a smaller increment until I get it just right.

I have the same issues... I skip forward 30 seconds, which can skip over a run or two (depending on who's running). Its really tough when they embed a run inside an interview I'm not interested in.

I'd rather have a show where I don't have to skip because every 30 seconds is worth watching.

 

[Bullard Anderson]

Count me as the odd man out, or in I love the 3 hour shows at 7pm or at 8pm. Just fits what I've got going on.

 

[Larry]

I wish I had horses so beggars could ride !

 

[bing]

If you want 1 1/2 hour shows move to Australia! They always put the race on after some stupid stick and ball sport that always goes overtime. This week it was baseball next week who knows but I know it will happen again. As for the guy who cuts the show, he knows nothing about drag racing! Cut out round 1 of FC round 2 of TF and showed round 1 of PSM.

I would give my left one to live over there and get to see every race on tv as close to live as you guys get it and to go to as many races as I could afford.

You guys just dont know how good you have it!!!

 

[Rajunz]

Count me as the odd man out, or in I love the 3 hour shows at 7pm or at 8pm. Just fits what I've got going on.

Same here, I love the broadcasts as they are, all of it, the human interest stories as well as the racing.

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Count me as the odd man out, or in I love the 3 hour shows at 7pm or at 8pm. Just fits what I've got going on.

Me too. I remember when we got 40mins. a year. Yes per YEAR. (Wide World Of Sports.) I could never have dreamed of the amount of coverage we get today. With the DVR's we now have you can make the show as short as you want. Please don't wish away my hours of coverage. Thanks.