TO ESPN (1 Viewer)

[Sean D, shondoo]

have any of you watched tractor pulling? I tape the show, they show all the tractors and give a good talk on them. They show 1 class in 30 minutes, but you see every one pull. NHRA should do the same and cut out all the talking about Shoe and Force there is other race cars running out there

Yeah, but are they on ESPN, Lanny? The only tractor pulls I can find worth watching are on MAVTV. And how delayed are the broadcasts from the event? I agree that the coverage is better, but it's not on a network with the viewership of ESPN, so I'm sure there are concessions that have to be made by NHRA to get their product on ESPN with the money they can afford to pay. Maybe I've got that wrong, but that's what I've seen.

Sean D

 

[DrRocket]

have any of you watched tractor pulling? I tape the show, they show all the tractors and give a good talk on them. They show 1 class in 30 minutes, but you see every one pull. NHRA should do the same and cut out all the talking about Shoe and Force there is other race cars running out there

I don't even GET MAVTV, so I don't watch tractor pulling, or anything else on MAVTV. And that's the point. MAVTV doesn't have anywhere NEAR the availability of ESPN. That's something to keep in mind for those of you who think NHRA should move there.

 

[PJ]

Yes NHRA gets what they pay for but ESPN does seem to have a problem with scheduling. Live events run over, it happens, but the amount of run over prior to the NHRA broadcast seems higher than normal.

As for non live events, the Olympics, monster trucks and x-games are just a few events that are tape delayed (at least in part)

 

[Sean D, shondoo]

I don't even GET MAVTV, so I don't watch tractor pulling, or anything else on MAVTV. And that's the point. MAVTV doesn't have anywhere NEAR the availability of ESPN. That's something to keep in mind for those of you who think NHRA should move there.

As you can see by my post above yours, I would agree with you regarding the viewership of ESPN vs. MAV. But I'm not ready to completely concede that NHRA broadcasts would suffer greatly from a move to another network. Drag Racing, whether us die-hards want to admit it or not, is almost a niche market. It's never been what I would call mainstream like Cup has been over the years, nor do I ever think it will be. That said, I would venture to say that most, if not all of the folks that tune into the NHRA broadcasts week to week, tune in specifically to watch the races, so we're going to follow it no matter where it goes.

At that point the measurable becomes how much more viewership is attained OUTSIDE of the regular die-hards as a result of NHRA spending the money to put the broadcast on the sports network with the most reach. And I'm just not sure it's a measurable amount, per dollar spent.

Sean D

 

[barry]

I do not hate the NHRA. I'm one of their biggest supporters. Getting away from match racing and going back to NHRA was a easy decision for me. When I pull the last belt tight and walk away from my driver, my daughter and only child, her well being trumps any numbers that come up on a score board. The NHRA personnel, track conditions, mandatory safety requirements and safety safari are the best in any form of motorsports.
That being said, it's my right to be able to "bitch" about the TV coverage. If I can't afford to buy the best camera on the market, I buy one less expensive. When I go to use it I still expect it to work for me. If it does a inferior job of taking photos, or keeps malfunctioning, then I have a right to complain to the manufacture without them essentially telling me I got what I paid for. I don't know what NHRA pays ESPN for a product
in comparison to other sporting events. Maybe it is a less expensive camera price, but it should still work and right now the product seems to be way out of focus.
I could see where some people might grow weary of the complaining in regards to the TV coverage. I would also get tired of hearing about it if I had no vested interest in the sport. If I wasn't a dues paying member, if I didn't own a race car, if I didn't buy a ticket to a event, or pay $600.00 just to enter a national event, or just didn't really care about the future of the NHRA, than maybe I too would say stop your complaining. But if you are a member, if you go to races or if you participate, be it a 10 second bracket car or a 10,000 horse power nitro monster...you are the NHRA...and that give you the right to say that things could and should be better.

 

[JB3]

As you can see by my post above yours, I would agree with you regarding the viewership of ESPN vs. MAV. But I'm not ready to completely concede that NHRA broadcasts would suffer greatly from a move to another network. Drag Racing, whether us die-hards want to admit it or not, is almost a niche market. It's never been what I would call mainstream like Cup has been over the years, nor do I ever think it will be. That said, I would venture to say that most, if not all of the folks that tune into the NHRA broadcasts week to week, tune in specifically to watch the races, so we're going to follow it no matter where it goes.

At that point the measurable becomes how much more viewership is attained OUTSIDE of the regular die-hards as a result of NHRA spending the money to put the broadcast on the sports network with the most reach. And I'm just not sure it's a measurable amount, per dollar spent.

Sean D

I have to disagree with that statement to some extent Sean ... I would put myself in the diehard category. But I can assure you that if NHRA moves its TV broadcast to another network not included in my current cable package, I will not be investing additional $$ to move up a Tier for a bunch of additional channels I have no real use for. NO CHANCE !! As well, if my provider were to add MAV TV and it would be in a higher Tier that cost me more $$, not gonna happen.

Gotta believe I am not alone in this thought process. Even here on the Mater. Comcast is already into me for a ridiculous $185 monthly for Phone, TV, and Internet. Not willing to give them another nickel.

 

[Sean D, shondoo]

I have to disagree with that statement to some extent Sean ... I would put myself in the diehard category. But I can assure you that if NHRA moves its TV broadcast to another network not included in my current cable package, I will not be investing additional $$ to move up a Tier for a bunch of additional channels I have no real use for. NO CHANCE !! As well, if my provider were to add MAV TV and it would be in a higher Tier that cost me more $$, not gonna happen.

Gotta believe I am not alone in this thought process. Even here on the Mater. Comcast is already into me for a ridiculous $185 monthly for Phone, TV, and Internet. Not willing to give them another nickel.

I guess I should've clarified that..........

I TOTALLY agree, Jim. I doubt I would pursue and spend on a different programming package to include any new network that NHRA would ever move to. I just meant something as simple as changing the channel to MAV, or whoever instead of ESPN. If it's available on the channels I have, I'll watch it. It doesn't have to be on the almighty ESPN. That's all I meant.

Sean D

 

[mick]

a racing member of the nhra certainly has every rite to voice his or her opinions;
and hopefully those opinions are heard and sometimes acted upon for better
future results; however, the nhra is a sanctioning body providing a series and
facilities for independent contractor racers, much different than say the
nfl franchise league where the nfl always has the best interest of it's teams.

ala carte tv is coming soon i hope....
comcast and apple tv are rolling out test high-speed streaming programming.

 

[PJ]

I wonder if the tv changes that have been alluded to are taking it off ESPN and going completely online/streaming. While it will be hard to grab new fans that way it would be lower cost and less hassle. Ideally they can add a 1/2 hour weekly highlights show to ESPN or similar that would help push new fans to the online version.
Either that or in place of the TV coverage they would need to buy adds online and on TV networks that would promote it.

 

[vegasnitro]

I wonder if the tv changes that have been alluded to are taking it off ESPN and going completely online/streaming. While it will be hard to grab new fans that way it would be lower cost and less hassle. Ideally they can add a 1/2 hour weekly highlights show to ESPN or similar that would help push new fans to the online version.
Either that or in place of the TV coverage they would need to buy adds online and on TV networks that would promote it.

This online only model has not worked for anyone yet ... And it would instantly de-value the sponsorships of the teams. I doubt it will happen.

 

[TooTall999]

Everyone loves to complain about ESPN's coverage of NHRA...I say bring back the good old days...20 minutes once or twice a year on Wide World of Sports...

 

[Mike]

LOL David, so your old enough to remember those days like I am? ESPN has the viewer numbers, MavTv or Velocity not so much, I could upgrade for more $$$ for Velocity but can't even get Mav, and no I would not pay more $$$ just for 1stinking channel, I have a hundred now that I have
pay for that I don't watch.

 

[Bullard Anderson]

3 hours of drag racing on a silver platter. I'm not complaining. Yeah, sometimes it's a little behind the advertised air time. So what? Sometimes dinner is to, but that doesn't mean I'm not hungry! Great job by ESPN over the years. Going to be missed.

 

[PJ]

This online only model has not worked for anyone yet ... And it would instantly de-value the sponsorships of the teams. I doubt it will happen.

I initially thought that way too and to be honest still lean that way however; Netflix, Yahoo and other online sources have shown that they can be successful without going the traditional TV route. Of course the key is marketing so that people will look to those sources for the coverage, which is part of the reason they would need a regular 1/2 hour timeslot with highlights and interviews on a network. Obviously people already go the sites I mentioned for shows so it would be different for NHRA to make such a jump, I merely point out that it has been done.

Yes, I believe the ESPN family of channels offers the best opportunity to reach more people. But, if those opportunities are not being cultivated and turned into actuals then the possible numbers are meaningless. Constant time slots changes, programs being bumped and middle of the night viewings do little to help. I believe that the coverage itself is good, sure there are tweaks here and there but they are trying to appease so many different styles of fans that as long as they vary a bit, I can live with that. Better and more consistent coverage as well as some marketing is what I really want to see changed.

The only time I see ads for the next airing of a race is when I'm already watching one. You're preaching to the choir at that point, I should see them at other times. Sports Center covers all kinds of sports, unless we blow up or crash we get zilch. If they promote us on their via coverage, it gains more eyes and they can charge more for that coverage. Seems in their best interest to toss us a bone but maybe I'm missing something.

 

[vegasnitro]

Netflix is not comparable. Netflix has a whole suite of offerings that would interest many different people/demographics (movies, original programs, TV shows). It can be many things to many people. The NHRA has only 1 product to offer to 1 group, and that group is conditioned to receive this product 1 way (TV, ESPN). The economics of the nitro teams rely on this exposure on the biggest sports network in the world to justify their sponsorship packages. Before they would do the online only method, I think they would need to see significant numbers on the ESPN3 offerings that approach the TV numbers, and I don't think that occurred because of the cancellation of the Friday ESPN3 show. I am not saying it isn't possible to go to an online model only, I am just saying there would be lots of short term pain.

 

[PJ]

I agree Chris, short term issues/concerns and the right plan to make it work would make it a big gamble.

 

[Bullard Anderson]

Whatever the future holds isn't it safe to say the plans are in place and the broadcasting partner or mode of broadcasting has been secured. ESPN is not really an entity the NHRA would say goodbye to without knowledge of exactly where they are going. It's just a matter of time before we find out.

 

[WB_Strip]

I watch tractor Pulling on RFDtv