Ummm, HELLO ESPN???

[Butch]

Every year I read posts about NHRA being preempted by ESPN. When are all of you going to learn that drag racing is a third if not fourth class citizen to all other sports?

The only thing ANY television station listens to is advertising dollars!

If you seriously want to put an end to being preempted someone needs to organize a serious effort to boycott those companies that advertise on ESPN. Then write letters to these companies explaining why they are being boycotted and that if they apply pressure on ESPN not to preempt NHRA programming the boycott will stop.

Until some type of action is taken as a group expect to be preempted at anytime for any reason from girls stick/ball sports to water polo and everything in between.

 

[Jenn]

Every year I read posts about NHRA being preempted by ESPN. When are all of you going to learn that drag racing is a third if not fourth class citizen to all other sports?

The only thing ANY television station listens to is advertising dollars!

If you seriously want to put an end to being preempted someone needs to organize a serious effort to boycott those companies that advertise on ESPN. Then write letters to these companies explaining why they are being boycotted and that if they apply pressure on ESPN not to preempt NHRA programming the boycott will stop.

Until some type of action is taken as a group expect to be preempted at anytime for any reason from girls stick/ball sports to water polo and everything in between.

Don't be talking sensible like that. It hurts peoples feelings around here.

 

[cantdrive55]

You're right, what was I thinking tuning in to see NHRA at the scheduled time only to find yesterdays womens softball during a rain delay of todays game! If it were a live game I could understand, but a taped game from yesterday is a bit assinine

 

[mrbob55]

I drove 6 miles into town, my office in town has cable, after an hour I gave up and came back home...... Having more fun tracking Connie and Doug as they fly home from the race on FlightAware, in 5 minutes their plane will be going over my house, if it wasn't for the clouds I'd be able to see them.

 

[CrewGuy]

I drove 6 miles into town, my office in town has cable, after an hour I gave up and came back home...... Having more fun tracking Connie and Doug as they fly home from the race on FlightAware, in 5 minutes their plane will be going over my house, if it wasn't for the clouds I'd be able to see them.

How do you get the plane #s?

 

[Bob]

Every year I read posts about NHRA being preempted by ESPN. When are all of you going to learn that drag racing is a third if not fourth class citizen to all other sports?

The only thing ANY television station listens to is advertising dollars!

If you seriously want to put an end to being preempted someone needs to organize a serious effort to boycott those companies that advertise on ESPN. Then write letters to these companies explaining why they are being boycotted and that if they apply pressure on ESPN not to preempt NHRA programming the boycott will stop.

Until some type of action is taken as a group expect to be preempted at anytime for any reason from girls stick/ball sports to water polo and everything in between.

Fact #1. Live events will always preempt taped events.

Fact #2. Boycotting companies that advertise during drag racing coverage to try to change fact #1 won't change fact #1, but it might reduce the number of companies willing to spend advertising dollars during drag racing coverage.

 

[jackass]

funny side note... here in Richmond County NC... the Feds are investigating possible descrimination against the softball team.... aparently none of the high school booster give a crap about them so their equipment is out of date and broke and blah.. blah.....lol...but the baseball and football teams deal is dang near pro level.....lol.... read it in the local paper....

shows we aren't the only ones that could care less about softball....


Billy

 

[none]

Fact #1. Live events will always preempt taped events.

Fact #2. Boycotting companies that advertise during drag racing coverage to try to change fact #1 won't change fact #1, but it might reduce the number of companies willing to spend advertising dollars during drag racing coverage.

i agree with your facts but I think the problem people have is with the rain delay switch to an old game. At that point, a crawl across the bottom saying softball game in rain delay and showing the drag race would have been the better choice................

 

[Sean D, shondoo]

i agree with your facts but I think the problem people have is with the rain delay switch to an old game. At that point, a crawl across the bottom saying softball game in rain delay and showing the drag race would have been the better choice................

Absolutely, Mel. This should've been an absolute slam dunk and ESPN dropped the ball, period.

Sean D

 

[Johnny Mopar]

Plain and simple...this is all about Marketing revenue to ESPN. The network will run programming with the most promotional value (advertising revenue). What we all saw yesterday was that women's softball sells more advertising dollars for ESPN than Drag Racing does. If our product were worth more to them, the softball game would have been delayed, not the racing.

This is a basic fact in the broadcasting industry. I've been in the Radio industry for 26 years and have seen this in our industry as well. When Drag Racing's value goes up we won't be pre-empted for anything...including softball games. One previous post suggested boycotting the advertisers, that only makes the situation worse. Let's do as MUCH business as we possibly can with the companies that market their products and services during race coverage. As we drive their revenue they'll invest more in race coverage. That's the ultimate scenario for all of us.

 

[flapjack]

Plain and simple...this is all about Marketing revenue to ESPN. The network will run programming with the most promotional value (advertising revenue). What we all saw yesterday was that women's softball sells more advertising dollars for ESPN than Drag Racing does. If our product were worth more to them, the softball game would have been delayed, not the racing.

This is a basic fact in the broadcasting industry. I've been in the Radio industry for 26 years and have seen this in our industry as well. When Drag Racing's value goes up we won't be pre-empted for anything...including softball games. One previous post suggested boycotting the advertisers, that only makes the situation worse. Let's do as MUCH business as we possibly can with the companies that market their products and services during race coverage. As we drive their revenue they'll invest more in race coverage. That's the ultimate scenario for all of us.

But how will they know the revenue comes from drag racing fans? I like your idea, but unless they know it's us that is increasing their revenue, we'll be in the same position. I think this is one of those times when writing a positive letter/email to the advertiser is a good idea. This would be akin to a grass roots movement.

 

[none]

I drove 6 miles into town, my office in town has cable, after an hour I gave up and came back home...... Having more fun tracking Connie and Doug as they fly home from the race on FlightAware, in 5 minutes their plane will be going over my house, if it wasn't for the clouds I'd be able to see them.

WOW!!!!! That must peg the old excitement meter!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[willy]

I guess I'll be the only one that doesn't b!tch.

The broadcast was in its entirety..albeit a little late..but still early enough for me to watch it. If it was scheduled for 8 or 9pm and ran that late..I would have to record it.

Sh!t..gave me some time to spend with the family..instead of holing up watching drag racing in prime time.

I guess I just don't get the constant whining..and OH..I saw this one coming.

 

[Johnny Mopar]

But how will they know the revenue comes from drag racing fans? I like your idea, but unless they know it's us that is increasing their revenue, we'll be in the same position. I think this is one of those times when writing a positive letter/email to the advertiser is a good idea. This would be akin to a grass roots movement.

When the TV audience for Drag Racing is larger, ESPN will be able to charge more for commercial time. When that happens we'll be prioritized over women's softball. You can write all the letters you want to the advertisers but it's ultimately the network's choice of what airs first. Any network will prioritize programming that commands the highest unit (commercial) rate.

I'd rather be on ESPN, even if we're second tier programming, than on Speed or any other lesser network. When we get coverage on ESPN it reaches people outside our sport and helps grow our sport. We're better off there than on any other channel.

 

[Bullard Anderson]

ESPN is in the business of broadcasting sports which are sometimes live on Sunday's. Things happen. Yes softball, baseball and soccer can have "oildowns" too. You can still count me in the section of folks that are still very very thankful that there are 3 hours devoted to the NHRA on ESPN2 on Sunday. So I have to wait 30 mintues to 1 hour! Big deal.

 

[flapjack]

When the TV audience for Drag Racing is larger, ESPN will be able to charge more for commercial time. When that happens we'll be prioritized over women's softball. You can write all the letters you want to the advertisers but it's ultimately the network's choice of what airs first. Any network will prioritize programming that commands the highest unit (commercial) rate.

I'd rather be on ESPN, even if we're second tier programming, than on Speed or any other lesser network. When we get coverage on ESPN it reaches people outside our sport and helps grow our sport. We're better off there than on any other channel.

OK, your argument makes sense. What do you propose to get more viewers to watch drag racing? It is a catch 22. We don't get a better time slot until we have more viewers, but we won't have more viewers until we have a better time slot, reaching viewers outside our sport notwithstanding.

 

[mick]

OK, your argument makes sense. What do you propose to get more viewers to watch drag racing? It is a catch 22. We don't get a better time slot until we have more viewers, but we won't have more viewers until we have a better time slot, reaching viewers outside our sport notwithstanding.

i think the sunday timeslots are very good considering same day tape delay.
some events air have aired as early as 3-4pm, some as late as 9-10pm,
but most fall in the 6-7pm slot.

i think additional viewers would be bonus; what nhra should focus on is
maintaining the rating points they currently hold and just produce the best
television product they can.
nhra will never be mainstream (i.e. nascar) - it is a niche' sport/entertainment
always has been, always will be - pay espn to broadcast your races, wait
for softball delays and as john c. stated be happy it is on espn and broadcast
to their national audience

 

[mike]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. GET OVER IT!!!

We should really just save dozens of old posts and just cut and paste when it comes to this discussion. Same ****, different day. BORING!!!

 

[Kris]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. GET OVER IT!!!

We should really just save dozens of old posts and just cut and paste when it comes to this discussion. Same ****, different day. BORING!!!

I thought we had settled all this. If you record the coverage, set your recording medium of choice (in my case a DVR) to record at least an extra hour if there is any kind of live event on before the finals.
If you watch it when it's on, be sure to have a pitcher of margaritas mixed and ready prior to start time and some snacks to help pass the time.

My only problem was I didn't set my DVR, hubby did, so I didn't get to watch the end of it but that's OK. Ish happens.

Besides, didn't NHRA renew its contract with ESPN last year? So, we have to deal with it whether we like it or not. For a while.

I'm so busy with the baby these days anyway I DVR it more often than not. Just factor in at least an extra hour on the tail end just in case. Problem solved. As much as it can be solved from our end of things.

 

[mw6789]

Where have you gone Steve Evans, Ed Bruce, Brock Yates, American Sports Cavalcade, Diamond P Sports, TNN, a nation turns its lonely eyes to you...whoohoohoo.....