Best News Yet!
Written by George Katinger · January 14, 2005
At least that’s the way I feel about it. “It” is the news that Speedtv will carry the balance of the Champ Car series racing broadcasts.
speedtv.com: SPEED Channel to Show Seven Champ Car Races in ‘05
And the best part is that out of the seven races Speed carries four will be live. Three races will be tape delayed until the next day (Las Vegas, Korea, and Australia). Which means that out of the 14 races this year 11 will be live events. Hopefully CBS and NBC will do a better job then the awful broadcasts that we endured with Spike last year. And no more Bronte Tagliani! Easy on the eyes, but tough on the ears.
You can be sure Speed will do a first class presentation as they do with all their racing productions. Watch out Tony, the near dead are continuing to gain strength before your very eyes! And when you couple the 7 live Champ Car races NBC and CBS carry with the added F1 races CBS and ABC will air, its an absolute open wheel bonanza for the fans this year.
Is it possible we have seen the bottom of the marketing trend open wheel racing has experienced through 2004? Hopefully these broadcasts will generate the kind of ratings the sport needs to beat back NASCAR’s continuing domination.
You’ll never beat back NASCAR unless they themselves screw up. Laws of Marketing 101: The Law of Leadership - the first player to appear in a category usually ends up being the number one player. I don’t mean the first player “historically.” I know they were racing in Indy before the NASCAR moonshiners learned to drive. I mean first player to become the 800 pound gorilla in the mind share of America. For the VAST majority of America (casual sports fans), auto racing = NASCAR. The only thing that will ever change that is if NASCAR itself does something incredibly dumb.
Open wheel racing still needs to consolidate somehow…no idea how that can happen now…but they should also focus on their niche - “racing fans.” NASCAR wants to be the NFL and is going for every American with a pulse…and is now looking towards Mexico as well. Open wheel needs to grab it’s niche but spread itself wider earlier (example: the rabid Champ Car fans in Mexico/Canada).
Oh yeah….PS - Champ Car on SPEED is AWESOME NEWS!!!
Marketing wise I agree with everything Josh says. (surprise!!) But the first step in gaining new fan interest is exposure. You can’t decide if you like something if it ain’t there to watch. Racing on broadcast TV is a huge marketing/exposure potential that Champ Car needs to exploit and follow up on.
I am looking for some point of sale maerial for the Champ car race in Edmonton Alberta. I am building a display around the race car theme in a Sobey’s store. Can you please tell me how to get a holdof some material
Thanks