So how did NASCARs new television package with FOX, TNT and ESPN/ABC do in its first year and what should change?

Last season (2007) marked the first season for NASCAR’s new television package that featured three networks covering all 36 Nextel (Sprint in 2008) Cup Series races, first up was FOX that televised the first 13 races from the Daytona 500 to the 400 miler Dover race. The second network was TNT that televised the next 6 races which included the debut of TNT’s wide-open coverage that ment with difference of opinion. Finally, the third network to throw in to this television coverage was the return of ESPN and ABC that televised the final 17 races including the 10 race chase that was all on ABC.

Now let’s be honest here, in all the time that FOX has been covering NASCAR, I have never really had a problem with there coverage. They could do without a couple of graphics on the screen and all three networks could change the look of the layout on screen, however nothing major with FOX, now I know why the win awards for there coverage.

Moving straight through the first 13 races including one of the best Daytona 500’s in history, we get to TNT’s 6 race coverage that was not what I expected. Believe it or not, I liked the wide-open coverage what was shown (with the help of the sponsors) during the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in July. The biggest thing I’ve noticed was the announcers on the booth, all I have really got to say is they need better knowledgeable announcers in the booth and remove the current two. While there at it, TNT needs to find a knowledgeable retired driver or crew chief to fill the role. Of course, less graphics on-screen at once would help in addition too.

Well, we finally come to what I consider the biggest headache for NASCAR fans, the ESPN & ABC final 17 race coverage. Now before I go on, I watch ESPN & ESPN2 and I have not really had any problems with there coverage including announcers and I’m talking about Baseball anf Football… go Red Sox and Patriots. With that said, first, I see that the network has made some huge changes in there announcers, pit road reporters and on-air personel, so I will be interested in seeing what those changes do. I will go on record as saying that adding Nicole Manske (who previously worked on the SPEED report) is a welcomed treat to NASCAR Now and other ESPN broadcasts. So what then… there were two major issues that wake up just about everyone, the first, back in late August of last year, I wrote a piece on the ESPN & ABC NASCAR coverage that highlights what was wrong back then and to my surprise that the same is wrong now, in that column I wrote this:

(From my column called “While the racing on the track is one for the record books, can one say the same for ESPN’s NASCAR coverage?”) – “There’s really to much going on and qualifying..., you can’t even see the cars, all of the extra goodies are interesting, but not needed to enjoy the race. I have heard some describe the coverage as over board with way to many extras and I fully agree. I understand the air flow going over the car, but fans really don’t need to see it so many times during a race and the huge billboard over the grandstands thing during the Pocono race was just too much, the truth is, NASCAR fans just want good coverage with the fewest commericals, just tell us what’s going on without the extra stuff. At times I would say, mute the sound of the telecast and turn on the radio to MRN’s coverage, now that’s coverage done right.”

I’ll leave it at that, so after reading that, what could the second thing be, this one’s huge and for NASCAR (if there are reading this) this one could explain for the ratings drop… back in August 2006 I wrote a column called "My Take" Could there be a problem in NASCARs ABC/ESPN TV deal?” that asked the question, “Should NASCAR fans be concerned about the ABC (including ESPN) new TV deal for 2007 and beyond after this past weekends IRL IndyCar Series Michigan race ran over time and ABC cut off East Coast fans at 6PM for local news?” After that, originally I wasn’t all that concerned with this and to be honest living on the east coast of the united states, it wasn’t an issue at all. In all of the final 17 races, the broadcast on both ESPN & ABC never cut out once, meaning the race including the pre-show was always on when it was scheduled to be and they never left until the race and the post show was over, so with that, I didn’t experience what I am about to say…

According to numoroius fans and one very interesting article over at the Daly Planet, I came to be surprised that some ABC affiliates on the West Coast did in fact leave there NASCAR fans high and dry when it came to there pre-show and race coverage. You have to read this article over at the Daly Planet highlighting just what happened and besure to read the comments from readers which includes west coast fans that were cut off… imagine watching you favorite driver Clint Bowyer about to win his first Cup Series and with 5 laps to go (the broadcast goes over its schedules time) and its gone, no race coverage and you never hear from New Hampshire/ABC Coverage again, what are your next thoughts, mine I wouldn’t type.

The point here is, all affiliates whether its ABC, FOX or anyone else should be staying with the race to the end (you don’t have to televise the post-show if time has expired) and anything else is unacceptable period. And here I thought NASCAR’s biggest television broadcast problem was the late starting times on the east coast which in some cases had the races ending after midnight.
So what should change? The biggest thing that comes to mind for all three networks would be the on-sreen layout during the qualifying and race broadcasts… basically they should use the widescreen look with the running order either at the top or the bottom of the screen with no overlapping of picture with graphics that was you can always see the cars on-screen, this would be good for sponsors too.

What might the future hold? I am a strong believer that all 36 races plus the Shootout at Daytona and the All-Star race in Charlotte should be broadcasted on network television, also referred to as “free television”, however two things is starting to change my opinion on this and asking should NASCAR and the networks move all races to cable instead. Why? first fans and NASCAR want to see drivers show more emotion this year and in some cases that can’t be done on “free tv”, I mean NASCAR fined Tony Stewart for saying Bull S*** and Dale Jr. for saying something after winning the Cup race at Talladega a couple years ago.

The second reason behind this major move is more geared towards the affiliate stations that broadcast the races, if they can’t televise a simple race from pre-show though the entire race even if it goes into overtime due to rain delay or cautions (and if there’s time a post-show), then maybe cable is the answer. Cable can afford to go into overtime without problems of the local news. Think about it.

- Racedriven