Nick F40 Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 Welp, looks like you lost another fan, along with thousands. Seriously? they can show extensive coverage of practice, qualifying, Shootout, Duels and the ungodly amount of hours for Barrett Jackson, but they can't show it on Speed or other channels. Wow americas losing it with motorsports, especially for a series that's more american than nascar and wants more viewers... What if the Superbowl or the Daytona 500 was only live online?
ra7c7er Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 It's not ALMS's fault. Nascar has been pushing them out for a few years now. Ever since ALMS started gaining in popularity Nascar has been trying to kill them. Nascar made the new deal with Speed only if Speed would end coverage of ALMS. Nascar didn't think anyone else would pick them up. Don't get on ALMS for what Nascar is doing at least ALMS is trying with the online coverage. Nascar won't do that.
highway Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 I noticed the extensive coverage of the 24 Hrs @ Daytona or the fine coverage of F1 didn't make you hate list for Speed, or did you just forget them? There are many racing fans who like ALL forms of racing, I'm one of them. I watch every race of NASCAR, F1, IRL, and I also watch NHRA and the ALMS on occasion. I also find Barrett Jackson interesting to watch for model ideas and/or reference. If you don't like the programming, there is other channels or the off button. In my case, I pay $7.99 EVERY MONTH for a sports package where Speed Channel is the ONLY channel I have any interest in, all the other stupid sports channels like NFL Network, the other college sports and I think even a tennis channel have NEVER been on my TV. That's just my two cents worth.
Nick F40 Posted February 18, 2011 Author Posted February 18, 2011 (edited) It's not ALMS's fault. Nascar has been pushing them out for a few years now. Ever since ALMS started gaining in popularity Nascar has been trying to kill them. Nascar made the new deal with Speed only if Speed would end coverage of ALMS. Nascar didn't think anyone else would pick them up. Don't get on ALMS for what Nascar is doing at least ALMS is trying with the online coverage. Nascar won't do that. Oh, I know, I know I like racing too but ever since Speedvision went off it just went downhill quickly. Not all of us have HD Theater or can get MotorsTV or Eurosport. They are going to lose fans and viewers garaunteed! I should have to have the option of other channels or off, they should cater to the fan for showing live and full coverage. and trust me, I know about the horrible coverage of Grand Am and worse for the real race series, the Continental series and the F1 is getting better I must say but even with that. Edited February 18, 2011 by Nick F40
ra7c7er Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 I noticed the extensive coverage of the 24 Hrs @ Daytona or the fine coverage of F1 didn't make you hate list for Speed, or did you just forget them? There are many racing fans who like ALL forms of racing, I'm one of them. I watch every race of NASCAR, F1, IRL, and I also watch NHRA and the ALMS on occasion. I also find Barrett Jackson interesting to watch for model ideas and/or reference. If you don't like the programming, there is other channels or the off button. In my case, I pay $7.99 EVERY MONTH for a sports package where Speed Channel is the ONLY channel I have any interest in, all the other stupid sports channels like NFL Network, the other college sports and I think even a tennis channel have NEVER been on my TV. That's just my two cents worth. The Rolex 24 hour is licensed to Speed for 10 years. It fell outside the contract that Speed signed with Nascar. F1 has nothing to do with ALMS. Honestly Nascar could care less about F1. We have to face it no series will ever get the coverage Nascar gets until Nascar either somehow fails or someone can put millions into another series. It just won't happen, Nascar won't let it happen. I like Speed channel sort of. Honestly the reruns of Monster Jam are getting old and the abundance of Car shop this and that is getting to be annoying they are the exact same show with different hosts. On the Edge is one of the best shows they have but now they have cut that and put it in a horrible time slot. Speed is a good channel but nothing special. Nowhere near what Speedvision was. And don't get me started on Pass Time and Full of himself Rich Christensen with his show pinks. Ugh that guy is an A-hole.
935k3 Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 Welp, looks like you lost another fan, along with thousands. Seriously? they can show extensive coverage of practice, qualifying, Shootout, Duels and the ungodly amount of hours for Barrett Jackson, but they can't show it on Speed or other channels. Wow americas losing it with motorsports, especially for a series that's more american than nascar and wants more viewers... What if the Superbowl or the Daytona 500 was only live online? Nick if you go to this link you will see that the races are on ABC or ESPN2 although they are shortened an delayed. ALMS ScheduleI hope NASCAR fans understand why we hate NASCAR so much. Their greed will do them in someday.
MikeMc Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 If ALMS could attract advertisers...we would see more. The SCCA has been racing for years...where are they? If you watch Motorblock on the weekends, Courtney Hansen s Dad is a SCCA legend..who heard of Jerry Hansen...or Dick Trickle SCCA and ASA shorttrack...American Racing at its purest
Zoom Zoom Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 I'll certainly be "changing the channel" and doing something other than following ALMS any longer. Used to be my favorite racing, by far. With the ALMS getting the shaft by NASCAR/Speed/Faux News Corp and sponsors, they have set upon us the most annoying spin cycle ever. They have repeatedly badgered their true fans on Facebook by posting "our series is all rainbows and puppy kisses because of this awesome new TV/internet package! ABC! ESPN2! ESPN3! More people watch those networks! The actual press releases are bad enough. But the male bovine feces they are handing out to the fans is ridiculous. While completely glossing over the FACT that this year (unlike last year) there will be ZERO hours of live, televised coverage. ZERO. Last night on Facebook they had the audacity to say that the 12 hours of Sebring "only" had 8 live hours of TV coverage last year on Speed. This year the entire race and qualifying is online, and TV coverage is on ABC! What did they not say? Repeat after me,..ZERO live hours of televised coverage. VS 8 hours last year. On the medium that the vast majority of their fans prefer. Race summaries a day late on TV? No thanks, the coverage was horrible when they last did that. It's one thing to understand that the ALMS apparently cannot afford real, live, televised coverage due to whatever reason. Instead of humility, they put the spin cycle on high, and keep badgering fans who know better with fabricated "facts". That is what lost me as a fan. They can't be honest with us. They can't present what is going on in a way that I have any empathy for them. I only see the fact that I can't sit and watch the races as I have enjoyed them in the past. The ALMS is ignoring and glossing over the fact that they are a sinking ship, and they are clearly a part of the problem by their lack of taking their real fans seriously. They are treating their fans as if the fans are under-educated potential sponsors, people who might actually believe the spin put in front of them, in order for them to support the series...with their cash. Think the fans are unhappy now? I can imagine what the situation will be like in a year if they don't return to real, live, TELEVISED coverage. The package they have would work a lot better for the future, but right now it cuts out a lot of fans from seeing the racing they want to see in the medium that they want to see it in.
Casey Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 It's one thing to understand that the ALMS apparently cannot afford real, live, televised coverage due to whatever reason. I had no clue what "ALMS" even stood for until four posts in, so there's part of the problem- recognition. I couldn't name a single driver in ALMS, nor name any cars/teams/sponsors. SPEED Channel used to appeal to a wide variety of race fans, but no longer it seems. I used to love watching WRC coverage on Sunday nights, but that ended years ago. Maybe Indy/open wheel racing/whatever they are calling it now will win back some of the fans they lost in the CART/IRL battle of a few years ago, but other than that series and NHRA and NASCAR, the recognition just isn't strong enough for anything beyond hardcore fans to demand more coverage.
CAL Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 (edited) I had no clue what "ALMS" even stood for until four posts in, so there's part of the problem- recognition. I couldn't name a single driver in ALMS, nor name any cars/teams/sponsors. SPEED Channel used to appeal to a wide variety of race fans, but no longer it seems. I used to love watching WRC coverage on Sunday nights, but that ended years ago. Maybe Indy/open wheel racing/whatever they are calling it now will win back some of the fans they lost in the CART/IRL battle of a few years ago, but other than that series and NHRA and NASCAR, the recognition just isn't strong enough for anything beyond hardcore fans to demand more coverage. Peugeot? Audi? Porsche? Pontiac? Chevrolet? Acura? BMW? Mazda? Aston Martin Ferrari? Corvette? None of those ring a bell with you? Geesh, what rock have you been living under? Edited February 18, 2011 by CAL
CAL Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 I noticed the extensive coverage of the 24 Hrs @ Daytona or the fine coverage of F1 didn't make you hate list for Speed, or did you just forget them? There are many racing fans who like ALL forms of racing, I'm one of them. I watch every race of NASCAR, F1, IRL, and I also watch NHRA and the ALMS on occasion. I also find Barrett Jackson interesting to watch for model ideas and/or reference. If you don't like the programming, there is other channels or the off button. In my case, I pay $7.99 EVERY MONTH for a sports package where Speed Channel is the ONLY channel I have any interest in, all the other stupid sports channels like NFL Network, the other college sports and I think even a tennis channel have NEVER been on my TV. That's just my two cents worth. 24 of Daytona, different series. That is Grand Am racing, not ALMS.
Casey Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 Peugeot? Audi? Porsche? Pontiac? Chevrolet? Acura? BMW? Mazda? Aston Martin Ferrari? Corvette? None of those ring a bell with you? Geesh, what rock have you been living under? Of course I'm aware of those manufacturers, but does that mean I and others who don't follow the series religiously know they compete in ALMS? Nope. My point is this- ALMS is not very popular with the general public, so it gets little time devoted to it on live TV, even on a more racing/auto-themed channel such as SPEED TV. You may not like that, but there's a reason millions more people like and watch NASCAR, and why many channels carry NASCAR, Indy, and NHRA racing, and not ALMS. Popularity means viewers, which means advertising dollars, and eventually, money. Hate on NASCAR all you want, but they're #1 in recognition in the U.S., and even people living under rocks know who Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tony Stewart, and Jeff Gordon are.
ra7c7er Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 (edited) Of course I'm aware of those manufacturers, but does that mean I and others who don't follow the series religiously know they compete in ALMS? Nope. My point is this- ALMS is not very popular with the general public, so it gets little time devoted to it on live TV, even on a more racing/auto-themed channel such as SPEED TV. You may not like that, but there's a reason millions more people like and watch NASCAR, and why many channels carry NASCAR, Indy, and NHRA racing, and not ALMS. Popularity means viewers, which means advertising dollars, and eventually, money. Hate on NASCAR all you want, but they're #1 in recognition in the U.S., and even people living under rocks know who Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tony Stewart, and Jeff Gordon are. Actually ALMS and Grand-Am racing is the current fastest growing motorsport in the U.S. part of that reason in the last five or so years was the fact that it was Televised. ALMS races are televised all throughout Europe. If you have Speed Channel and haven't seen an ALMS/Grand-Am event in the last five years it's because you have decided not to watch it not because it isn't there. If ALMS could attract advertisers...we would see more. The SCCA has been racing for years...where are they? SCCA and ASA shorttrack...American Racing at its purest I have to disagree. With sponsorships from companies like McDonalds, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, etc. SCCA racing in the higher classes has become just another series with overpaid drivers. ASA is really cool but the only reason why they didn't fold is because Nascar bought them. If you want really racing head out to your local dirt track on a weekend and watch your neighbors who's family have probably been racing for 50+ years fight it out. So much more emotion on he track and honestly the talent is great too. Edited February 18, 2011 by ra7c7er
ra7c7er Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 (edited) Sorry double posted. Edited February 18, 2011 by ra7c7er
ra7c7er Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 (edited) Sponsors go where the most viewers & impact is, "overpaid drivers" or not, thus Nascar's appeal. For all the criticism you've leveled at Nascar, how about getting your facts straight. Nascar has never bought nor owned the ASA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Speed_Association Knowing what you're talking about can help a great deal in presenting your case. There's a reason ALMS is faltering on TV. No name recognition. Most people on the street couldn't name a single driver in virtually any racing series other than Nascar, & that's why the TV contracts for all of them are drying up. Hate on Nascar all you want. They had the good sense to promote the sport, the sponsors & the drivers. That's why they are the dominant form of motorsports in this country. The other organizations have nobody to blame but themselves. When USAC was having one of their typical squabbles among the executive committee, Big Bill France was asked why Nascar ran so smoothly. His reply? "Because I can hold all my meetings in a phone booth." When the other groups run things like Nascar, then they can become as big as Nascar. All I see is jealousy that the others can't compete. Part of the ownership group that runs ASA is also involved in Nascar. Ok so not all but part of. There is a lot of Nascar people and money in ASA, ARCA, and just about every other race series in the US. Just because it isn't advertised as such doesn't mean it isn't there. BTW the same ownership group that owns Nascar also owns partial interest in Grand-Am. Nascar owns more than you think they do they are just good at hiding behind shell companies. Kind of like WalMart. I watch all sorts of racing even Nascar. Heck I just spent an hour and a half watching announcers drone on about blah blah while nobody was practicing at Daytona. I will watch the truck race tonight and root for a couple of my friends. I just take it for what it is and Nascar is the Dictatorship of American racing and until someone with enough money and power steps up to fight them that's the way it will be. Edited February 18, 2011 by ra7c7er
Dragline Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 I cannot watch a NASCAR race. However, I do enjoy ALMS and the british road racing series. Watched one last week that had Cobras and Ferraris from the 70's in it. That was great. This is why I watch NHRA. Besides being the WORLDS fastest motorsport, it has the market cornered. I also enjoy F1 and Grand-Am. Bring back Can-Am. But seriously, road racing is where it's at. Bob
CAL Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 Part of the ownership group that runs ASA is also involved in Nascar. Ok so not all but part of. There is a lot of Nascar people and money in ASA, ARCA, and just about every other race series in the US. Just because it isn't advertised as such doesn't mean it isn't there. BTW the same ownership group that owns Nascar also owns partial interest in Grand-Am. Nascar owns more than you think they do they are just good at hiding behind shell companies. Kind of like WalMart. I watch all sorts of racing even Nascar. Heck I just spent an hour and a half watching announcers drone on about blah blah while nobody was practicing at Daytona. I will watch the truck race tonight and root for a couple of my friends. I just take it for what it is and Nascar is the Dictatorship of American racing and until someone with enough money and power steps up to fight them that's the way it will be. and it WILL be their demise.
Mark Brown Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 until someone with enough money and power steps up to fight them that's the way it will be. And if and when they do, that will effectively bring an end to a era, and probably an end to stock car racing as a successful nationally televised sport. Remember CART vs. IRL? Divide and conquer......
Zoom Zoom Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 When the other groups run things like Nascar, then they can become as big as Nascar. All I see is jealousy that the others can't compete. Jealous? That's funny Just because McDonalds is the most popular restaurant doesn't make them "the best" nor make me jealous that my favorite restaurants are nothing like McDonalds. Just because Walmart is the most popular store doesn't make them "the best" nor make me jealous that my favorite stores are nothing like Walmart. Great racing series don't have to have the same coverage as NASCAR, nor be run like NASCAR. It's not nice of NASCAR to play dirty to keep fans of competitive series from gaining popularity, nor is it nice when the ALMS lets their own PR nonsense make them unable to be honest with their own fans. Some of the best televised racing I've ever seen is SCCA runoff races (those aren't even live, but at least the outcome of the races isn't blathered all over common news sources). Some of the most boring is NASCAR and F1. I grew up around sports cars/autocrossing and going to races at Road Atlanta. NASCAR racing bores me to tears, as does any racing that simply turns left; I don't care for it, but if others do, that's fine w/me. I'm not jealous that sponsors go for NASCAR...I'm disappointed that they take the path of least resistance, the easy happy-meal approach to advertising. Sponsor $ is down across the board, it affects NASCAR less than other series, but even as lame as the ALMS is in terms of PR and being "connected" to their fans and their inability to attract enough sponsor $ to regain access to live TV coverage, their fan base is growing. They are having no problems filling seats at races, unlike NASCAR. You don't hear about "record attendance" at NASCAR races these days. You do if you go to Sebring, Road Atlanta, Laguna Seca, Road America. With less accessible live racing coverage, those numbers will start dropping. Vicious cycle; sponsors will likely be even less generous. But jealous of NASCAR...good one
Mark Brown Posted February 19, 2011 Posted February 19, 2011 Just because McDonalds is the most popular restaurant doesn't make them "the best" nor make me jealous that my favorite restaurants are nothing like McDonalds. Just because Walmart is the most popular store doesn't make them "the best" nor make me jealous that my favorite stores are nothing like Walmart. No, and I doubt anyone would argue that McDonalds and Walmart are "the best". They are, however, the most successful, and that is the goal if you're running a company. I'm not jealous that sponsors go for NASCAR...I'm disappointed that they take the path of least resistance, the easy happy-meal approach to advertising. It has nothing to do with the "path of least resistance" - it has to do with the path of greatest exposure and return. Sponsors, like every corporation, have shareholders to answer to, and the shareholders want their money used in the most profitable way possible. Now, I'm the last guy in the world to espouse profitibility over all else, and I personally feel that that mindset is at the foundation of most of this country's problems today, but if you're the advertising manager of a big corporation, your job is to get your name in front of as many potential customers as you can, and to do that, you want to play in the most successful game out there. I used to be a big NASCAR fan and I'm not much of one anymore, mostly because of changes they've made to the sport. But they're still hugely successful so who am I to argue? Obviously, the "benevolent dicatatorship" style of management has gotten them to where they are today and in virtually every form of motorsport where decisions have been made by committee, that form of motorsport has suffered as a result. The two most successful motorsports in the world are probably NASCAR and F1 and those are both run by "benevolent dictators". So, like it or not, it seems to work.
slantasaurus Posted February 19, 2011 Posted February 19, 2011 Last year I was doing a weekly podcast covering all forms of racing, Nascar, NHRA, Grand-Am, ALMS, and F-1. Even after covering those series I couldn't name 1 driver in ALMS right now. It's really easy to claim that your series is the fastest growing when you have small numbers of fans. If ALMS adds 1000 viewers, that is probably a few %, if Nascar or NHRA adds 1000 viewers, it is hardly a fraction of a %.
ra7c7er Posted February 19, 2011 Posted February 19, 2011 Last year I was doing a weekly podcast covering all forms of racing, Nascar, NHRA, Grand-Am, ALMS, and F-1. Even after covering those series I couldn't name 1 driver in ALMS right now. It's really easy to claim that your series is the fastest growing when you have small numbers of fans. If ALMS adds 1000 viewers, that is probably a few %, if Nascar or NHRA adds 1000 viewers, it is hardly a fraction of a %. Really I hope you are exagerating when you say you don't know any of them. There are many world famous drivers in the ALMS series. How could you have a pod cast covering racing and not claim to know anyone. that would be like me making podcasts of my girlfriends knitting club. Boris Said - one of the best American road course racers Sacca Massen - Former F-1 driver Jan Magnussen - Former F-1 driver Brabbam - Seriously if you don't know that name you shouldn't be report anything in racing. Patrick Dempsey - Really you don't know who that is because i bet your wife does Johnny O'Connell - The best American road course racer has won Le Mans 4 times and is the ONLY American driver to do so I could go on and on. And I highly doubt that 1000 fans is a few %. The last three years ALMS racing is the ONLY major form of racing that saw INCREASED attendance. Nascar has declined in attendance and so has IRL. Many the smaller organizations are seeing increases it isn't just ALMS. I don't mean that first part to sound like I am attacking you. It's just that you can't say you don't know any of them.
slantasaurus Posted February 19, 2011 Posted February 19, 2011 Patrick Dempsey - Really you don't know who that is because i bet your wife does I'm pretty sure my wife doesn't know who he is..........I don't even know who my wife is, I'm not married........
ra7c7er Posted February 19, 2011 Posted February 19, 2011 (edited) I'm pretty sure my wife doesn't know who he is..........I don't even know who my wife is, I'm not married........ That's probably a good thing. If you did know who your wife was and you weren't married you would probably be in a special home where they only let you build snap kits because you can't have glue or x-acto blades. Or you could be making a ton of money with psychic hot lines. Edited February 19, 2011 by ra7c7er
slantasaurus Posted February 19, 2011 Posted February 19, 2011 Really I hope you are exagerating when you say you don't know any of them. There are many world famous drivers in the ALMS series. How could you have a pod cast covering racing and not claim to know anyone. that would be like me making podcasts of my girlfriends knitting club. Boris Said - one of the best American road course racers Sacca Massen - Former F-1 driver Jan Magnussen - Former F-1 driver Brabbam - Seriously if you don't know that name you shouldn't be report anything in racing. Patrick Dempsey - Really you don't know who that is because i bet your wife does Johnny O'Connell - The best American road course racer has won Le Mans 4 times and is the ONLY American driver to do so I could go on and on. And I highly doubt that 1000 fans is a few %. The last three years ALMS racing is the ONLY major form of racing that saw INCREASED attendance. Nascar has declined in attendance and so has IRL. Many the smaller organizations are seeing increases it isn't just ALMS. I don't mean that first part to sound like I am attacking you. It's just that you can't say you don't know any of them. Didn't Jack retire last year ??? I seem to remember reporting that.........and isn't Boris a Nascar driver ???
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