I remember when Champ Car left SPEED saying they didn't want to be second fiddle to what had originally been planned as a 24-hour NASCAR channel. How'd that turn out?
I remember when Champ Car left SPEED saying they didn't want to be second fiddle to what had originally been planned as a 24-hour NASCAR channel. How'd that turn out?
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Originally Posted by -Helix-
Maybe it will work!! I hope you're right on all of that....
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Originally Posted by garyshell
Well I've had the channel for about three years now. It used to be the "Outdoor Life Network".
I've seen PBR, Hockey, A1GP?? and a whole lot of hunting shows!! Some Cage Fighting.
Dennis Miller has a sports show on it!
I have been watching Versus and before the name change the Outdoor Life Channel for years. The way they cover the Tour de France is absolutly stunning and I believe they will do justice to IndyCar. With the increased coverage for races and special programming, IndyCar could become their flagship. The viewers who watch programming on Versus are a wide demographic. From bike racing fans to Hockey to Cagefighting to Bullriding to the America's Cup, you cannot get much more diverse, and many of which I'm sure will flock to IndyCar. Now if they can just replace Marty and Scott.
The same network that went to a paid infomercial during NHL playoffs last year. Hockey fans were unable to see the fourth overtime in which Henrik Sedin scored the winning goal in Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals between the Dallas Stars and the Vancouver Canucks. Great game until they dropped the coverage during a 3rd OT timeout.Quote:
Originally Posted by JSH
Which only happened for certain people that had a specific cable provider because it was a mistake by the cable company, not Versus.Quote:
Originally Posted by pits4me
Nice try blowing it out of proportion.
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Originally Posted by jimispeed
I just looked at the Versus offerings on my channel guide. There is something called Racer TV that features motorcycle racing. There is another show called the Motorsports Hour that features "car crashes and other extreme motorsports action." There's a bicycle race on Saturday afternoon. There's a couple of shows that appear to deal with extreme fighting (or whatever you call it) and several bull riding shows. And I see that Hooter's Pro Cup is on at 4PM on Monday. But the overwhelming majority of shows listed from today through Sunday afternoon are hunting or fishing based programs.
I used to enjoy hunting and shooting quite a bit. When I watched OLN, I'd catch The World of Beretta. I bet Benelli's On Assignment and Winchester Legends are good shows, for those who enjoy hunting and shooting. Dangerous Game (the best hunt I was ever on involved a pack of wild boars and me with a .45 Magnum crawling on my stomach) and Monster Bulls sound good too. But these shows probably don't attract the typical racing demographic.
Maybe the IRL can gain sponsorships with Winchester, Remington, Beretta/Benelli, Cabela's and other sponsors that actually do seem to be big supporters of OLN/Versus programming. But I think that anyone who expects Versus to transform itself into "The IRL Channel" (or even a motorsports channel) in the next six months is likely due for a shock next season. The IRL is going to get more airtime on a channel that is available to fewer people than ABC/ESPN. How that plays out with sponsor exposure values and Nielsens is anybody's guess. But it goes without saying that sponsors will adjust their budgets (up or down) based on ROI, not fan emotions.
Since several here have claimed that the NHL/Versus deal is a sign of what (potential) success looks like, I am posting this to show that the NHL may see it one way and the players another. IMS/IRL may see the Versus deal one way. The teams and drivers may see it another way.
From Robin Miller:
Given the current state of things, I understand that it's not possible to just snap ones fingers and produce a better deal out of thin air. But part of the longer term risk has been illustrated by Miller in this snippet:Quote:
The National Hockey League, always a tough sell on television, opted to leave ESPN for Versus in 2005 because it felt abandoned just like IndyCar. Its feelings were soothed by the reported $70 million it was paid.
A few days ago, NHL Player's Association executive director Paul Kelly complained about Versus to The Sporting News, stating: "The players want the greatest exposure possible, particularly in the United States. We've got a majority of our guys living and playing in the U.S. and they are not satisfied with the nature of coverage at the national level in the U.S. While we would love Versus to rise up and become what ESPN is in terms of programming in homes, hotels and sports bars, the reality is they're not there."
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And several IRL owners voiced their understandable concerns about trying to sell a $3-6 million sponsorship package on a network primarily known for ultimate fighting that used to be the Outdoor Network.
Still, if it's not working, IndyCar can't afford to hang with Versus too long and TGeorge will simply get in line like everyone else on four wheels except NASCAR and buy time on network television.
I can't see the IRL ever having to pay for airtime, or any teams having to deal with sponsorship problems (any more than they already do that is).
The 500 has been and most likely always will be the reason the IRL has success in both of those departments. The 500 will still be on ABC, and ABC is still paying the IRL, and the sponors that are attracted to the IRL because of Indy will still be attracted to the IRL.
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Originally Posted by -Helix-
If all of that were true then why are they going to Versus in the first place???
Gary