When you’re reading this, TNT has ended it’s brief six race interlude.Their ratings success this season has been less than resounding. Part of this has to be laid to the overall decline of NASCAR’s TV numbers, but I think a large part has to be what they have been given to work with.
They kicked off their season with Pocono. I know that potential Broadway plays open in the sticks to hone the play before opening on Broadway, but we’re talking “The Bigs” here. They’ve had 60 years to do that. This just isn’t a race on many fans favorite list.
Pocono was followed by Michigan, Infineon, New Hampshire, Daytona and Chicagoland. The only race in this whole lame package that most fans look forward to is Daytona. These races are on the schedule and someone has to broadcast them, but TNT’s package would benefit from something like, say, a Bristol race.
TNT’s Pocono ratings were a 3.3, down from 3.4 last year. Michigan, 2.9, vs. 3.3, Infineon, 2.7, vs. 3.4, New Hampshire, 3.0, vs. 4.1, Daytona, 3.6, vs. 3.1, Chicago, 2.8, vs. 3.0. The only race showing better numbers, being Daytona.
I personally look forward to the race at Infineon, and would love to see it replace Talladega as a Chase race, but I know I’m in the minority on this. My reason is that road races are way more about driver skills, while plate races are more about aero preparation and luck.
TNT improved their on air lineup last season, by replacing Bill Webber, (his ego and his TV weatherman “’do”) with Ralph Sheheen. I particularly appreciate Kyle Petty’s honesty, and fresh perspective. I do think it’s a cruel twist of fate that with only six of 36 races that New Hampshire, is one of them. It still has to be difficult for him.
Adam Alexander did a credible job. Wally Dallenbach and Larry McReynolds rounded out a good team. After a steady diet of “Ole’ D.W.,” I was predisposed to like anyone, so this gang had a head start with me. Larry, particularly, seemed to work much better, out of Darrell Waltrip’s shadow.
One thing I noticed was that a couple of races seemed to be covered by way too many long shots, rather than the close shots we’re used to. That, coupled with the plethora of "one off" paint schemes made it difficult to tell the cars apart, and pick out my favorites.
I didn’t personally use TNT’s Race Buddy, (I still follow on Fox Trax) but it was, is? available. If you used it, what did you think of it? The best part of the coverage for me was the one race, side by side coverage. No more coming back from commercial to see the cars filing onto pit road, then to have to wait until they decided to show us the reason. Getting to see the pass for the lead, as it happened, etc. This is an idea honed in IRL, whose time in Cup is long overdue.
Another thing that seemed better, at least to me, was that they toned down the TNT promos. I was to the point that if I ever came face to face with Bill Engvall, I might have taken a poke at him.
A fact of NASCAR TV is commercials. These TV partners bought in at the absolute top of the NASCAR bubble, and are now stuck trying to make the best of it. With the TV numbers down, that means what they can charge for ads are down. That’s why we are seeing so many more of them now. The next TV package won’t bring in anything like the money of the current one, but for now, all the networks are in a big hole. One thing I fault NASCAR for is for apparently taking the money and running, giving up any say in how their product is presented on TV. If they’d kept a little more control, maybe we wouldn’t have subjected to annoyances like Digger.
The numbers for the current season are not encouraging. I’m not saying that the next TV package is going to wind up on Versus, but the dollars are going to be much more down to earth. I never really thought that the owners got their fair share of the last "home run" contract, so NASCAR, ISC- which is also NASCAR( not too many branches on that family tree!)- and Bruton’s SMI, look to be the biggest losers.
Speaking of Versus, their TV numbers for the final Stanley Cup, (that’s hockey, Son) game was a 4.7, with an 8 share. Let’s see what ABC is able to deliver for Homestead. Last year it was a 3.2, and a 6 share, with a combined 3.5 for the Chase, and this is Network, as opposed to cable.
The changes that NASCAR have made, seemed to go over well with the current fans, but don’t seem to be bringing back many defectors, or attracting new fans. Better racing is one important piece of the puzzle, but better TV coverage would go a mighty long way.
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
Until they get rid of the “IROC” cars nothing is going to improve, they can play with the format, tracks, etc. but until they completely use cars that you can identify with nothing is going to help.
Not only is it spec cars, but its boring racing that goes on for too long. A lot of people arent going to watch what has basically become a parade with only the last 30 laps that are meaningful. Theres too many other options today.
Plus the endless shilling of product, and the appearance that its a lifestyle show as opposed to racing.
There are too many retired drivers and crew guys in the booths. I’m tired of hearing about what “they” used to do. There retired. Move on!
@ zhills fan
My feelings on the generic, “one size fits all” car are a matter record. Unfortunately we’re stuck with it, until the folks in Daytona see the light. If the Z, is for Zephyr, you have one hell of a swap meet!
@ Russ
NASCAR absolutely MUST attract younger fans. Shortening the races is a good start. Points bonuses for leading at predetermined distances, eliminate the wave around, to make putting a lap on someone meaningful. They need to make changes that encourage drivers to race the entire race. Not just the last few laps. As for the most blatant shill, what can I say? Sports broadcasting at it’s very worst.
@ Janine
Retired jocks are a fact of sports broadcasting. In NASCAR, that’s drivers, & CCs. Some are head, & shoulders above others, but that’s life.
What really annoys me are the broadcasters with direct (ownership) ties to cars on the track. NASCAR TV needs to have a MUCH higher standard of professionalism. As it stands, it’s a bad joke.
Im not really a big NASCAR fan. But I think they would see their fortunes improve a bit if they switched the format of the races, driving 500 miles with no breaks is sure to turn into a snoozefest. Cars naturally drift apart during long runs like that, and the drivers feel like they can “coast” until the last 10 laps or so. I say make every race like the all star race or Bud Shootout. Divide it into four 20 lap segments, and eliminate slower drivers as the race goes on.
Here’s a rough idea of what im trying to get to
QUALIFYING HEAT
practice on saturday, fastest 44 cars are deemed worthy of attempting to make the main event
44 cars-10 laps
final 8 finishers are removed from race
1st segement-20 laps/36 cars
29th-36th place cars leave race
2nd segment 28 cars
3rd segement 20 cars
4th 12 cars
Teams could fuel/replace tires/make adjustments during the breaks. and caution laps would not count,
One thing in particular that drove me nuts (and to turn on Sirius Radio and mute the TV) was them constantly making Adam Alexander read promos while the race is on. I hate it when TV does that! Do they think we are so stupid? I guess they do. I really don’t like that at all, and I’m sure Adam was no fan of it either.
TNT’s coverage was actually the best so far.
DW’s antics have worn thin on me, and Mike Joy, who was once one of the best in the business, has turned into a DW-excuse machine.
ESPN’s group would be great with Kyle Petty in place of Rusty Wallace and Adam Alexander in place of that putz in the booth with Andy Petree and Dale Jarrett…. heck, it’d be nearly perfect.
I wasn’t a fan of Wally Dallenbach till I saw him WITHOUT Bill Weber… it suddenly seems like Dallenbach actually has something useful to say and time to say it. Having him and Kyle Petty together, with Adam Alexander (or Ralph Shaheen last year) actually just calling play-by-play and letting those two guys do their jobs and analyze? It works out pretty good. They made five of the most boring races of the season fairly enjoyable; and made the one good one they’re given in their little stretch truly great (the ratings showed it too.)
My only problem with TNT’s coverage, is I got sick and tired of hearing the phrase “…that was impressive…”
Damn Matt,
To quote Kris Kristofferson, “you must have been reading my mail”
I got to watch Daytona at the NASCAR Hall of Fame theatre and the TNT feed we received was commercial free. No Viagra or Cialis commercials to distract my son from. I don’t want to have to explain that stuff to my 8 and 6 year old kids yet. I was not happy to see that on ESPN. Speaking of ESPN, the crew at the Nationwide race at ORP was definitely different and I liked Ricky Craven as part of the telecast. He only offered insight into what he would have done when he was asked.
Personally, I like the combo of Petty and Wally better than DJ and Petree. Petree is ike a dog with a sock if a cc makes a call he doesn’t like. I really like DJ as a person, but he seems just a bit wooden.
Focks’ problem is they suck all the air out of the room. They act like they invented NASCAR, but they do that with every sport they cover. I put that on David Hill. It’s funny though, I like DW on a personal level, kinda like that loud, obnoxious uncle that embarrasses you in public, but you know he has a good heart. His shilling for certain drivers and unprofessional behavior are embarrassing though.
I acutally though ESPN was pretty good. I’d like it better with Craven in the booth, in plae of either Petree or Jarrett. I’ll cut DJ slack, hoping that over time, he’ll be as good as his dad was.
Punch is good on pit road, and thank God, no more Phil Parsons on pit road. OK commentator. HORRIBLE reporter. My 7-year old can ask better questions.
Excuse the typos. Dyslexic fingers today.
I was happy with TNT until race 6, when they felt the need to overload us with all those commercials. Seemed like a lot more than the previous 5 to me, but I could be wrong. Next year i will DVR their races and circumvent their ad-mania. Other than that I thought their coverage was more professional and streamlined. No digger is good, no DW is even better. It comes as no surprise to me that DW has a stake in the thing.
I like DJ and Petree in the booth.
Rusty babbles too much. He should watch a few tapes of Benny Parsons and learn a few things.
RIP B.P. One of the Best…
Infineon for Talladega in the Chase? You’ve got my vote.
Saw an ad last night, not closely, but the gist I think was that ESPN’s contract is coming up for renewal and TW is threatening to dump them if they don’t ante up. I think they just played that game with another well known network recently.
A DVR is a fans best friend, Gets you through a 3 hr race in half the time.
@ Shawn
Sad to say, give your 8 yr. old about 4 more years, & he’ll be explaining things to you. Speaking of your feed, I’m really surprised that NASCAR hasn’t offered a PPV package.
I agree about Craven.
@ Jim
I think your assessment of D.J. is right on. He needs to watch some videos of Ned. I like him so much better than Rusty that I won’t complain about him. As for Mr. Hill, don’t get me started. Every time I see Phil Parsons now, I have a mental picture of someone with both hands in the NASCAR till. We all have our favorites, but for me, any broadcast W/O a Waltrip, starts out way ahead.
@ popa
B.P. was so avuncular, anyone who didn’t like him better check their hole card. As for the next round of TV contracts. I think they will be eye openers. As I said, I don’t think the owners got their fair share of the last one. I feel confident that they’ll get their full share of the cuts.
@ Jarrod
Shhh!
Dawg, you know where I stand on the shilling and unprofessional attitude of the Commentating Colons. TNT was by far the best broadcasts and commentary we had this season. Wally and Kyle make you feel like you’re one of them and don’t talk down to you like the Focks crew does. They aren’t constantly shilling or cheerleading. It makes for a nice change of pace after the 3 Stooges from Focks have worn out their welcome by the end of the Daytona 500.
Like you, I’d like to see a road course race in the play-offs if we still have to have a play-off system. Dump one of the cookie cutter tracks and replace it with Infineon or maybe bring in Road Atlanta, Laguna Seca, or VIR. Dump another cookie cutter and bring back The Rock. Dump a third one and bring back North Wilkesboro. Unique track designs and short tracks make for more exciting racing that the standard and boring D-shaped 1.5 mile oval which dominates the current schedule.
Better racing and better coverage might bring in some new fans. A car which fans can identify with and can actually race might get a few more fans and maybe even get some fans back. But with the current leadership, I don’t see this happening. We’ll be stuck with the same miserable coverage we’ve got right now with the same shilling and cheerleading we’ve come to know and loathe. And there is no way that the current leadership is going to admit that either the Car of Woe or the Chase for the Chumps is a mistake. So unless something drastic happens in a positive way, things will continue to go downhill.
@ Mad Man
Yep-per, until we get someone with a feel for racing, running NASCAR. Not much is going to change. As long as we’re pipe dreaming, how about running the road course at Indy? If it was good enough for F1, with some changes it ought to work for NASCAR. An added benefit would that all the action would be visible to everyone, rather than only seeing your part of the track, & having to follow the rest on the Big Screen. On an unrelated note, have you noticed how much every picture of His Royal Highness, looks like either a mug shot, or someone on the nod?
Run one race at Indy in the standard configuration and a second race with the road course configuration. Pull a date from Fontana or one of the other ISC tracks which haven’t sold out in a while. Or have it as the season finale instead of Homestead. or like in the good old days, have it as the season opener when Riverside was the first race on the schedule.
His Highness, in more ways than one, definitely looked like he was going to nod at the Indy press conference. When he looks like that, he bears a striking resemblance to the cartoon character Droopy the dog. the rest of the time, you’re right. he does look like he’s posing for a mug shot. One can only hope that one comes true soon.
Until TNT (and for that matter Speed) dump Kyle Petty…I continue to have to mute the audio and just watch the pictures. Petty is the worst and continues to survive on his daddy’s name only. Nascar needs credibility desperately and KP is “deemed detrimental to the sport” to coin a phrase.
I would love to see the series go to Versus. It is an actual sports channel. It is MTV with the music. I think it would be smart for NASCAR to head into that direction. People have been ridiculing IRL for being on that channel, but the IRL is starting to gain some steam as of late and could definitely give NASCAR a run for their money a couple years down the road.
Does any one remember how NASCAR got to the height of it’s popularity?
It wasn’t with some goofy points scheme or a playoff chase system like other sports.
It wasn’t with a big unified TV contract, at 1 time tracks negotiated their own TV deals and it worked just fine. Of course NASCAR didn’t get as much money off it but they got exposure, became popular with a larger audience, and still made tons of money.
It wasn’t with common templates, Aero-Equal, or COTs (Flying Bricks). A well massaged car that fit the appropriate templates for the car make was just fine.
It wasn’t from young drivers with cool nicknames coming in a receiving gift wins from the sanctioning body.
It wasn’t High or Low Brow TV announcers, cartoons, Tech garages, cut-away cars, or other fancy gimmicks.
So what was it? Hard racing, good engineering, fast pit stops, caution flags with a real cause you could see, credibility of the officiating, plain old competition.
As for TV networks and their announcers NASCAR has a Ladder system to develop teams and drivers, maybe to be a NASCAR broadcaster there should be a similar Ladder system.
I only know this, every year I become less interested in a sport I have followed in print before there was real TV coverage, on TV when you got a few minutes of highlights from a race that happened weeks earlier, and on TV when it was on 1 or 2 cable networks, 1 that doesn’t exist anymore, with a couple of big races a year on regular TV.
Big & Little Bill must be rolling in the dirt with what my favorite sport for 40 years has become.
@ Not5for48
I agree. This is not the same style of racing I grew to love since the early 70s and I’ll bet too that Big & Lil Bill are turning over six feet under because Brian has surely gotten NASCAR away from what it used to be. But not without help.
If one were to analyze three different eras of NASCAR – the Winston Cup, Nextel Cup, and now, the Sprint Cup – one will see three very distinct styles of racing. It is my belief, that Winston let Big Bill do his thing, Nextel wanted to be the big cheese and told Lil Bill how to run racing, and Sprint is doing the same with Brian with Brian’s help if you get my drift. But, of course, one also has to look at the differences in the economies of those eras.
@ Not5, & Bob
I started following NASCAR when I had to get my information from National Speed Sport News. Then we began to get partial coverage on WW of Sports. Had to watch figure skating, gymnastics, etc, from places like Belgrade Yugoslavia, waiting for them to come back, & show a few more laps. Thought I was in heaven when the 500 was covered flag to flag. Recent fans really have no idea. I’ve often thought that NASCAR should absolutely forbid shows like Back in the Day, or any footage of ANY Cup race from before 1995, or so. Watching those old races spoil me for watching what we have today. I had the final race in 1992 when Alan won his Championship on tape. I forgot to punch out the tab, & mistakenly taped over it. Still hate it. Have to face the fact that we’ve probably seen the best NASCAR has to offer, but we’re not going back. Just have to keep lobbying for changes, to improve what we have now, & hope someone is listening.
To start off with, I am a diehard 24/7 Nascar fan, and I see no problem with the racing. Side by side racing as a constent is impossible in any racing series. If you look back to the 80s and 90s when only 6 cars would finish on the lead lap, or 2 have a chance, or even see the leader finish ahead by 7 laps, that racing was terrible. Today’s Nascar is better than ever, its just the nay-saying people who affect it. Anyway… TV
I love Fox. Fox has the best coverage in my opinon, especially in the final laps. If you look at Martinsville 2010 when Matt Kesneth and Jeff Gordon tangled, and Denny Hamlin won, the screaming that happened was dramaticly amazing. Don’t kill me, but I really enjoy Digger.
TNT also has great coverage. The booth is great, Adam Alexander is a great fit from the opinionated Bill Webber. Lindsay Czarniack is a very talented reporter, and Larry Mac fits in well, with his computations and T.O.R.C.
ESPN however is not so good. To start off with, the pit reporters don’t seem to know much. Vince Welch has been criticized by drivers and writers alike for his lack of knowledge, or lack of skill. Rusty Wallace may speak his mind, but every 5 words are something stupid, useless or “That’s For Sure.” Considering he owns his own Nationwide Team, I see no reason for him to be in the booth, or the pit studio as it leaves a cushion for him to be bias. Andy Peetree is a great Crew Cheif and owner, but just because he is such a thing doesn’t mean he can commentate. Dale Jarrett is on his way. Marty Reid is good, no complaints here. Allen Bestwick is one of the best at calling a race in the business. To see him in the booth only when somebody is off is an offense to him. Speaking of being off, I have never seen another business give their workers so many weeks off. Dr. Jerry Punch, Rusty Wallace, or Andy Peetree ALWAYS seem to have the week off.
I agree that TNT basically gets crapped on with the races they get to broadcast. Nobody could make the tracks they have seem exciting, but they did a good job with what they have. I like the “Wide Open” format they do with Daytona, and really think Adam Alexander did an excellent job as lead announcer. I think that Wally and Kyle are alright. The old announce teams of the past were so great I think we expect more than these guys are capable of. I have been a fan mainly of the lower two series for a few years now, and don’t see that changing in the near future. It seems like the best way to catch a Cup race is with Sirius.
You didn’t use RaceBuddy? You rednecks need to learn to get with the 90s. If you weren’t dragging your knuckles on the way to the outhouse, you would have noticed that RaceBuddy provided all of TNT’s races commercial free. I turned down the TV sound and used the internet feed and never missed a second on the race track. Now ESPN is on and the coverage is held hostage by sponsors. Bummer.
@dawg
Nope wasn’t reading your mail, just the way I feel about things.
I used TNT’s Race Buddy for the entire New Hampshire race and thought it was awesome. It was a lot more like what I experience when I’m at the track. The only downside was having to run to the TV to watch replays.
I also used Race Buddy for parts of the other races and it wasn’t quite as good. Maybe it was the sounds or just the larger tracks that made the difference. I’m not sure. I am disappointed I won’t get to use it the rest of the season.
IMO the TNT team is weak. I respect the Petty family and rooted for Kyle, but he is awful. Just flat out awful. He gets his facts wrong. He says things that make me feel embarrassed for him.
I can’t stand “ol’ DW”, so that is one HUGE thing TNT has going for them. The expanded role for Larry Mac was great. He makes the Fox and TNT coverage worth watching. Either he is directed really well or he has a gift for explaining complex issues and make them understandable even to people that know NASCAR.
I like DJ in the booth. I think if he comes across poorly it may just be his lack of experience. It’s a tough job but I think he’s got the insight and with time he will get better.
And as far as those ED commericals go….I don’t have kids watching the race with me and I still flip the channel when they come on. Enough is enough already. You’d think the only people that watch NASCAR are over 65 the way the push that stuff.
Dale Jarrett is nothing more than a NA$CAR shill. Listening to him on NA$CAR Now defending NA$CAR fining drivers for their comments was almost unbelievable. But I guess, on second thought, he really hasn’t changed.
TNT was the closest to an old school broadcast as we’re ever going to see. They did a pretty good job of polishing a turd.
I agree about Kyle Petty. I really liked his commentary. He was brutally honest several times and you don’t hear that enough in modern broadcasting.