THANKS FOR MAKING US NUMBER ONE. NOW GET LOST.

It’s official. NASCAR has abandoned the two TV networks that are
primarily responsible for NASCAR’s popularity.

ESPN/ABC and TNN/CBS have been shut out by NBC/TBS (TBS!) and Fox.
Let’s see…after this year, the total number of Winston Cup races broadcast by NBC and
Fox will be…. one.

TBS does have some experience with NASCAR. They do a couple of races
a year and have some of the poorest production values of any race cast you see. It’s
interesting that TBS has just announced that they’ve decided to sponsor a car next year
after all.

Since the tracks relenquished their TV rights for next year’s races,
it’s possible that NASCAR will grant several races to Fox/NBC so they can use next year as
a practice year to figure out what side of the car is supposed to be closest to the
pavement.

I realize that NASCAR has a fidiciary responsibilty to its
shareholders to get the most money it can for the TV rights. But it also has a
responsibility to the "consumer" of its product, i.e., the fans. The fans are
the primary reason that NASCAR’s stock has nearly tripled in value over the last three
years. The fans are the reason that stock car racing is the only sport whose TV ratings
have gone up every year in this decade.

NASCAR seems to have a track record (no pun intended) over the last
15 or so years to move forward at the expense of those who helped build the foundation of
the sport. Nashville Speedway and North Wilkesboro are two just examples of NASCAR’s
disregard for its history and the fans. Both short tracks were instrumental in some of the
best Winston Cup races in NASCAR history. Sure, NASCAR threw a bone to Nashville with the
Grand National and Truck races, but a market like Nashville deserves better.

I was in Atlanta over the weekend at a conference and didn’t get to
watch the Grand National or Cup races. But based on the people I’ve talked to today,
racing fans got a double whammy on the Cup race: the race was boring and the broadcast was
pathetic. I guess I’m glad I missed it.

If there is one bright spot in all of this, maybe NBC’s and Fox’s
local affiliates will now do more complete reports on the races during their local sports
casts on their local news. I didn’t find out until Sunday night when I got home who won
the Grand National race. The hotel only had ESPN, and the Chris Berman types who run that
end of the network didn’t talk about anything but college football and the fight. Come to
think of it, ESPN has always given NASCAR the short end of the stick after football season
starts. Here’s hoping that NASCAR’s contract states that a telecast can’t be interupted by
Mark McGwire or Sammy Sosa watches or football drafts.

Speaking of affiliates, in the past there’s been a problem of local
stations opting to show show movies or infomercials instead of the race. Most CBS and ABC
affiliates have finally learned their lessons. When they decide to show an infomercial
instead of a race, their switchboards get bombarded. Surely NASCAR has gotten NBC/Fox to
guarantee that all of their local affiliates will carry the races.

Maybe Fox and NBC will be able to use the talent and production
companies that are currently doing races for ABC and CBS. That’s our only hope.