Originally Posted by apexonephoto:
It will be on regular over the air I assume. In Canada we even had the Lucas Oil Late Model CBS race on tv. Awesome stuff, I like the more regional, smaller forms of sport getting coverage that I think we will be seeing more often in the future. Forrest Lucas gets it.
You're right, that's why I see this happening...because of the LOLMS being aired on CBS, and the fact they're willing to show things like Lucas Oil Off-Road as well shows that this might be happening. But, will it be live? I doubt it. Anything shown on CBS Lucas Oil related is usually a one-week delay.
My guess from working at a CBS station, this will be a filler show on Sunday. If it airs during football season, it will more then likely air during a single game Sunday for CBS. Some stations it will air during the 1-4pm time slot or 4-6pm time slot. Just depends if your local team if an early or late game.
Originally Posted by timmanis2000:
I just hope NBC doesn,t screw up Versus. If you are old enough to remember TNN. That was a good channel, who ever bought them really messed that station up. But it is great news that it will be on. I am ready to go to Tulsa, being there for a week watchin the best of the best midget drivers.
Yeah, right there with you on that.
TNN eventually morphed into what is now Spike TV. I watched the Winter Heat series on the old TNN. Midgets and winged sprints. I think it was the first time I saw Jerry Coons, Jr. race. He was about 16 maybe? So I am old enough to remember TNN. As a matter of fact, I am old enough to remember when TV was in it's infancy - a black and white picture with a big cabinet and a tiny screen. And just three stations - NBC, CBS, and ABC.
Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
Will it be successful? Depends if SMOKE runs it or not. Thats how you get new fans
I agree, Charles. IMO in order for CBS to achieve any success reaching anyone besides the relatively small market segment of open wheel fans, the show will need star power (and effective promotion). Is Smoke the right star? In my mind he's certainly the most likely candidate, especially in light of his NASCAR championship(s). If I was CBS, I might be inclined to make him an offer he can't refuse to run the CB.
Originally Posted by Bill Gardner:
The only real problem I see is how "racing" might use this opportunity. Do they only ask "what is in for me?" or will they actually see the potential benefit this could bring to the sport.
If you can't think big picture... you won't understand it.
That's exactly what I was most concerned about. It's a sure bet that no kind of TV deal is going to benefit the racers from a purse increase standpoint. So increased sponsorship exposure opportunity is about the only "short term, near sighted" potential benefit to the competitors. Problem is that many people are going to approach potential sponsors with the promise of "NATIONAL CBS SPORTS TELEVISION EXPOSURE". The only problem with that strategy is that your chances of doing well enough to even make it to a "C" Main or better are a snowballs chance in hell at best. If you don't start a Saturday night "C" feature the only way you're going to get any TV time is by going over the catch fence and making the highlight reel. So now the business you promised all this exposure to has written a check and got absolutely nothing out of it...
"Welcome to racing Bob's Tire and Lube, thanks for the money, sorry about the bad taste you have in your mouth for midget racing, hope it doesn't keep you from doing any more in the sport"
Is that somewhere along the lines of what you are concerned about Bill?
It's not about a sponsor decal on the side of a car or an immediate purse increase. It's about getting more people interested in the sport who might help it in the future.
Of course, what do I know, I'm just some dumb guy who created a website because I became addicted to a sport in 1996.
