D
DE_Wrangler_2
Guest
We have this gripe several times every year. FOX (or NBC) always miss the good stuff during the race. Or there are what seems like hours of commercials run near the end of the race. Or even we get extra long cautions for no apparent reason. This may help explain some of it. 
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Ask The Producer: This week's question comes from a fan named Kim Cabral:
"Why doesn't FOX come back from a commercial immediately when a caution comes out, and why are they in commercial almost half of the time when a restart happens? This is getting to be something that happens numerous times during every race. It is very frustrating."
NASCAR on FOX producer Neil Goldberg explains:
"Thanks for the support, Kim. If you look back at our history you will find that we do make it back for most re-starts but you are correct that at times they are missed.
"When we get to a short track like Bristol it becomes far more tricky. We have to start working on some trade offs and luck with timing. A caution lap at Bristol takes about :30 seconds and our commercials run approx 2:50.
"When a caution comes out we try to show at least on replay of the reason before the break before going to commercial with the intent of making it back for the pit stops. At times we stay right through for the caution round of stops and then go to break. The key is how long it takes to clean up the caution.
"It is a roll of the dice at times at the short track. and even at track like Texas. But the issue here is to stay ahead on the breaks to put the viewer in a position to get a long commercial-free run at the end of the race. We do not want to miss the action like we saw down the stretch run at Bristol and Texas.
"We do at times come back from break early to catch the re-start or the round of pit stops. But what you must realize, when we do that, that commercial must be moved to the next spot making that break longer. The longer the break the greater the chance something will happen while we are in it.
"As far as busting out of breaks for cautions, we save that for the event of a major incident on the track. Again, if we came out of break every time there was a caution, that break would have to be added on later.
"You also need to realize that we can not bust out of local or affiliate breaks. These are commercials that are run by the local affiliate from the station in you area. They actually have total control of that commercial window. They join back up with us once their designated commercial window is up. Like I said, it is give and take.
"We have to make the best decision for commercials as the race develops in order to put the viewer in position to see the most crucial parts of the race.
"I hope this clears it up for you. Thanks for watching and being a great fan."
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Check out the full article here.
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Ask The Producer: This week's question comes from a fan named Kim Cabral:
"Why doesn't FOX come back from a commercial immediately when a caution comes out, and why are they in commercial almost half of the time when a restart happens? This is getting to be something that happens numerous times during every race. It is very frustrating."
NASCAR on FOX producer Neil Goldberg explains:
"Thanks for the support, Kim. If you look back at our history you will find that we do make it back for most re-starts but you are correct that at times they are missed.
"When we get to a short track like Bristol it becomes far more tricky. We have to start working on some trade offs and luck with timing. A caution lap at Bristol takes about :30 seconds and our commercials run approx 2:50.
"When a caution comes out we try to show at least on replay of the reason before the break before going to commercial with the intent of making it back for the pit stops. At times we stay right through for the caution round of stops and then go to break. The key is how long it takes to clean up the caution.
"It is a roll of the dice at times at the short track. and even at track like Texas. But the issue here is to stay ahead on the breaks to put the viewer in a position to get a long commercial-free run at the end of the race. We do not want to miss the action like we saw down the stretch run at Bristol and Texas.
"We do at times come back from break early to catch the re-start or the round of pit stops. But what you must realize, when we do that, that commercial must be moved to the next spot making that break longer. The longer the break the greater the chance something will happen while we are in it.
"As far as busting out of breaks for cautions, we save that for the event of a major incident on the track. Again, if we came out of break every time there was a caution, that break would have to be added on later.
"You also need to realize that we can not bust out of local or affiliate breaks. These are commercials that are run by the local affiliate from the station in you area. They actually have total control of that commercial window. They join back up with us once their designated commercial window is up. Like I said, it is give and take.
"We have to make the best decision for commercials as the race develops in order to put the viewer in position to see the most crucial parts of the race.
"I hope this clears it up for you. Thanks for watching and being a great fan."
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Check out the full article here.
