ted@economy
in the interest of equal time
What is with this preoccupation with ESPN. They had Nascar long before the networks. Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons should be in the Hall Of Fame .both as drivers and broadcasters. What has changed here?
Chase ratings continue to fall
- Thread starter dpkimmel2001
- Start date
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
Sure enough. I think that this thread has gotten far away from my original intentions when I created it. I seem to have a had time getting my point across with this thread. It isn't meant to bash ESPN or any other network. It isn't meant to bash the Chase. My point simply was that I didn't think that moving the Chase to ESPN this year was in the best interest of the Chase in general. Across the board from the beginning of the season on, most if not all, races have lost viewers. Week after week rating come out showing the decline in viewers but yet the decline in viewers over the first 26 races of the season pales in comparison with the loss in viewers over the Chase this year. While similar declines have been seen over the years, this year is different. Far different. The Chase is looking @ a decline in viewers of over 20%, last week over 30%. That's a huge decline. Why is that? Why is this year so different from previous years? Those aren't the same numbers that we were seeing throughout the entire season. It's only been that way since the beginning of the Chase. There has to be a reason for that.
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MoMike
Guest
The truth of the matter, for me, and why I don't tune in the whole time is that I can't stand 45 minutes plus of pre-race shows. by the time thats over, i'm usually fed up, and in my garage or something, and miss 2/3's of the race before I come back in and catch the last 30 laps or so.
I just don't think we need Nascar raceday, then a pre-race show, followed by 20 minutes of invocations, start your engines, and what seems like 10 parade laps.
Seems like I used to be able to tune in to the national anthem, followed by start your engines, and then the race is on.
I don't mind 30 minutes of interviews after the race, thats when the interviews are genuine, and fairly colorful.
Pre-race, it's the same paint-by-number BS interviews about track position, pit strategy, yadda,yadda.
Actual race coverage by a broadcaster is another can of worms.
The above is what deters atleast one viewer from 3 hours of "glued to the tube" viewership.
MoMike
I just don't think we need Nascar raceday, then a pre-race show, followed by 20 minutes of invocations, start your engines, and what seems like 10 parade laps.
Seems like I used to be able to tune in to the national anthem, followed by start your engines, and then the race is on.
I don't mind 30 minutes of interviews after the race, thats when the interviews are genuine, and fairly colorful.
Pre-race, it's the same paint-by-number BS interviews about track position, pit strategy, yadda,yadda.
Actual race coverage by a broadcaster is another can of worms.
The above is what deters atleast one viewer from 3 hours of "glued to the tube" viewership.
MoMike
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
The truth of the matter, for me, and why I don't tune in the whole time is that I can't stand 45 minutes plus of pre-race shows. by the time thats over, i'm usually fed up, and in my garage or something, and miss 2/3's of the race before I come back in and catch the last 30 laps or so.
I just don't think we need Nascar raceday, then a pre-race show, followed by 20 minutes of invocations, start your engines, and what seems like 10 parade laps.
Seems like I used to be able to tune in to the national anthem, followed by start your engines, and then the race is on.
I don't mind 30 minutes of interviews after the race, thats when the interviews are genuine, and fairly colorful.
Pre-race, it's the same paint-by-number BS interviews about track position, pit strategy, yadda,yadda.
The above is what deters atleast one viewer from 3 hours of "glued to the tube" viewership.
MoMike
Really though, isn't all of that by choice? You don't have to tune into all of that stuff. The 'green flag' start time is published every week and is pretty darn consistent. This week it is 7:46pm on ABC this week, not ESPN. Don't tune in until 7:45pm and you should be fine.
I'm the one guy, I guess, that likes all of the pre and post race shows. Just like I like all of the pre and post football shows. There are far more of those than with NASCAR.
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SST55
Guest
Don't know why, maybe because many think it's predetermined who'll win the Chase, or the boring follow-the-leader most races are today. It could be the economy with people dropping cable.
Maybe it's the cars themselves. They have evolved from "stock" cars to high tech machines that a piece of tape on the grille increases performance and a golf ball sized dent takes you from a top 5 car to 28th place.
I've seen it go from men who built and worked on their cars, who had the dirt and grime on their hands to prove it. Who had 10+ years battling on short tracks earning the chance move up. Now we have "pretty boys" and I do mean boys. Boys who barely shave and mommy and daddy bought them top notch equipment to beat the guys at local tracks who built their own.
I no longer postpone things just to watch the race, I do DVR it but many times delete it without watching.
Could be I'm just a crotchity old man,,
Maybe it's the cars themselves. They have evolved from "stock" cars to high tech machines that a piece of tape on the grille increases performance and a golf ball sized dent takes you from a top 5 car to 28th place.
I've seen it go from men who built and worked on their cars, who had the dirt and grime on their hands to prove it. Who had 10+ years battling on short tracks earning the chance move up. Now we have "pretty boys" and I do mean boys. Boys who barely shave and mommy and daddy bought them top notch equipment to beat the guys at local tracks who built their own.
I no longer postpone things just to watch the race, I do DVR it but many times delete it without watching.
Could be I'm just a crotchity old man,,
J
JustMe
Guest
I think it's the product itself. Speed is also a cable station, but yet the truck series has been increasing in ratings.
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MoMike
Guest
You got a point, along with SST55.
Trucks have racers in them. Men, not pretty boys with mom and dads money.
That is another part of the equation that has changed things for me.
MoMike
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
I've seen it go from men who built and worked on their cars, who had the dirt and grime on their hands to prove it. Who had 10+ years battling on short tracks earning the chance move up. Now we have "pretty boys" and I do mean boys. Boys who barely shave and mommy and daddy bought them top notch equipment to beat the guys at local tracks who built their own.
Could be I'm just a crotchity old man,,
Those were the old days, things evolve. None of the major sports are anything like they used to be. I think most of the people watching NASCAR today have absolutely no idea that it used to be like that at all.
I don't know about the crotch thing. They may make some sort of pill for that!
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MoMike
Guest
I don't watch football, but I do check the scores Monday morning.
I enjoy watching qualifying, more than I enjoy most of the race, probably because they're driving the car to the edge when they qualify. It's similar to the last 10 laps of a race, which is the part of the race I enjoy most too.
MoMike
ESPN's worst coverage today is one thousand times better than TV coverage was just twenty years ago.
For the last fifty years it has been pretty easy for me, if you have two vehicles with engines trying to get some place quickly, I will watch it.
For the last fifty years it has been pretty easy for me, if you have two vehicles with engines trying to get some place quickly, I will watch it.
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
Absolutely. Far better!
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MoMike
Guest
Those were the old days, things evolve. None of the major sports are anything like they used to be. I think most of the people watching NASCAR today have absolutely no idea that it used to be like that at all.
I don't know about the crotch thing. They may make some sort of pill for that!
How many of our Hall of fame drivers could break into the sport today, with their given looks and personalities and humble roots that they have/had?
Is there a possibility that none of them could make it today, for all the wrong reasons?
MoMike
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
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SST55
Guest
None of them. Corporate America wants a squeaky clean attractive image to sell their product.
Exception being Wrangler who was successful with their 'One tough customer' ads featuring Sr with grime on his face.
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MoMike
Guest
Well, thats why I enjoyed tuning in. Harry Gant, the farmer/carpenter. And winning races. Stuff like that.
Today drivers have charities, and razor commercials.....I have a tough time relating much anymore.
MoMike
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Mopardh9
Guest
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
I gotta wonder why I never hear those sorts of things from NFL, MLB, or NHL fans. Why is it so important for us to relate to NASCAR drivers?
Why is it so important for us to relate to NASCAR drivers?
SpeedPagan
The iRacing Guru
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Do we have any source for the bolded? Take Jeff Gordon, he started racing quarter midgets when he was five. Well of course he was racing with mommy and daddy's money. We've done away with Child Labor a long time ago. His family even move to Indiana from California so that he could pursue his racing career.
Oh noes, a family that supports their son in racing! The horror of horrors!
If you look at his early career, Link he was very successful in the midget circuit. It doesn't say how much his parent spent on this, but whatever they spent on it, Jeff returned their investment more two times fold.
There's also Jimmie Johnson, who started racing 50cc motorcycles when he was five years old. I guess he should've paid for that as well, right? Working at the cotton mill? Apparently he was successful enough to get into Nelson & Nelson Racing when he went to four wheeled vehicles. Apparently from then on out, it was the racing team that was picking up the tab for Johnson, not his parents.
Link #2
All of these drivers started racing early, and since they can't work when they're 5 (I doubt you can fund your own racing career selling lemonade.) of course their parents funded it.
I gotta wonder why I never hear those sorts of things from NFL, MLB, or NHL fans.
I have no idea, I mean heck I love hockey and I can't understand what half of them are saying. I have 0 in commom with most NFL players ect. I think as STS55 said there are just a lot of crochity old people. There are many young fans that I know you all just seem to ignore us.
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MoMike
Guest
I hear ya man. I just can't get over seeing a young teen sitting in a top notch cup ride. It doesn't sit well with me. I don't feel like they've paid their dues.
MoMike
ted@economy
in the interest of equal time
Most of the old guys were over five feet tall.Nowadays that is a no no.
C
chromehorn
Guest
It's because old people can't drive. They have trouble seeing, slow reaction time, bladder problems and always peeing on themselves, and dentures falling out in their helmets. Mark Martins just an exception.
Seriously though, it's all about marketing, we all know this. That is what the sport is based on, the dmn cars are rolling billboards for crying out loud. I got no problem with the the "Pretty Boys" that you and SST55 are talking about having everything handed to them. I wish I had that opportunity but I don't have anything against them, good for them. But we all know there are guys out there that look like they've been hit in the face with a bag of hot nickels or fat and in their 30's or 40's that can drive the wheels of anything but will never get a shot at the top ranks. Sucks, but that's life. Nascar doesn't want that old fan base anymore. Who's going to spend more money on their product, a young woman who is in love with Kasey Kahne and will buy anything with his face on it or a broke redneck that is a real fan but would never be caught dead wearing a T-shirt with some dude on it. It's economics, that's all, it hasn't been about the original fans or racing in about 10 years as far as I can tell.
mike honcho
Knuckleheads
Wrong.In todays world the young woman will con the broke redneck into buying something with KK's face on it for her.
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chromehorn
Guest
Ha ha, too true.
sloggie
Racing I will teach you
In the old days, Racing meant risking your life, so the older guys retired fairly young. NASCAR is so safe that drivers collecting social security are comfortable racing.
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
From Scenedaily.....
Are a limited number of weeknight races an answer to declining ratings? I know I'd still be watching but I'd be less likely to attend a weeknight race. How about you?
Are a limited number of weeknight races an answer to declining ratings? I know I'd still be watching but I'd be less likely to attend a weeknight race. How about you?
ted@economy
in the interest of equal time
Did you ever stop watching a TV show that you used to lfollow. Like Law and Order or some dectective series.The program is still airing but you have moved on to something else. Changing the start time or the night isn't going to bring you back. Nascar has to try something, I get that, but if it has to shrink to ESPN2 or Versus , I 'll still watch. I bet the guys would still race for smaller paychecks too.
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Mopardh9
Guest
No to both , wouldn't watch very much ....I get up at 3:30am every day asleep by 8:30pm, so I wouldn't be watching it live. As to attending no to that also, more difficult to go to a weeknight race than one on the weekend. This is a very stupid idea.
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
If they can't fill Bristol on a Saturday night anymore, they're not going to fill any track on a weeknight IMO. I don't think that NASCAR likes the television shots of empty seats. This move would not work.
blue92
Team Owner
Nascar is like what the liberals say the tea party people are "they have their heads in the sand". If Nascar really wants to fix their problems they need to go to the loyal fans and ask what they want to see in Nascar.
sloggie
Racing I will teach you
This race will be a real test of viewer interest. No NFL to compete against, on a major network.
HoneyBadger
I love short track racing (Taylor's Version)
But it's up against some big college football games on ESPN and the ALCS on TBS.
ted@economy
in the interest of equal time
It has always been up against something .
mike honcho
Knuckleheads
the game was over with the race about 20 laps in so we will see.
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Mopardh9
Guest
2 games on...Ohio State vs Wis. and the Baseball game.
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SlowNeasy
Guest
switched over from the yankees/rangers game in the 9th inning (game wasn't close). watched the entire race.
Magicmiler
Fan
So, when is the next blue moon ???????????
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Mopardh9
Guest
Watched all three mostly the baseball and football games.
mike honcho
Knuckleheads
•France talks...a little, about TV Ratings: Dustin Long of the Virginian Pilot got in two questions to NASCAR Chairman Brian France about TV ratings as he walked out of a press conference room after having announced that NASCAR will switch to E15 fuel beginning next year in Cup, Nationwide and Trucks. Here's Brian on the declining TV ratings:
Brian: "We're working on it. Racing is great and over time that takes care of things. We'd like to have better ratings but we will over time.''
On what more he can do and the idea doing like IndyCar with commercials and the race sharing the TV screen together: "We'll look at everything we can do. Ultimately, the racing, which is phenomenal, will carry the day. That's our product.''(Virginian Pilot)(10-17-2010)
Brian: "We're working on it. Racing is great and over time that takes care of things. We'd like to have better ratings but we will over time.''
On what more he can do and the idea doing like IndyCar with commercials and the race sharing the TV screen together: "We'll look at everything we can do. Ultimately, the racing, which is phenomenal, will carry the day. That's our product.''(Virginian Pilot)(10-17-2010)