SPEED Channel going away?

[b2m_vw]

http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/blog...e-looks-bright

Only in the crazy world of television can a sport lose viewers but actually command more money for its product.

Sounds nutty I know but that's exactly what appears will happen when the next NASCAR TV product kicks in beginning in 2014.

The deal with NASCAR's current television partners – FOX, TNT and ABC/ESPN - expires after next season. The original deal netted the sanctioning body $2.74 billion.

But despite a ratings erosion in recent years including with the coveted 18-45 age demographic, the wheels are already in motion for NASCAR to potentially net even more in rights fees on the new deal.

FOX has reportedly already offered in excess of its current $220 million per season to continue carrying roughly the first half of the Sprint Cup Series season, which kicks off annually with the Daytona 500.

However the curveball in a new FOX deal is the impact the network's change of SPEED into Fox Sports One, a new all sports channel that will carry Major League Baseball, college football and basketball and other sports in addition to NASCAR programming.

Hoping to keep up with the likes of the ABC/ESPN, NBC/NBC Sports Network as well as CBS/CBS Sports Network pairings, FOX plans to flip the current motorsports and automotive channel into its own general sports cable network.

As of now ancillary NASCAR programming such as practice, qualifying and support events like the Camping World Truck Series would be mixed into the revamped channel's content line-up.

There is word FOX will also stream NASCAR programming beginning next season, ala the “Watch ESPN” initiative that will allow mobile device access for thousands of viewers.

Assuming FOX comes to terms, the remainder of the new NASCAR television package is a bit fuzzier. While it appears ABC/ESPN and TNT will return to the negotiating table, the NBC's interest is a wild card.

Desperate for content to help build its fledging sports net, the Peacock folks are eyeballing a return to the business of stock car racing. NBC was an original partner in NASCAR's landmark television contract of 2001 that helped sky rocket the sport into the sports mainstream with its first true network deal that also included FOX.

The Nationwide Series, currently an ABC/ESPN property, could be in play for NBC as well as the Truck Series should FOX decide to back off the amount of NASCAR programming for its cable sports network or the “World Wide Leader” scale back its stock car investment.

CBS or perhaps niche outlets like “The History Channel” might also dip their toes into the negotiations.

However the final pieces of the network puzzle fall into place, industry insiders predict NASCAR will easily surpass the current $2.74 billion fees.

The current environment for nearly all television sports property deals is quite healthy. Major League Baseball just inked a $12.4 billion, eight year contract with FOX, TBS and ESPN, which doubles the previous agreement. College football and basketball conferences, the NHL and the NBA have also seen a rise in fees.

And of course the 800 pound gorilla of them all, the mighty NFL commanded a 60 percent increase for a package that will eventually see $3.1 billion paid annually by CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN and the NFL Network.

Of course all of these monopoly money numbers will eventually come with a price for fans that will have to pay the freight with an increased cable or satellite bill.

In order for networks to recoup the heavy investment they'll make to secure NASCAR programming, you can also expect a rise in broadcast commercialism. Whether its added breaks, more in race sponsored segments or other corporately funded elements, count on the networks to find any way possible to generate revenue and cover their costs.

But it appears the doomsday prophets who predicted NASCAR's value as a viable television property would plummet were wrong.

The number of viewers may be down but not those networks are willing to write on checks.

From the article it looks like SPEED is going away and becoming Fox Sports One that will now host a number of different types of sporting events.

[1985Jetta]

I used to watch Speed all the time but now everything is on Velocity except for Gearz.

[6cylVWguy]

I used to watch Speed all the time but now I everything is on Velocity except for Gearz.

Same here. Speed is pretty irrelevant to me at this point in time. They do feature some cool motorsport events, but I never watch them because I don't care enough to find out when they're (and usually it's at some odd time in the morning/night). I'd love it if Velocity picked up some of the more unusual motorsports events that Speed will occassionally air.

[rawk]

I used to watch Speed all the time but now I everything is on Velocity except for Gearz.

Totally agree, Velocity is really the only car related channel I watch. Speed is 90% junk

[WakusPakus]

Totally agree, Velocity is really the only car related channel I watch. Speed is 90% junk

you guys have all said what i planned to post - Velocity. Speed is long gone for me, aside from early F1 races on the weekends.

[Crimping Is Easy]

About damn time.

[Smigelski]

I've never even heard of the Velocity channel ( I haven't had cable in years). Can someone tell me about it so I don't have to google it?

[the flying grape!]

This doesn't bode well for motoGP. I hope US coverage will continue in some way.

[Cousin Eddie]

ERMAGHERD! D'ey terk er NERSKER!!!!

[WakusPakus]

I've never even heard of the Velocity channel ( I haven't had cable in years). Can someone tell me about it so I don't have to google it?

It used to be Discovery HD Theatre - i assume their ratings were only good for the car shows they had like Chasing Classic Cars, Wheeler Dealers, Inside West Coast Customs (ew but cool). They switched it to Velocity over the summer and only show car/bike related shows now...it's on my TV non stop when i'm watching...thank god the GF let me build a man-cave or she'd never get to see her shows in the living room!

[Chris_V]

I've never even heard of the Velocity channel ( I haven't had cable in years). Can someone tell me about it so I don't have to google it?

You're already on the internet, just google it, already. (hint, it's a Discovery channel).

[RacingManiac]

Speed still shows stuff outside of NASCAR. I still watch their Grand AM stuff, and they still show Le Mans. V8 Supercar and BTCC are still on their lineup. And they still have AMA and FIM stuff. Yes its mostly NASCAR, but they still have shows outside of it. Until Velocity or something else actually start showing races, Speed serves a purpose to me. And they still have F1 races, which I assume will continue if it does change to Fox Sport one, but its the rest of the series that they show I worry about...

[Crimping Is Easy]

I've never even heard of the Velocity channel ( I haven't had cable in years). Can someone tell me about it so I don't have to google it?

It's everything you've ever wanted Speed to be but never was.

[Chris_V]

Speed still shows stuff outside of NASCAR. I still watch their Grand AM stuff, and they still show Le Mans. V8 Supercar and BTCC are still on their lineup. And they still have AMA and FIM stuff. Yes its mostly NASCAR, but they still have shows outside of it. Until Velocity or something else actually start showing races, Speed serves a purpose to me. And they still have F1 races, which I assume will continue if it does change to Fox Sport one, but its the rest of the series that they show I worry about...

Before Speed, I used to watch Fox Sports NW on cable that showed the DTM and WRC series, as well as the Isle of Man TT in addition to all their football, baseball, and basketball coverage. I'm going to assume that all that Fox is doing is going back to that format in a national channel.

[adrew]

I never watched it after it changed from Speedvision to Speed. I loved the campy old car chase movies they played on the weekends (Lost Drive-In) and all the rally racing and non-NASCAR stuff they showed.

But I guess it has changed just like all the other cable channels I used to watch, like TLC (only plays things like "Extreme Couponing" and "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" now) and History Channel, which only seems to have things like "Cajun Pawn Stars" and "Swamp People."

Give me some Modern Marvels or How It's Made, not any of this.

[01tj]

It's everything you've ever wanted Speed to be but never was.

and 5th gear

[RacingManiac]

It's everything you've ever wanted Speed to be but never was.

I don't actually agree with this. I don't want reality shows when there are racing to be watched. I could do without Speed's crappy reality shows, but at the same time I could do without Velocity's reality shows. Speedvision used to show racings a lot, be it as current stuff or even historic stuff.

I don't care about Barret Jackson, and I also don't care about Mecum. I don't care about Hard Parts: South Bronx or that tow truck show, I also don't care about West Coast Customs.....

Velocity had WRC for a while and that was pretty good, Speed now actually shows WRC highlight show on the weekend of the race. I don't know if its on Velocity anymore. Velocity at least still has Isle of Manx TT, albeit months delayed.

[b2m_vw]

I still think SPEED>Velocity

I've never liked Velocity. Never seen any kind of live racing on there at all and I don't like the "reality" type shows. But I also won't watch SPEED unless there is some actual racing going. Hopefully this change will bring more live sports/racing and less "reality" shows.

[Crimping Is Easy]

I don't actually agree with this. I don't want reality shows when there are racing to be watched. I could do without Speed's crappy reality shows, but at the same time I could do without Velocity's reality shows. Speedvision used to show racings a lot, be it as current stuff or even historic stuff.

I don't care about Barret Jackson, and I also don't care about Mecum. I don't care about Hard Parts: South Bronx or that tow truck show, I also don't care about West Coast Customs.....

Velocity had WRC for a while and that was pretty good, Speed now actually shows WRC highlight show on the weekend of the race. I don't know if its on Velocity anymore. Velocity at least still has Isle of Manx TT, albeit months delayed.

I think that if/when Speed goes under, Velocity will start to show more racing. However, I think they're at a disadvantage because most of the non-ASSCAR races in the US are covered by ABC and FOX. I'm not sure who owns Discovery, but I don't think it's either of those two.

I do think the Discovery owns or is owned by the BBC in Europe, so we might get things like the BTCC on Velocity.

[RacingManiac]

I still think SPEED>Velocity

I've never liked Velocity. Never seen any kind of live racing on there at all and I don't like the "reality" type shows. But I also won't watch SPEED unless there is some actual racing going. Hopefully this change will bring more live sports/racing and less "reality" shows.

I agree with this....Although I still like Speed News as it is still the only weekly racing news program, even if most news is on NASCAR. And I like Wind Tunnel.

Motorweek, 5th Gear or shows along that line is fine, but I don't want to watch manufactured drama of some 2 bit custom chop shop, or hours upon hours of classic car auctions....both channel are guilty of that...Speed at least you can still find actual racing..

[VwG60Kid]

speed died when fox bought it and turned speedvision into speed..

[ToucheTurtle]

The only thing I watch on Speed is Formula 1.

[David@vwvortex]

My only concern is what this means to the Grand-Am/ALMS merger for 2014 and the overall TV package.

The combined series NEEDS this kind of marketing support that the NASCAR monster can provide to the sportscar series here in the US.

As with the merger.... I hope the HELL they don't screw it up.

[troze1200]

I want to watch F1, V8 Supercar, Grand-Am, LeMans...how am I going to do that now? If Speed goes and I can't find these shows, I will end cable.

[Air and water do mix]

I never watched it after it changed from Speedvision to Speed. I loved the campy old car chase movies they played on the weekends (Lost Drive-In) and all the rally racing and non-NASCAR stuff they showed.

But I guess it has changed just like all the other cable channels I used to watch, like TLC (only plays things like "Extreme Couponing" and "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" now) and History Channel, which only seems to have things like "Cajun Pawn Stars" and "Swamp People."

Give me some Modern Marvels or How It's Made, not any of this.

As I said in some other thread about the old Speedvision, my favorite show was "A Gentleman's Motorsports Diary". It was great. It would show edited versions of European road racing, usually stuff from the '50s through the '70s. They had a show on the early days of NASCAR as well. It was really good but I don't remember it's name.

I love Modern Marvels and the old show "Automobiles" (the one hosted by Edward Herman), but "How it's Made" I find so badly narrated and blandly done that I find it hard to watch.

[That1njguy]

My first reaction is that Fox isn't dumb enough to turn SPEED into NASCARTV (although it kinda is already). Seems like taxes, TV rights will never go down. It's all about $$ rights and advertising. I don't even think they even care of about viewership as long as the networks get their $$.

No one is going to be happy all the time with the right mix of racing vs. reality tv. You just find the best mix you can watch. I will admit my tv is on velocity much more than SPEED.

[Jordan 191]

Is it confirmed that F1 will stay on Fox Sports One?

[PlatinumGLS]

I need F1 and motorcycle racing (MotoGP; WSBK; AMA).

[compy222]

My first reaction is that Fox isn't dumb enough to turn SPEED into NASCARTV (although it kinda is already). Seems like taxes, TV rights will never go down. It's all about $$ rights and advertising. I don't even think they even care of about viewership as long as the networks get their $$.

there is no way that fox would turn it into nascar tv. think about what would happen if F1 or ALMS had to broadcast on nascartv.

[1985Jetta]

I forgot to add that I watch F1 too. I watched MotoGP for a bit but now I find it boring.

[G0to60]

I watch Speed and Velocity pretty regularly. I watch the racing on Speed (Grand Am, F1, Continental, The Grid) and I watch fun shows on Velocity (Wheeler Dealers, Chasing Classic Cars, Fifth Gear). As long as these shows are on air at sometime I don't care what network they are on. I just set my DVR and watch them at my leisure. I don't really care that Nascar takes up most of the air time on Speed. The way I see it is that Nascar pays the bills so I can watch the racing that I like.

[robr2]

I do think the Discovery owns or is owned by the BBC in Europe, so we might get things like the BTCC on Velocity.

Discovery Channel is owned by Discovery Communications. They own 14 other cable channels in the US (TLC, History, OWN, Animal Planet, et al) and another 15 plus in international markets.

The have a joint production agreement with the BBC. Basically it gives Discovery the rights to BBC owned series for concept and broadcast.

As for SPEED going away, I really have not watched them in years. If Fox Sports 1 becomes a reality, what happens to all the local cable channels they have?

[Rob.]

I used to love watching SPEEDVISION in the late 90's when they had BTCC, DTM, ATCC, Aussi V8 races ! Not to mention all the BMW, Porsche and Ferrari test drives.

Now Speed channel is a joke.

[madmax2k1]

what about my ride rulez yo? major bummer dawg.

[G0to60]

I used to love watching SPEEDVISION in the late 90's when they had BTCC, DTM, ATCC, Aussi V8 races ! Not to mention all the BMW, Porsche and Ferrari test drives.

Now Speed channel is a joke.

They still show all of those on Speed. BTCC, DTM, and ATCC are shown in the off season and they show the Aussi V8 races through out the summer. As I mentioned before Speed shows a lot of different race series over the whole year. They even air the entire races for Grand Am where ABC/ESPN shows a condensed version of ALMS.