Nascar: 2010

Ron61 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-09-2010, 04:16 PM

MONEY. With the help of the press playing this up NASCAR is hoping to have a large audience watching for pay back in the nest races. Their ratings are down even from last year, they have removed seats from the tracks and still can't fill them, so something drastic has to be done. That really is the most logical explanation for what they did.

Ron

Don · #2 (**permalink**) 03-09-2010, 09:21 PM

TV rating for Atlanta is +2%, 3.7 million households, compared to last year

" The spin on the spin: Fox's NASCAR ratings, which this season faced Plympic competition and were down 14% heading into last weekend, get their first uptick this year "

One version on the impact of the Olympics:

" The ratings numbers reflected the anticipation of the Olympic gold-medal game between Canada and the United States.

Sunday's epic -- won by Canada 3-2 in overtime -- was the most-watched hockey game since the gold-medal game in 1980, when the United States beat Finland after stunning the Soviet Union in the "Miracle on Ice." That gold-medal game drew 32.8 million.

According to NBC, the game drew an average viewership of 27.6 million and a rating of 15.2, a jump of 45.5 percent from the same matchup at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. Both gold-medal games were aired midafternoon live.

From 5:30 p.m. ET to 6 p.m. ET, the audience reached its peak, with 34.8 million glued to the TV. "

" The game, carried in Canada on nine national networks and in eight languages, became the most-watched television broadcast in Canadian history. An average of 16.6 million Canadians, or about half of the nation's population, tuned in. And about 80 percent of the population, or 26.5 million people, watched at least part of the game.

Buffalo -- where tournament MVP Ryan Miller plays for the Sabres -- was the top individual market in the United States, with a 32.6 rating. Pittsburgh, Detroit, Minneapolis and Milwaukee rounded out the top five. "

Sources for above: USA Today

Ron61 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-10-2010, 06:40 AM

Don,

" The spin on the spin: Fox's NASCAR ratings, which this season faced Plympic competition and were down 14% heading into last weekend, get their first uptick this year "

Their ratings dropped steadily last year and there was no Olympics to blame it on. There were empty seats aplenty at Atlanta and that isn't because of any Olympics. Instead of bragging about how they were up by 2% they should publish the actual ratings like they finally did the Daytona ones. Several shows have been cancelled because of low ratings that were higher than NASCARs. I think the Edwards thing may blow up in their faces, especially if someone gets hurt or killed because of their desire to get back fans and ratings. All I hear on the news around here is "Wait until Bristol and the score will be settled." And NASCAR is condoning this media hype in hopes of drawing more people to watch what could be a bad thing. But the money is all they or anyone else in this country cares about any more. Also last Sunday no one around here could find any other races to watch as we all called each other. And Sunday TV here really is lousy. So when it isn't raining or cold, I work around the yards and upper lot.

EDIT: This pretty much backs what I said about NASCAR being in trouble money wise and using any tactic to try and gain back fans and money. Even the NASCAR site has a 3 page article about how they are trying to lure fans back. I do agree with this article abut it is a dangerous game they are playing to do nothing more than this. http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news?...yhoo&type=lgns

Ron

Wayne Maybury · #4 (**permalink**) 03-10-2010, 07:42 AM

Some more thoughts on all of this.

I think that considering the outcome, everyone agrees that what Carl did, was stupid. If Brad had just spun out, it would have been a very different matter. However when you play with fire, sometimes you are going to get burned.

NASCAR seems to love this situation as the TV audience will be bigger next week as people will be watching to see how the next episode will unfold.

This incident also laid to rest, at least in my mind, any questions about the wing versus the rear spoiler. Too many cars with that wing have gone airborne when turned around.

I do not like that car they now have but it sure can take a lick.

Wayne

Don · #5 (**permalink**) 03-10-2010, 08:08 AM

Ron, USA Today did publish the actual rating, I just didn't key it in....specific numbers:

Rating: 4.8
Households: 3.7 million

The ratings comment I mentioned was a recap by USA Today, NOT NASCAR. USA Today comments on a variety of TV shows such as hockey, basketball, etc

" The spin on the spin: Fox's NASCAR ratings, which this season faced Olympic competition and were down 14% heading into last weekend, get their first uptick this year "

Don · #6 (**permalink**) 03-10-2010, 08:18 AM

Attached is an interview with Mike Helton, NASCAR President. Does not imply there is any agreement etc., but at least these are Mike's own words and comments as opposed to interpretations. After reading the transcript, everyone can arrive at their your own opinion, each opinion being as valid as the next one, as to whether NASCAR is intentionally leveraging the incident to improve ratings.

Subject: Edwards & Keselowski

Transcript: NASCAR Teleconference with NASCAR President Mike Helton

March 9, 2010

AN INTERVIEW WITH: MIKE HELTON

" HERB BRANHAM: Thanks, and good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the first of today's two NASCAR Cams. For this first one, we're joined by NASCAR President Mike Helton. He's going to open up with a brief announcement before taking some questions from the media. Mike, it's all yours. "

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=359811

Ron61 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-10-2010, 08:27 AM

Thanks Don,

That puts it more in perspective. A 4.8 rating is still not very good. And if they don't start filling seats at the tracks and gain more viewers, I feel they are eventually going to have to make some major changes. Like Wayne said, this car can take a beating but it is the neck braces more than that which is helping. If you remember Adam Pettys crash was just a minor brush with the wall but it snapped his neck back and forth. Same for Kenny Erwin Jr. though his throttle stuck open and he hit the wall head on at full speed but once again it was the neck snapping back and forth that killed him. I like the foam around the outside of this car, but that could be added to a real car just a could the rest of the safety measures.

Ron