Sirius has unveiled their programming initiative when the NASCAR torch is handed over from XM to Sirius in 2007.
Sirius will combine live race broadcasts with up to 10 additional "Team Talk" channels featuring the driver-to-crew communications of different race teams during NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races. So you'll be able to follow the overall race call and the in-car audio of a driver on a single channel throughout the race.
The channels will feature top drivers based on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series standings. The lineup of drivers and their channel assignments will be available at www.sirius.com/nascar before each race.
Sirius will broadcast every NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, carrying the live broadcasts of Motor Racing Network (MRN), Performance Racing Network (PRN) and the IMS Radio Network's broadcast from Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
On top of all this live race coverage, Sirius will launch SIRIUS NASCAR Radio (ch 128) which will include live races, plus daily and weekly talk programs, including "Tony Stewart Live."
More details, schedules and hosts on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio will be announced soon.
Woohoo! More channels to be pre-empted just for a race! I feel bad for those that might want to listen to a talk program on a race weekend with college football or NFL games. That would really just suck.
i would be advertising the crap out in nascar land--are they? Cheaper then NY market to advertise too--Stiletto a great fit here
XM already did this and it was unlistenable. So Sirius is going have 10 channels of it?
I guess I could kinda see the value of this... if *your* driver is one of the ten chosen... you could have your receiver next to your TV, and listen to it (albeit slightly delayed) while watching the race... otherwise I don't see the real attraction here. Most diehards at the track already have scanners...
So much for any good programming on Sirius Patriot on the weekends. I'm going to throw my unit out the window if all I ever hear is; "I need gas." "We have some ready." "Good.", or "He is running with the football." "Still running." "Someone knocked him down.", all weekend long.
>>>XM already did this and it was unlistenable.
Frontmed,
Go to dictionary.com and report back what the definition of "UNPRECEDENTED" is. As far as XM being "unlistenable", that is your opinion.
I'm sure everyone will miss DETRIOTS FUCKING WEATHER AND TRAFFIC mikev. no live content on those channels during the ohio st, michigan game. what am i going to do without martha stewart channel re-runs? stupid sirius.
Wow, vroom, vroom, vroom on 10 channels. NASCAR on the radio sucks.
sounds like a bunch of sour grapes around here to me, races are also great places to sell subscriptions
Funny, All I ever here in my store is how many people are switching over because of NASCAR. And this is the DC metro area. I wonder what it is like in the states that really love NASCAR.
They're also a great way to increase churn. NASCAR was a pull for me, I love it, but if you are subscribing for NASCAR, all but the most die-hard fans will be extremely disappointed. Had that been the only thing I subscribed for I would have cancelled after a month, tops. It's just not interesting on radio and it's something that's already free on both TV & radio. You don't get any special commercial free version, you get the terrestrial radio feed.
Final race of the season, with the artificially maniplated drama of the "chase" and the TV ratings are down 20% from last year. 24% from the year before. That equates to about a million less people watching. And it wasn't just this one race, all but 4 were down from last year. Why? because Nascar sucks now and people are starting to react by TURNING IT OFF. Also - it's obvious by Sirius's Nascar promotion that they either want people to cancel XM or are afraid they'll get Sirius and want to switch back. Why else would they want to give you $30 to send in your XM radio, and tie you down to a year contract? Bottom line, Sirius paid over 7x times what XM did for a product that has signifigantly de-valued in worth. Sure, they're going to sign up new customers - but why exactly are they trying to lock-in XM-switchers to an annual contract and take their hardware from them? The less affiliated XM is with Nascar, the more likely it is that their coverage of the sport may actually be HONEST. Unlike the majority of major-media coverage they get, which tow the Nascar/France party-line that it's everyone else's fault Nascar's race-attendance/TV ratings/souvenier sales/overall popularity is declining. It's certainly not Nascar's idiotic decisions and poor management that's the problem.
A dew more details:
"In addition to the live race broadcast, SIRIUS will take fans into the cars and pits by devoting up to 10 additional "Team Talk" channels that will carry the driver-to-crew communications of up to 10 different race teams during NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races. SIRIUS will combine the race broadcast with the driver-to-crew chatter on these channels, allowing fans to follow the overall race call and the in-car audio of a driver on a single channel throughout the race. The channels will feature top drivers based on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series standings. The lineup of drivers and their channel assignments will be available at www.sirius.com/nascar prior to each race.
Listeners will hear drivers and crew chiefs schedule pit stops and discuss strategy over audio of the overall race broadcast. When the team members are not on the radio the audio of the live race broadcast will come up allowing listeners to follow the entire race uninterrupted."
Have you ever listened to what goes on with "team talk"? I have, I go to every race in my area. There is nothing of interest being discussed to anyone but the most die-hard fan. In fact, there's not a lot of chatter at all as drivers are trying to race. Once in a while you may hear "time to pit". Enjoy.
"Funny, All I ever here in my store is how many people are switching over because of NASCAR. And this is the DC metro area. I wonder what it is like in the states that really love NASCAR."
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I call bullsh*t on that statement. NASCAR has remarkable terrestrial and television coverage. It's not like Stern, who totally left all other venues for satellite. NASCAR is easily obtainable by means other than satellite. The effect will be minimal. Maybe a 100k subs will switch, but no more than that. The time and money to switch services will turn off most from doing so.
How about some rock-a-billy music?????