F1 Leaving Speed Channel at the end of 2012

Peter Zambos · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 5:48 am Post subject:

Hobbs and Machett have done commentary for other networks, so it's a possibility that they could move over to NBC, as they're a known quantity to the U.S. audience. However, my understanding is that Varsha is under contract to Fox, so he'll be stuck in limbo, just let out of his box long enough to go to another Barrett-Jackson auction.

I'm sure that NBC will do a good enough job to at least not shrink the U.S. audience. Who knows, maybe they'll even grow it. What I'm more concerned about are the series that may be without a home with the conversion of Speed, such as the V-8s, bikes and sportscars. I can't get Speed2.com (if that will even live on) with my carrier and I can't do a dish, so I might just be SOL on that front.

Chris Hurst · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 11:26 am Post subject:

Peter Zambos · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 1:06 pm Post subject:

Of course it wasn't pulling the numbers that it should, because the channel wasn't really carrying what it should. Instead of showing extensive race coverage, documentaries and car-centered movies, as was it's forte when it was Speedvision, they've focused more on game shows and reality TV.
When it was Speedvision, it was the fastest growing cable network ever.

Now it's a joke. I won't be sad to see the channel go, as there wasn't a good channel for racing since it went in the toilet anyhow. Speed already died, it just happened so slowly that it took a while to notice.

joseph hollinger · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 1:15 pm Post subject:

When you are small, it's fairly easy to be the fastest growing. My guess is that the total available market for racing (at least the kind of racing speed used to show) is relatively small. It's hard to make a business case that investment unless the ultimate numbers are going to be large. Speed was probably doomed from the start.
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Chris Hurst · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 4:04 pm Post subject:

Peter Zambos · Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 4:32 pm Post subject:

Chris Livengood · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 11:18 am Post subject:

If you've ever watched the F1 coverage that is presented in other English speaking countries you know that Speeds coverage was pathetic. Don't even get me started on Will Buxton. With NBC it will only get worse, but I wasn't watching it on Speed anyways.
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Tyson Henry · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 11:48 am Post subject:

Agreed. Sky sports or BBC coverage all the way.

TJ Koyen · Joined: 03 Oct 2004 Posts: 1453

paul hir · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 12:25 pm Post subject:

Chris Hurst · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 5:00 pm Post subject:

Kerry Matthews · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 12:35 am Post subject:

When Fox bought Speedvision, it became Speed Channel, and all the crap programming began. Now it will be Fox Sports, and carry ALL forms of sports, just as NBC Sports (the old Versus) does now.
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Chris Hurst · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 10:00 pm Post subject:

Greg Lindahl · Joined: 13 Jan 2011 Posts: 271

NBC's claim is 100 hours of F1 programming per year. So that's 100/20 = 5 hours of programming per F1 race. That should cover practice, qualifying and race.
Loved the original Speedvision for covering all the great non-NASCAR racing from around the world. Agree that when Murdock bought Speedvision it became NASCAR-vision and was greatly watered down from the view of the knowledgable race fan.
Think the Speed F1 team is great and will miss any changes NBC makes, unless they do as well or better.
Maybe another cable company will see the potential in MotoGP, WSBK, WRC, WEC, V8-Supercars, etc. and start another network...

Cory Ross · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 2:24 pm Post subject:

So far I am not impressed with how NBC is covering F1. They have a very small amount of news even after the launch of all the 2013 cars and two days of practice.

Hell they even show a picture of an F1 car in a section discussing IndyCar.