At 2 p.m. today, IRL officials are expected to unveil their 2009 schedule. Motorsports sources tell IBJ there will be 18
races next year (10 ovals and eight road courses), with the Nashville race removed and a race in Toronto added. There will
be no race in New Hampshire or Las Vegas despite speculation to the contrary. The race in Homestead will be moved from the
beginning of the IRL calendar to the end. The race in Motegi, Japan will also be moved toward the end of the season. A race
in Australia will not be on the 2009 schedule released today. But league sources said it could be squeezed in after the race
in Japan and before Homestead. On a side note, IRL officials just announced today that the Australia race will be held Oct.
26, 2008. After much complaining by team officials, there will be no more than three consecutive weekends of racing next year.
Meanwhile, the IRL is negotiating for a new television package, and it’s not going well, according to sources with knowledge of the dealings. IRL’s current deal with ABC/ESPN runs through 2009.
Officials for ABC/ESPN and Fox Sports have told IRL officials they are interested in the Indianapolis 500, but little else concerning the open-wheel series. ABC/ESPN and Fox officials have told IRL officials they will not pay a rights fee anywhere near the $10 million annually ABC/ESPN currently pays, according to motorsports insiders.
Despite unification with Champ Car, IRL race telecasts have seen no bump in advertising revenue, and ABC/ESPN officials said they continue to lose money on the deal. ESPN has suggested a revenue-sharing model, but the IRL has shown little interest in that.
IRL officials are still trying to put together a package with ABC/ESPN or Fox that includes the Indianapolis 500 and at least four or five other races. That could force IRL officials to buy time for their other 12 or 13 races, or let them go untelevised, which would be a marketing disaster.
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If they do something to make it better to watch the broadcast than it is to stream it live on the web, then they'll get bigger ratings. The commentary sucks, the constant bumping of the start sucks, the channel switcharoo sucks. It's easy for them to blame the fans, but they really should look in their own backyard first.
All I can say to what you said.....nonsense!
The ratings don't warrant the type of coverage that the 'league's' (very few, mostly delusional) fans want. They can run their excuse generators all they want, it doesn't matter, the 'league' is a cheap, shoddy, lame copy of actual motorsport. A fraud. Even the fi-hunnerd is an absolute joke under FTG's failed 'leadership'. A pathetic imitation.
It's only going to get worse. And the only marginally enjoyable thing about this farce is watching it crumble.
Opinions are one thing. Many of us are fans. All things should be open to criticism. Your name calling, hyper negative rants are getting old. It would be a reasonable idea for you to be civil. My father-in-law used to say, if you can't say something positive about someone, don't say anything at all. I don't always follow that adage, but I try to do so.
So, again, your comments are welcome, your name calling and hate speech are not.
Why don't you give it a try sometime?
Danica-mania is not as big as I thought.
Are you the self appointed miderator? Maybe you should grow some thicker skin.