Comments on: Versus Can Do So Much More

By: rick

rick — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 01:24:51 +0000

North America still needs a racing TV channel!

A group on facebook (North America needs a racing TV channel) has around 1,300 members. Many people from around North America are upset.

Also, if fans in North America were able to see more racing from both North America and around the world and vice versa, would that not help everyone?

By: MrAnalog

MrAnalog — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 07:43:35 +0000

This post was exactly what needs to be done. NASCAR is on SPPED 24/7 and it make me cringe every time I go past it on the dial. There is even a game show on NASCAR trivia. Why can’t VS have a midweek show? Replay of old races is a great idea too. I’m sick of the complaining about the VS deal. Look it is signed and a done deal. Why would Versus let a buyout happen? It make no sense from their point of view. Even if they let us out of deal where would we go? ESPN and ABC aren’t interested. SPEED is a NASCAR product and we aren’t on good terms with those folks right now.

By: The Lapper

The Lapper — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 13:17:28 +0000

I like the prime time show, but I would also replay it on Saturday or Sunday moning. I catch the f1 sho and NASCAR show then and would enjoy seeing IndyCar. Of course, that is just me.

Looking for soul food and a place to eat
The Lapper

By: Steve K

Steve K — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 04:39:24 +0000

I’m smart enough to find versus. Why isn’t the rest of the country? I see no problems, just complainers. But then that’s what IndyCar fans tend to be.

By: Edward

Edward — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 02:25:43 +0000

Spot-on, George. I totally agree with everything you wrote here.

What I would like to see from Versus IndyCar coverage if I had my druthers-which I don’t:

A show like RPM 2night or NASCAR Now like ESPN did or does or like NASCAR Race Hub like Speed does now.

Re-airs of recent races as well as classic races from all the sanctioning bodies-USAC/CART/ChampCar/IRL/IndyCar.

Airing races of Firestone Indy Lights as well as other “Road to Indy” ladder series-F2000 and Star Mazda.

Even an IndyCar type “reality” show following the drivers on and off-track might not be a bad idea. Whether any of these or any of the ideas you and others have floated-all of which are good ideas-will come to fruition remains to be seen.

By: Chris Lukens

Chris Lukens — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 19:48:38 +0000

George, you need to add a choice of “All the above”.
Travis, I REALLY like your idea of a show with Donald Davidson.

By: billytheskink

billytheskink — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 14:54:37 +0000

I voted to put Indy Lights on TV because the series needs to have television exposure outside of the Indianapolis race if it is to have any significant car count and subsequent success in fielding and graduating talented drivers.

A midweek Indy Car show would be excellent, but I wonder if Versus would program around it or if it would often be preempted for live events (especially during hockey season). I also wonder if IndyCar generates enough content to keep a weekly show interesting during the offseason.

I think an all racing-oriented show like RPM2Night would do very well on Versus, if given a consistent time slot and the press and highlight rights to all series. Probably a pipe dream…

By: Travis R

Travis R — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 14:52:00 +0000

There are just so many opportunities here.

Perhaps Trackside Live could be turned into a TV show, kind of like Dave Despain’s call-in show on SPEED?

I also could see a series of half-hour specials hosted by Donald Davidson covering classic cars, Indy legends, and highlights of races in the past.

Perhaps a couple of half-hour specials regarding the 2012 car.

Maybe a few shows that spend time with each of the drivers during the off-season. With Tony Kanaan doing the Ironman 70.3 Miami triathlon this weekend, there should be somebody there with a camera.

There are just so many opportunities – it just seems that maybe Versus doesn’t have the manpower to follow everything.

By: The American Mutt

The American Mutt — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 14:01:34 +0000

Could VS make back the money it would take to buy the rights to air the old ABC owned races?

By: NaBUru38

NaBUru38 — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:59:59 +0000

In addition to (quasi) live Indy Lights races, Versus should add a show with five or seven drivers, at least half of them among the top 10, where they discuss the previous race and/or the next race (depending on the date) plus the state and future of IndyCar. Fox Sports and El Garage do that on Monday night, although you probably have major league sports games at that moment of the week. Argentine tin-top racing have 40+ major race weekends in a year, 11-16 races each series.