Just throwing this out--could it be because Murdoch is an old man, and wants to revive the old man's sport, baseball? That used to be called the national pastime, but anyone watching programming lately would conclude football has taken over.

Then again, it's curious that an Australian would give so much weight to an American-born motorsport--one that has its roots in whiskey-running in the South.

It's perplexing, and truly disappointing. I suppose someone will generate pay-per-view for F1, but it won't help the sport any.

How much of this is Bernie's fault? Fox/Speed says it's a function of cost.

 

Didn't Speed earlier this year cut F1 coverage to show soccer??! A sign of what was to come I now think...

 

Well, on the surface it doesnt appear to be as bad as I thought.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2012...n=awdailydrive

 

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/494104...-motor_sports/

a update I found - if I am reading it right, just four races will be on NBC TV

"The remaining 16 races, and all practices and qualifying sessions will be on cable NBC Sports Network in what's expected to total more than 100 hours of annual programming.
All 20 races will be live streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra, the NBC Sports Group’s live-stream platform that is available online at NBCSports.com as well as on mobile and tablet apps. "

- I'll have to see if I get the NBC Sports Network
- and figure out if my "smart" TV can capture the NBC Sports Live Extra stream

 

Here's what Yahoo has to say:

http://news.yahoo.com/nbc-sports-gro...230225245.html

One of the comments says that Hobbs, et.al, will be part of the deal, but I don't see that in the article. Or did I miss something?

 

As always Bernie has his greedy little fingers in every pie and is now crowing about getting NBC as the TV host for F1 in the USA...


"NBC and its various media assets have a huge profile throughout the United States and I am obviously delighted to have concluded this agreement," Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One Group CEO, said in a statement.

"I feel that they will promote Formula One to a level not seen before in the United States."

Yeah Bernie, they're going to promote it alright, wether they do it right or wrong is the question but then again you've got NBC's 'John Hancock' on a contract and have their check squirreled away in your coffers so what do you care!

All I can say about this whole sordid affair, cause its all about the money, not the fans, is that if NBC has any business acumen and is really sincere () about expanding its motorsport coverage and gaining more viewers then they better get David Hobbs, Steve Matchett, and Bob Varsha on board as commentators. It is their only saving grace! Those men know the sport and through their learned and entertaining commentary inform not only those hardened F1 fans but draw in those that are new to the sport! No Hobbs, Matchett & Varsha = poor ratings for NBC and no new fan base for Bernie in the U.S.!

I already have many doubts and this (see below) statement also raises some red flags about the coverage that NBC has in mind...

NBC will air four races--the Canadian Grand Prix in June, and the final three races of the season in November--while the remaining 16 races will air on NBC Sports Network. All practice and qualifying sessions will also be on the cable station.

Miller said the intent is to broadcast everything live, but the network is working through a small number of scheduling conflicts.


What Miller's intent is and what he actually does are two different things! How does that saying go, The road to Hell is paved with 'good intent'...

So once again the fan is forced to bite the bullet and accept whatever crap Bernie shoves down the pipe...

Then again, I feel like if things don't go to my satisfaction I may just turn the spigot and shut off the flow from that pipe!

 

I say we'll get the last three live because the open wheel season will be over here so no conflicts. Why they won't do the NJ race live as well as the Canadian race is beyond me. I bet they will announce live coverage of NJ once the race is official.

 

Ugh.......F1 race in New Jersey postponed until 2014! Check Speed.com for details....announcement coming Friday.

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/artic...race-postponed

 

Wow...that was a great race!! As much as I don't want to see Vettel win the championship he had a great drive - no doubt helped by the safety car periods.

Webber - can't buy a decent start to a race.

Hamilton - can't buy any luck! Sorry he couldn't win for the team that gave him so much.

Alonso - just keeps plugging away.

Kimi - awesome!

 

Gee, S-Driver--thanks for spoiling the surprise! I always watch races later so I don't have to listen to the ads...and hadn't watched it yet.

Our tickets came for Austin. I sure hope Michael gets on the stick. Barring that, maybe he'll sit next to us if he drops out early. (Yeah, right.)

 

Huh?? Daff - I'm sorry it was spoiled for you but what are you doing on an F1 thread if you haven't watched it yet?? I tottaly avoid FB and email until I've watched it...

 

That's okay, I really don't have a dog in this hunt this year. Michael's not doing squat, and Lewis's not going to win the championship either.

 

Anyone want some tickets for the turn 5 grandstand?

They suddenly decided to sell some turn 1 tickets without PSLs in September, that's what I wanted all along, so I bought a couple of those. Of course, we already had bought some tickets for turn 5, I thought I'd found a buyer for those, but he seems to have disappeared. So anyone want them? They cost $320 each, I'm letting them go for $300 each.

 

Went to my first F1 race yesterday (I work in Abu Dhabi) and it was awesome. After seeing some on TV, I didn't think it was going to be nearly as exciting. I felt bad for Hamilton. If he didn't have car problems, he would have won that race hands down. Seeing Vettel race from the back was great too. It seemed like each time the cars passed, he gained a position. Although there wasn't much of a contest for first place, the racing in the pack was really exciting. Not to mention the noise! Definitely going to follow F1 much more closely now.

 

It appears that I'll be invited to Austin, as part of the Tata Communications "Pit Crew" who provide connectivity and other services to each race.

Since I originally met with the FOM representatives and LBI (who provide the web site and Live Timing software) I've been holding my breath that this chance would come.

After more than forty years of being a passionate fan, for my first attendance to be behind the scenes is a dream come true.

I can hardly wait.

Cheers,

Charlie

(of course, my next Mini will apparently show up at the dealer on that same weekend - but I think meeting Gollum II will have to wait a few days...)

 

Congratulations! Are they providing a hotel, too?

 

I hope so. Dodgy if they don't although I've distant relatives in those parts. Not nice to re-introduce oneself to cousins just because reservations aren't available - a bit tacky! :-)

 

True, 'nuff! Maybe they'll let you pitch a tent, though.

I hear there's plenty of rooms (and rental homes) available if you have the bucks. "Thousand a night, 3 nights minimum" ought to do it!

We're staying in Elgin (pronounced with a hard "g" sound, not the way it is in normal places).

 

Well - although Varsha is not coming along to NBC, at least we got Hobbs and Matchett! L Diffey will also bring some continuity to the broadcast as he's filled in for Varsha in the past.

Still to be determined is the pit road reporter...

 

That's good news. I swear Hobbs and Matchett sounds a bit like either a children's book or a comic strip though...

So I apparently didn't do as much damage as I feared on 6th street last night, and should make the bus to the circuit at 6:30 am this morning.

I'm just like a kid at Christmas I am.

Austin is funny as hell - they've really set out the welcome mat, but no matter how hard everyone tries F1 is quite a stretch for the local culture.

Cheers,

Charlie

 

Alright then, we have boots on the ground in Austin, with Deb, Charlie, and Btwyx being there!

So, as always, your NAMily hopes that you will keep us abreast of what's happening during the GP weekend and we look forward to your pit/race reports and any pics that you may post!

It will be interesting to see how the grid forms up for this one seeing as no one has any track data for COTA!

Looking forward to hearing from all those who are at COTA and wishing I was there with you all!

Enjoy the weekend!

 

Well that is welcome news indeed!

I will miss Bob Varsha and his knowledgable commentary...

Leigh Diffey is a good substitute for Varsha.

Would love to have NBC get Sam Posey to do his capsulated commentary on any given race. I do like his insight and his rhetoric.

Finally, let's hope that NBC gets it right and does not break every 5 minutes for commercials giving us a edited version of the race.

 

Since I don't have a MINI anymore, I'm not going to be watching this thread like I used to. Probably no one really cares, but the point is I have been doing the segue the past few years from threads for one season to the next.

Someone else needs to decide to do that after this season is over. I am passing the mantle along. Happy motoring...

 

I do and I am sure that the rest of us do also!

Sorry to see that you don't have a MINI anymore...

Thanks RaceTripper for everything and though you do not have a MINI (at least for now) you still are (and always will be) part of the NAMily!

Good luck and don't forget to check-in every so often!

 

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

FWIW: I joined a STi forum and found the people were much less friendly and mature, and ultimately stopped visiting after a few months. This is probably the best auto enthusiast forum I've ever been a member of.

But I do love the STi. It's a great car.