The cable TV company Comcast now runs NBC, VERSUS and the other cable TV networks in the NBC portfolio. Included in the agreement is the fact that VERSUS controls the online video streaming.
VERSUS is once again in transition, even as Ind圜ar rides out a ten year deal the network forced Ind圜ar to sign when there were no other options. The 0.35 Household rating qualifies as barely a blip on the cable TV network radar. The primetime race was seen by less than 500 thousand fans nationwide despite VERSUS being distributed to almost 80 million homes. The pass for the win was fantastic and as a television product it was superb.ĭays later, that enthusiasm was tempered by the reality of VERSUS. In-car cameras showed the speed and danger. This Ind圜ar race live on VERSUS featured tremendous battles, multiple caution flags and intense racing. The Iowa Corn 250 was on Saturday night, June 25. Now, only 3 years later, this TV deal made in haste may bring down the entire sport. The agreement was supposed to be a solid investment in the future for both parties. At the time, VERSUS promised to grow Ind圜ar as the network grew.
The remainder of the races went to the cable network VERSUS. With its arm now firmly twisted behind its back, Ind圜ar knuckled under to ESPN and agreed to the five race deal for four years. Already deeply involved with NASCAR, F-1 and sports car racing that group passed. The only other viable broadcast and cable TV network combination at the time was FOX and SPEED. Ind圜ar needed the ABC coverage of the Indy 500 as the anchor of the season. The bet by ESPN was that Ind圜ar would be forced to agree to this stripped-down contract for one simple reason. Despite a proud tradition that the network still tries to promote, ESPN made Ind圜ar a take it or leave it proposition in 2008.ĮSPN offered to televise only five races, including the Indy 500, starting in 2009. In the blink of an eye, ESPN decided that Ind圜ar racing was no longer a priority.
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