SpeedTV

I started this discussion on another forum and thought I'd bring it here too.

Who likes Speed TV?

I sure as hell don't. Obviously, I'd love a channel that has information about the cars and sporting events that I like more regularly than Speed does.

I started this discussion because I was so pissed off yesterday. I had about an hour to myself while dinner was cooking, so I looked at Speed. They had Monster Trucks on ALL DAMN DAY! Hours and hours of that crap. I don't get it.

As a "car guy" I can appreciate all kinds of cars and trucks and I like to learn about them. But to have Monster Trucks on for an entire day really just got my goat.

The only way I would have been more pissed was if it was a marathon of Unique Whips.

/rant off //discuss

AHEM Brother. For two or three weeks SPEED was saying 2007 Targa New Foundland or Rallye Austrailia (spelling ? sorry) and I never did see the 07 events. Not to mention a dearth of road racing or rallying. Does anyone remember when ESPN, TNN etc started? They would show stuff like that then the got too big for their britchs or too good to show stuff we like. Speed has done the same thing and became NASCAR channel.

I was also disappointed with the monster truck marathon, I would so much rather have watched a CORR marathon! I don't even really mind the 7 replays of each test session and qualifying, etc for all of the different NASCAR series. What bothers me is all the non-motorsports and barely automotive content like Unique Whips, auction coverage, "Payback," and lifestyle shows following NASCAR drivers around the inside of their houses. Isn't that shop in Unique Whips called Something Motorsports? What is "motorsports" about installing five TVs and 400 pounds of audio equipment plus leopard-skin upholstery to a Hummer? There isn't anything in there even remotely resembling any stretch of the word "sport" unless you are talking about the physical challenge of the pudgy installer trying to climb into a lifted Escalade with 100 pounds of 3/4" particle board in his hands without snagging his size XXXXXL basketball jersey on anything.

Sigh...I realize it is a lost cause because we don't represent a big enough market segment, so I guess I will just have to be glad that we have gotten some German Touring Cars, SCCA Runoffs, and Aussie Supercars this week!

It's got to the point that I wonder why it's called "SPEED" channel, there is no speed about it (other than how fast I go to sleep watching it). Lately the dub shows and pinks have taken over the nascrap that was on it. Rather watch NHRA/IHRA drags on espn than pinks (and I do). I just don't deal with the argueing that goes on in these suboside reality type shows. Gotta admit, watching monster trucks is better than unique whips though.

Yeah I would like to see more of what appeals to us, like road racing including vintage, SCCA runoffs, Rallys, etc... But your right, not enough market segment. But if we were prevalent market segment then how many of us would still be in it? I know I'm a minority at work when I state that I like that racing that cars make left AND right turns. And I don't have to slow down much to turn a corner and I don't slid around the corners either.

Except for the rare, seemingly accidentally programmed show that appeals to me, I hate almost everything on Speed, almost total crap ...except for that young honey who is in their commercial espousing the greatness of Speed TV, I really like her.

I have written to Speed on three occasions about their programing echoing much that has been said here. I have never even received a reply saying they have received my comments. Speed could be so much more. I have suggested a program outlining the restoration of a real sports car from the every day guys prespective. Long term even over several seasons of the decisions and even money constraits. I have suggested a weekly seris that reviews various aspects of motor sports and follows a regular guy running a late model stock car one week, a SCCA road racer, a guy doing track days, an auto crosser, a drag racer, and the list could be endless all told from a regular guy/gals position. Even the NASCAR stuff is OK if it is not over done. I loved the Newfoundland Targa but I guess we will never see that. If I see one more episode of Unigue Whips or Pinks I'm going to throw up. I hope Speed's programing is not what real car people are becoming. However, I suspect that may be the case as programing is all about what sponsers are willing to pay for and target a certain segment of people.

Speed channel used to be great, used to show old rally footage and they used to have shows like Victory by Design on all the time. This was in the mid 90's as I recall.

Now it sucks. No argument.

I used to look forward to Jan 1st on Speed - they'd show the entire WRC season. A couple of years back they switched to all-day Barrett-Jackson instead and lost me for good.

The 2007 Targa Newfoundland show will be aired on Speed, I expect, just like it has been for the last few years. But first they have to assemble the show, it's a long process. Give it a few more months. It's unlikely to ever see a live broadcast.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm sick of PINKS and drag racing in general.

Been watching some of the good DTM racing and the V8 Super Cars.

Hey wow they turned right!

Speed Vision was a thing of wonder, then FOX bought it up and the rest is a sad history.

A.

I'll admit to being a fan of "back in the day" I dig the old footage of NASCAR tracks before they were stadiums. armco, dirt berms, fencing only on the spectator side of things...awesome. You can keep Dale Jr.

American Muscle car has the history of TRANS AM...right now...sunday at 9 am.

sjd

I'm quite discouraged with SPEED TV right now, not so much because it's the NASCAR channel, but because of all the non-performance crap (Whips, etc). Pinks all out isn't too bad, and Tanner Foust's show is OK for a tuner show, but a lot of the rest is crap - at the expense of two of my favorites, WRC and th Isle of Man TT (which I believe they skipped this year). If they would bring back the ERC coverage and the TT, and maybe some more Alan De Cadenet programs, and ditch Whips and the "regular" Pinks, I'd be a lot happier.

Just pray they keep F1 with Varsha, Hobbs and Machett, and keep Dave Despain.

Seems like everytime I turn SPEED TV there are guys on sport motorcycles doing wheelies. That is impressive, but after a few minutes it all looks alike. They did have Australian V8 road racing yesterday, which was very entertaining.

I still like SPEED, but it's nowhere as good as it use to be. There is nowhere else where I can watch the SCCA Runoffs or the Historic Monterey event. I also enjoy the World Challenge and Touring Car events.

I think PINKS is OK from time to time and shows like that as there is an audience for it.

However, it does seem like they go crazy with Monster Truck and Super Bike filler time instead of showing more variety. I truly miss having my DVR record all the WRC events. I became a huge fan of WRC when I first saw it on SPEED, but now I have to download the events of the net, their website, etc if I want to see anything. I don't care about F1 coverage, as I'm into racing - not high speed parade laps. ;)

Additionally, for a vast majority of the year - the NASCAR stuff is overkill. Obviously, we know the reasons why that is - but why do you need pre-race events EVERY WEEK beginning at 9AM?!?!? Ugh.

Again, I don't have a problem with variety and I even watch an episode of Unique Whips and Pinks from time to time. I think variety of shows for an audience of different tastes are a good thing. However, the variety has definitely been limited and directed towards the NASCAR "stereotype" fan with the Monster Trucks and such.

It's not much different with the way G4 destroyed TechTV if any of you are familiar with what happened there. TechTV was fantastic and was killed off by G4 in a "merger". Unfortunately, unlike with the TechTV content, it's not like you can just start making replacement podcasts and webtv productions with most motorsports events due to the inherent traveling, costs, etc.

With DVR and technology, there is plenty of programming time to air a variety of program types for everyone to watch or not watch. It's a shame there is such a repeat of certain programs when the time could be used for other historical or informational broadcasts.

sigh. Victory by Design, Legends of Motorsport, WRC coverage, Reno Air Races, powerboat racing, Dave Despain.

All are gone, hidden (at crappy hours), or dwindling (Wind Tunnel used to be 4 (I think) nights a week).

I still watch Speed, but it sure as E36 M3 ain't what it used to be.

I hope that NASCAR will spin off completely into its own channel, leaving poor slobs like us with what we want on Speed......

Every time I turn it on I see Unique Whips, Pinks and Tunervision -- AAHHHHH! Make it Stop!!!

I hate it, but I can't help checking it every time I turn on the TV (Speed, then History). Mostly at night it's crap (as already mentioned), but I like when F1 is running in a timezone where I can see them qualifying while I eat my Friday breakfast.

Nobody else gives you as much Daytona24 coverage, or coverage of half the stuff we love. They cover Koni challenge and SWC, and sometimes you'll see the Aussie V8s. I wish there was more of that, but then again, where else you gonna get it? No more WRC? Disappointing, yes, but there's still a lot there. I don't even mind the B-J auctions when I feel like mindless TV.

I could go on and on about all the shows I hate, but I think it's been covered. There are many demographics represented within the car hobby and Speed is in business to make money, so they're going to do what they think they have to do to do so.

What do you guys think, that a channel is going to cater to a bunch of tightwad, middle-class, middle-aged guys who like weird cars? The young, single guys in the "tuner" crowd have the money and the carefree will to spend it on their cars. So, yes, they're going to get some shows. Maybe a lot of shows.

Yes, NASCAR is also a cash cow--for now at least until the bubble bursts (soon, according to DeLorenzo. Soon.)

Speed is like the crack dealer. I hate the guy, but I can't help going back to him because despite his flaws, nobody else has what I need.

Now, if only Despain ran the place...

I disagree. I'd need a Tivo to take advantage of any of the content that I might enjoy, and that's ridiculous.

Also, there is nothing wrong with tuner cars. The shows that feature them stink! The thing that always amazed me about hot rodding (of any type) is the small details. Those neat, subtle trick elements that really personalized a car and made it special. The tuner shows don't even touch on that stuff. Everything they show is from at least 10 feet away. All style, no substance.

As a car guy, I like all kinds of cars. What I can not stand is any show that caters to the lowest common denominator and never gets any deeper than stereos, paint and 1/4 mile times.

Unfortunately, you have to cater to the lowest common denominator, as that's where the bulk of the viewing population is. They really don't care about the details, and they pay the bills. TV is all about viewership, and they know at Speed that us types will tune in or Tivo the stuff we want at weird hours, and the rest of it can be mind numbing crap that the average bubba watches. Viewers equal money, and we're in the minority. Simple as that really.

Personally, I'm with you guys though, for the most part, I record what i want, skip the rest.

Gotta get me wunna them Tivos.