Busch Series EXCLUSIVLY to ESPN2

[azbobbybooshay10]

From Jayski:

Busch Series reported moving to ESPN2: ESPN2 expects to land exclusive rights to all Busch Series races, Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Daily reports. Speaking on conditions of anonymity, officials at ESPN said the Busch Series races would be exclusive domain of ESPN2 under terms of a new television contract, reporter Andy Bernstein writes.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(10-19-2005)

Hmm, now this could shake up the TV stuff. I'm going to be very curious to see how this works, especially at Daytona.

Friday:
ESPN2 shows Busch qualifying (will qualifying also be exclusive, or will Speed still do that?)
Speed shows truck race

Satruday:
Speed shows Cup Happy Hour
ESPN shows Busch race

Sunday: FOX shows Daytona 500

Is it me, or am I foreseeing some potential problems to having 2 different dueling networks at the track at the same time, and having to switch back and forth between the 2 for different events on the same day.

[Cheryl]

Thanks for posting this information, Bobby!  That's exciting to hear ESPN might get the Busch contract.  

As to you question of about how it would work with three networks at the track in one race weekend.  I don't think it would present that much difficulty.  A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to tour the TV compound at the Richmond race.  At that time, they explained that Fox and NBC use the same technical crew for their parts of the season (cameramen, audio people, etc.).  The only thing that changes are the producer, director and voices in the booth.  

Also, the last two years when we went to Bristol for the Hooters Cup and truck races, the production company doing the Hooters broadcast "rented" the equipment that Speed was using to broadcast the truck race.  So, I think different networks can easily be accommodated on the same race weekend.  Just like now when NBC did the Cup race and Speed covered the ARCA race at Talladega a few weeks ago.

Cheryl

[Vivian]

Very interesting.  I just hope most everyone and especially our members here will have access to ESPN 2.  It would be kind of devastating if they don't.  Especially if they start limiting how many 'whackers can race.

I may not even watch the beginning of the Daytona 500 if Fox has it next year.  Yuk on that bbb crap...

[Cheryl]

I may not even watch the beginning of the Daytona 500 if Fox has it next year.  Yuk on that bbb crap...

Don't worry, Vivian!  NBC has the Daytona 500 next year.  The new contracts are for AFTER 2006.  

Cheryl