What is CBS Thinking?
This hardly sounds like a winning package to me.
The American network CBS Sports is to give Formula 1 coverage a try in 2005. The network has agreed to a deal to broadcast four Grands Prix, beginning in late April, with two hour-long lifestyle specials to promote Formula 1 in the United States. This will give F1 a total of 10 hours of programming on a US network. The deal was put together by DEC Entertainment which recently secured the US rights to Formula 1.The first race to be aired will be the San Marino Grand Prix which will be broadcast on April 24. CBS will then show the events at Barcelona, the Nurburgring and will show the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal live.
Robert J. Correa, the senior vice-president of programming at CBS Sports, says Formula 1 will fit well into CBS’s racing package.
CBS Sports may be acting under somewhat of a misconception and believe this would be a ratings success. With three of the four events aired being held in Europe the broadcast times will be during Sunday evening primetime in the US. Not the best recipe for acceptable ratings. At least they were smart enough not to carry the Asian stops in the F1 Circus, they would having a starting time of mid-night EST.
Source: GranPrix.com.
UPDATE: This report may have a lot to do with the CBS signing.
Bernie Ecclestone is supporting a push to make F1 more popular in America. A new entity, Grand Prix Entertainment (GPE), has bought the exclusive F1 TV rights and signed an agreement with channel CBS to televise four grands prix live in the States in 2005.‘Andy[Heyward] and I have been talking for a while about the possibility of working together,‘ said Bernie. ‘This is an important step forward in our strategy to … reach a wider audience (in the US).‘
GPE will also develop other ’strategies‘ to further expand F1’s current domestic audience.
Existing US broadcaster, Speed Channel, will air the remaining fifteen grands prix.
If Bernie means by “other strategies” something more than 1 or 2 lead changes per race he may be on to something.
On another note, George of Fast Machines corrected my sorry time conversion. The European F1 events air in the States in the early morning hours, vice evening prime time as reported.
European races air live at 7:30 a.m. eastern U.S. time. Malaysia, Japan, and China air at 1:30 a.m. live. Australia is scheduled on Speed for 9:30 p.m. CBS will carry only Montreal live, I’m sure other races will be tape delayed rebroadcasts.
Thanks for the time correction George. It shows one of the disadvantages of living in the Philippines. Out here I sit dead center between the US and the EU and in my haste I missed the correct conversion.
I am somewhat amused at Bernie’s new found effort at marketing F1 in the U.S. Either he is totaly scornful of what Champ Car and the IRL have, or more appropriately, have not done marketing wise; or he has no appreciation as to the lack of following open wheel racing has. A big risk on his part, which is how he got to be Mr. Excellent to begin with! I wish him well, as it can only help Champ cars overall.
“scornful?” now why would Bernie feel that way:?:
1. Champ car on the ropes and struggling for survival:!:
3. Both are fighting with the monolith from down Daytona:cool: way. (and their own sorry leadership:cry:)
2. IRL engine supply will be provided by ferris wheel mice in a couple years.
Oh, that would explain it.
SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP…
My close friends and family know that I am free for a couple of hours on Saturday and Sunday during the F1 race weekend. If the broadcast is at midnight and I can’t watch it, I set my TIVO to……