When/If Lotus Racing Sucks, How Will it be Reported?
Lotus Racing and CNN International have announced a partnership deal that sees the newest Formula One team entering into a long-term agreement with the news network. CNN’s world famous logos will feature on the T127 race cars, the drivers’ overalls and on all team clothing.
The deal will be managed by CNN’s commercial ‘Partner Solutions Group’ and is led by Rani Raad, senior vice president CNN International Advertising Sales.
“The combination of two such iconic and aspirational global brands fits perfectly with CNN International’s worldwide reach and brand positioning,” said Raad. “This unique partnership with Lotus Racing takes CNN International into a new era of marketing and promotions and puts us in front of a worldwide audience of millions.”
How will this be reported by CNNI? Lotus Racing's Heikki Kovalainen spins off into the tyre wall during winter testing in Jerez. Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images
The whole team and I are looking forward to working with CNN in the months and years to come on some very exciting campaigns.”
My Two Centavos: This isn’t new, Williams has had a relationship with Reuters for some time, but it does raise an interesting question.
What happens when/if Lotus stinks up the place? A very real possibility according to team driver Heikki Kovalainen?
One of journalism’s first tenets is don’t become part of the story, report it, but don’t be the story. There’s little doubt they are now officially part of the story.
To be honest, CNNI is far more impartial than U.S. based CNN but they aren’t perfect when it comes to slanting a story, or two, their coverage will be interesting to watch as the season gets underway.
Don’t know about you Marc, But CNN isn’t my first stop for sports or racing reportage. Point of fact, can’t recall EVER seeing any F1 coverage during my brief stops at American CNN station.
It will be interesting to see if there is ANY coverage on CNN now that they are vested.
Personally I don’t think so.
Ok, without straying too far off motorsport……and because you brought this subject up.
“One of journalism’s first tenets is don’t become part of the story, report it, but don’t be the story”
CNN?? The CNN??? Tell the above to Lou Dobbs!! LOL
HA! Calling Lou Dobbs a “reporter” is akin to calling Rush the same.
Now peter, give me a break, without being too big an a**hole I slammed CNN. And besides’ that Dobbs guy is off CNN doing his xenophobic crap on his own.
CNNI isn’t too much better but is marginally, for what’s it’s worth.
As for coverage, CNN, like a lot of U.S. outlets ignore racing in any form unless there’s a “spectacular” accident. CNNI does report F1 results weekly and is why I question how unbiased they will be.