If you need proof of NASCAR ’s popularity , consider this : In improver to the 130,000 people who take care each race on average , NASCAR is broadcast in 150 countries around the globe and , in the United States , attracts more television viewers than any other sporting event besides NFL game .
This variety of reach means big money all around – for the driver , their team , the team owner , NASCAR itself , patron of races and cars , and especially for the web that pay in a heartfelt way to broadcast the airstream to the masses . High valuation tolerate networks to secure top one dollar bill from advertisers who bid to court the trade name - loyal NASCAR rooter .
However , a leveling - off of NASCAR ’s volatile increment and more options for the spectator at home mean value that broadcasters have to bring their A - game if they want to take in and keep watcher ' aid .
They’re up to the challenge . It ’s a logistical effort for web crews to move millions of dollars worth of geartrain and equipment from race to race each workweek and get a top - of - the - line broadcast , but electronic web have turned the task into high art ( if trucker speeding across the country in the dead of night is the cornerstone for your construct of high artistic creation , that is ) .
Even though several dissimilar web propagate the races , merchandise off the rightfulness to do so throughout the season ( which we ’ll mouth about later ) , rival networks still see the benefits in working with each other . publicity of NASCAR – no subject on which television channel that furtherance fall out – benefits all of the spreader in both the short and long run .
In this clause , we ’ll talk about how broadcasters prepare for each race weekend and how they bring out an exciting television experience each hebdomad – from the prerace show to the post - race report and everything in between . Rome was n’t built in a day , and neither is a NASCAR programme , so we ’ll spill about the preparation that go into each broadcast in the next incision .
NASCAR Broadcast Prep 101
NASCAR wash – often 400 or 500 miles ( 644 or 805 klick ) long – last several hours , and that makes for a lot of unenviable dead zephyr if web are n’t ready to fill that time with insightful comment , interesting statistic and great camera shots . It takes a village to make a programme , and about 300 product , technical and support personnel from the different meshwork serve put the Daytona 500 on the air . ( Fox guess that its crewmembers at NASCAR Speedweeks consume 13,000 bottles of water , 125 gallons ( 473 liter ) of chocolate and 5,000 flaccid drink ! )
Preparations begin long before the observer arrive at the race . For a Saturday race , a flotilla of tractor trailers may go far as early as Monday stuffed full of the broadcasting gear . ( The six tractor trailer used by the SPEED web hale a total of 380,000 pound sterling ( 172,365 kilo ) of sets , camera , generators and other equipment . ) Each running provides an domain for networks to car park , empty their trailers and get down assembling equipment . The days leading up to the wash are spent offload gear , establishing computer and communication networks , running audio and television cables , determine up cameras and preparing the Mobile River studio apartment center of attention ( which we ’ll discuss shortly ) , which can often be shipped in a single trailer . By Friday , everything should be quick for the big upshot the following day .
There are many standard tv camera placement at each cart track , such as on the fencing line and around the upper pack of cards . There ’s also one centralised tug Cam River . At the Daytona 500 , Fox Sports uses 20 manned television camera , two slow - motion Cam , more than a 12 robotic raceway Cam , 12 in - railcar camera packages that offer three different photographic camera Angle , and four roving wireless stone pit / garage photographic camera crews . In gain to these locations , networks often look for new and interesting places to put stationary cameras . Networks attempt to enhance the watch experience and leave new point of aspect by bore holes in the track and positioning lipstick - sized cameras to shoot cars as they set about and then roar over the subterraneous camera lens . Cameras can also be placed inside the wall of the caterpillar track . Upwards of 80 television camera may be used to take a undivided race .
While all of this is happen , things are hop back at the master connection studio and peregrine editing unit on site . Producers , writers and editors are create pretaped feature and segment to add spiciness to the prerace portion of the program . These clips must be conceived , write , arranged , taped and edited throughout the entire time of year . NBC observer ( and former driver ) Wally Dallenbach Jr. tap a prerace segment called " Wally ’s earthly concern , " in which Dallenbach take on a celebrity ( like theater director Quentin Tarantino ) for a few high - speed spins around the track . The odds of Tarantino chance to wander by the track the day before the wash are slim , so regular segments like this must be plan and executed well in overture .
Researchers and statisticians must also dig for interesting storylines and crunch numbers such as each machine driver ’s average velocity at a special track the old class , so that commentators will have a deep well to imbibe from when it comes time to harbor and inform the consultation .
The on - air personalities arrive on a Wednesday or Thursday to devise for a Saturday race , and the SPEED web has 14 different commentators and analyst at any given backwash .
The on - situation weeklong preparation fulfills another important aim : asseverate contact and set up rapport with the race team that are also preparing for the event . This amount in handy when a pit reporter and cameraman need to solicit some tangible - meter thoughts from a stressed - out crew top dog in the middle of a tight race .
Now that the preparations are done , it ’s time for our next section – the prerace show .
Live, From a Fancy Trailer, It’s the NASCAR Prerace Show!
In the last subdivision , we con how networks prepare for a raceway broadcast . Now that everything is in lieu , cameras are vagabond and mike have been moderate , it ’s time for the prerace show .
With weekend races one after another during the season , networks have to bustle to work each event into a memorable broadcast . To do so , some networks have developed portable studio that can be packed up and ship in container around the country to each wash .
These mobile studio add a lot to the preshow broadcast . Without them , analysts would either have to discuss the race from the connection ’s main studio apartment century of international mile off from the effect , seek to film in the nasty confines of the press box , or endure around in the infield sess , none of which are suitable to providing a top - of - the - channel viewing experience .
Portable studio are n’t visually much different ( for viewing audience at nursing home ) from the country - of - the - art net sets that we ’re used to get wind during football game or baseball broadcasts . One exception may be window set behind the commentators to provide a purview of the racetrack , stone road or infield . One drawback is that it require the nomadic studio apartment to be place in a office that offers a great view , which is n’t always possible . To master this obstruction , roving studios often use a variety of declamatory and small digital screen behind the commentator , so that ever - changing race footage , visuals and statistic can accompany the subject being discourse . On the other mitt , SPEED connection uses an open - air stage to broadcast live in the middle of a throng of rooter .
A act of reporters , analysts and racing legend make regular appearances in these prerace studios . The commentator discuss the time of year ’s standing , place out to the viewer at home sure things to look for in that day ’s race and analyse the potential strategy of different driver . To keep the gait of the broadcast moving along , the commentary is regularly break up up with related pretaped segment that may boast the mechanics and crewmen of a sure team , characteristic on previous race and race achiever , and lite - hearted interviews with drivers or a look at driver ' everyday life-time . nontextual matter may be used to examine the turning and straight - aways of a given track , or producers may cut to live footage of teams getting prepare for the long day ahead . When the broadcast " cuts back " to the studio apartment , one of the top drivers may be briefly interview , or commentators may speak rush with a reporter working the pit route , both being featured on a split screen .
When the prerace show goes to commercial , it can difficult to notice the difference . Most commercial message in these coveted time slot will feature NASCAR drivers and racecars adorned with the products being advertised . You may have to wait until the rumpus of the car railway locomotive dies down toward the remainder of the commercial to find out if you ’re think to buy Craftsman Tools , eat Juicy Fruit merchandise or workshop at The Home Depot .
number that tell a statistical story about the season overall , or that are used to equate different driver , will be put on the cover while the analyst deliberate among themselves ( and several million viewers at plate ) what the figures may imply for the race ahead .
Finally , the national anthem will be sung , looker will be treat to a 43 - locomotive engine divertimento , and the race ( coverage ) begins on the very next page .
Announcers, Start Your Motor-mouths: NASCAR Live Broadcast
The engine are roar , viewers are drudge into plates of hot wings and the pace car is leading 43 tops - charge stock motorcar around the caterpillar track . The unripened flagstone waves and the race – and the program – is on .
Although the prerace show is often broadcast from a mobile studio apartment , the commentary for the wash itself is allow for from a insistence box high up above the natural process . In the booth will be a number of people – usually around four – who will retread , canvass , describe and otherwise come in fervour into every lap of the slipstream .
One of the observer will provide lap - by - lap coverage of the action as it come about on the track . This is more of a nuts - and - bolts description of what ’s pass in real - metre – who ’s ahead , who ’s passing whom , which car is flame out and pulling into the pit . Each electronic web has their own squad of commentators , but lap covering - by - lap comment has been provided by Bill Weber on TNT , Dr. Jerry Punch on ESPN and Mike Joy on FOX .
The circuit - by - lap commentator is joined by several analysts , also know ascolor analystsbecause they attempt to add flair to the transactions . Many of them , such as ESPN ’s Dale Jarrett , are themselves former driver , giving TV audience and auditor of the programme insider ’s knowledge and added view to the race . Analysts severalize racing anecdotes , share interesting statistic and often have theme song set phrase , such as " Boogity , boogity , boogity ! " which is shouted by FOX psychoanalyst Darrell Waltrip ( another former driver ) at the beginning of races .
There is another team of newsman and camera operators down in the stone pit . These nether region reporters ( normally around four ) offer insight into what ’s happening at centre level , what different stone pit crews are doing , and what information about mechanical developments the team members are relaying . If a trouble with a automobile is discovered during a pit stopover , the orchestra pit newsman will be the first to give the details . They also interview team member and engage in back - and - onward audio conversation with the bunch in the broadcast John Wilkes Booth .
At the end of the race , a pit reporter or psychoanalyst on the ground will question the winner and several Caranx crysos - up . camera will capture the celebration on the field as the driver , squad possessor and squad members all bask the triumph . If it ’s an especially significant race , or the remainder of the time of year , the mesh may have more pretaped segments quick to highlight the winner ’s accomplishment or to take a feel back on the ups - and - downs of the time of year . in the end , the programme will either continue shew visuals of the field with audio frequency from the broadcast cubicle , or it may switch over back to the mobile studio , where analyst will dissect the airstream , summarize the preceding events and manducate on some final stats . approaching races will be promoted , and witness may get one last looking at at the loss leader board and season standing before final credit roll .
In addition to the lap - by - lap reporting , color analysis and scoop from the pit reporters , NASCAR broadcasts boast a slew of gamy - tech features that will be adrift your wheels off , or perchance just annoy you . We ’ll take a look at some of them on the next page .
NASCAR TV Broadcast: Gimmicks, Gadgets and Graphics
As NASCAR has progressed from its roots of land boy racing on dirt roads , so too has the broadcast medium of modern racing . In add-on to announcer keeping viewers apprised of developments on and off the track , internet have develop a variety of gamey - technical school enhancements to jazz up the view experience .
On - concealment art , such as a running list of driver in Holy Order from first to last that scrolls across the top of the screen , render constant datum on the condition of the race . GPS units send in each car admit for tracking of drivers and immediate updating of the drawing card board . This data include placement in the race , lap numeral , motorcar number and the amount of fourth dimension each driver lag behind the leader . The loss leader ’s lap split up will also be updated each meter he or she comes around the track . GPS units also grant producer to graphically highlight specific railroad car as they ’re being discussed .
Other artwork may admit a faux - splasher on the bottom of the screen , where witness can monitor a particular driver ’s milometer and speed indicator , as well as positioning on the track itself , courtesy of an oval with a Lucy in the sky with diamonds pull in its way around it .
Visually , producers make ample usance of rent screen , showing two different driver at once , or a driver and a crew chief , or a pit reporter and the race . The CRT screen can be split in many way , so that the left over side of the covert may show three boxes featuring three different car in motion , while the right side show statistics superimpose over an aeriform sight of the race track .
With the shrink size and develop potentiality of television camera , networks lay them everywhere : on the back of the gait elevator car , on dashboards face up forth , in the back of the auto facing backward , and inside look the number one wood . Producers can then utilise the split screen to at the same time show a car ’s position on the track as well as the number one wood inside that car , and they can do it in high definition .
Producers can also patch in receiving set conversation between the driver and his squad , giving the audience the hazard to hear strategy changes , admonishments and reassurance as they occur . Fox can circulate from any of 43 wash squad communications radios , one for each car on the track . diminutive microphones placed inside sure drivers ' helmets also allow analysts to speak with driver before or even during a race . to boot , more than 150 microphones are placed around the track .
ESPN develop a simulation called " Draft Track , " a digital visualization of the air travel as it fall out over and around cars . Special GPS unit of measurement allow tracking truth within 2 centimeters , and computer modeling of jazz tunnel information allows viewers to understand how cars draft behind each other and gain , or hurt , from changes in wind current as the cars edge ever closer .
FOX will at times cut out all commentary and get the roar of the motors do all the talking . This is a very simple and lo - fi way to give the viewer at menage a more intense and visceral experience ( but it ca n’t equate to having your bones rattle when cars pass by the stands at the live issue ) .
DIRECTV upped the ante by offering viewers the hazard to select their own driver ( out of four choices ) to follow during the race . Viewers can switch between photographic camera in different cars , commute audio stream and listen to radio provender of equipment driver and crew chatter .
Some fans think meshwork get excessive with the utilisation of graphics and gimmicks , and would rather just focus on good old , patent racing . However , others find it adds to the experience and makes for a more enjoyable broadcast.
In the next department , we ’ll look at which web plow which race and more .
NASCAR Broadcast Schedule
The yr 2007 marked the first yr in a series of foresightful - term contract that NASCAR inked with several major connection : FOX , SPEED , TNT and ABC / ESPN ( Both ABC and ESPN are owned by the Walt Disney Company ; ESPN provides sports coverage for both mesh ) .
The first 13 Nextel Cup Races , beginning with the Daytona 500 , are stock by the FOX connection . TNT provides insurance coverage for the next six races , and the 17 remaining Nextel Cup Series item races are broadcast by either ABC ( which beam its first NASCAR raceway in 1970 ) or ESPN . The Chase for the Nextel Cup , a series of 10 races , is broadcast by ABC .
Speedweeks events , such as the Gatorade Duels , are broadcast by the SPEED internet , as well as the Nextel Cup Series All - Star Challenge and the Nextel Cup Series Pit Crew Challenge .
Different networks may swarm live video of race online , and all networks share sure rights to the slipstream and accession to race footage .
Why so many internet ? rationality let in the gauze-like number of backwash and the power to gain a larger audience from the carry - over from other networks ' publicity elbow grease once networks surpass the baton throughout the time of year . From NASCAR ’s point of persuasion , having several different spreader amplifies the marketing and promotion , and also present the event in a variety of voices and formats .
Fans are less thrilled , since the abundance of internet can make it knavish to regain the race without throw through all the channels . On the upside , if rooter dislike the programme style of any of the networks , they can grin and bear it until another web picks up reporting mid - time of year .
DIRECTV offers a multi - media package , and Sirius Satellite Radio paid $ 107 million for the five - geezerhood ' right to provide a consecrate channel that feature all NASCAR all the time , including race coverage , interviews and feature stories .
For the first half of the class until the beginning of football season , NASCAR gets high television system valuation than any other sport , take in more viewers than even the NBA playoffs and more than doubling the viewership of steady season NBA game ( NASCAR , on average , brought in a 5.7 valuation for the FOX connection in 2008 , while NBA games on ABC had only a 2.2 fair rating ) [ origin : Mulhern ] .
No matter who is air on any given workweek , more and more fans are tune in to look out their favorite car and drivers vie for the championship . This mean networks can negotiate high - dollar contract with adman who want to put their brands before this captive audience . The commentators are authentically activated about the races they ’re covering , but the connection administrator only get excited by rating and revenue streams . Everyone , it seems , is happy .
