April 22nd, 2010 
T.C. There was an interesting post by our friend John Daly today over at The Daly Planet regarding Showtime’s weekly NASCAR show, Inside NASCAR (see it here). Apparently since it’s inception, many fans have been angry that such a great NASCAR show is only available on a premium channel; especially since SPEED canceled their weekly show, This Week In NASCAR, in the off season. Fans have expressed their feelings about the show on a few different posts by Daly, and many have used Inside NASCAR’s Facebook page as a place to voice their displeasure.
We had some discussion with a few folks today on Twitter about the situation, and between that and reading all of the fan responses, I thought a post with my two cents was in order.
Inside NASCAR is one of the few racing related shows I do have the opportunity to watch on a regular basis. Since I have Showtime, I often check it out. The show is taped in the NASCAR Media Group’s studios, which are a part of the complex that will house the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte. The show has much of that Media Group flair we’ve gushed about in the past. Inside NASCAR is hosted by Chris Myers, Brad Dougherty, Randy Pemberton, and Michael Waltrip, and features a race recap, interviews, analysis, and features. In my own opinion, it’s a solid show that has a lot to offer, even if it does have a few quirks and issues.
With the demise of SPEED’s TWIN, it appears much of the anger from fans revolves around the fact that the only way to see Inside NASCAR is to subscribe to Showtime. And that’s a problem because Showtime is a premium movie channel that often adds a significant charge to monthly cable or satellite bills.
My response to those folks who won’t subscribe to Showtime, but still demand to be able to see the show?
Tough.
Showtime is a television network that makes it’s revenue from subscriber fees. When you watch the channel, there is no advertising. And as such, it’s the job of Showtime’s management to create and bring content to the channel that is compelling and will make people want to pay extra for access to the channel. Besides movies, their own series, and other sports programming, Showtime, in conjunction with the NASCAR Media Group, developed Inside NASCAR to add to their inventory. The network also carries the similarly formatted “Inside The NFL” series.
The most common solution offered by angered fans is for NASCAR and Showtime to put episodes of Inside NASCAR online where they can be downloaded for free. But by doing so, Showtime relinquishes the value the show provides. If a viewer can just download the episodes for free, then they won’t need to subscribe to Showtime. And by not having to subscribe to Showtime, the network ends up engaging in a losing proposition by producing the show. So my question to these fans, is what does Showtime owe you, and why should they allow you to consume their content for free?
I understand that many of you miss having a weekly program dedicated to breaking down the previous weekend. But NASCAR, SPEED, Showtime, or any other network are under no obligation to offer you NASCAR programming for free just because you are a NASCAR fan. This whole thing is after all, a business. If having a weekly NASCAR show is a money making endeavor, then you’ll have what you want - if it isn’t, like in the case of SPEED and TWIN, then it goes away. Don’t forget too that both SPEED and ESPN are premium pay channels as well. They may not be as expensive as Showtime, but their business models are very similar.
Something else that bothers me about some of the fan comments, are those people that say this is just another way for NASCAR to squeeze more money out of the fans. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Many folks almost make it sound like there was some back door, shady meeting where SPEED, Showtime, and NASCAR all got together to move TWIN to Showtime, give it a new name, and charge a gazillion dollars for it. Unfortunately for them, this just isn’t true. Showtime does pay rights fees to NASCAR for the show, but so does ESPN/ABC, FOX, and SPEED for their respective programming. The difference is that Showtime is 100% supported by their subscriber revenue, while the other networks rely more on advertising. The reason NASCAR charges those rights fees, is because they own the racing. Just like Showtime, NASCAR creates content/entertainment (i.e. the racing), and they charge for the access to watch. You may not always have to pay a direct cost to consume that content, but an exchange is occurring.
I’m probably going to get blasted by some of you about the opinions I’ve shared here, but that’s fine. I understand the passion, and I understand that you want as much NASCAR as you can get. I don’t blame you for either, in fact I’m grateful to you for it because it keeps me and many others employed. Don’t forget though that the entertainment NASCAR provides is a product that has a cost, not a right that you are entitled to.
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As a content producer myself, I totally respect their need to get compensated for the show. I just wish that there was some way to subscribe and access it (while still paying) without having to pay for a whole 24/7 premium movie channel that I wouldn’t otherwise watch. What about selling the episodes through something like iTunes so I can pay to consume just the content that I do want? That’s a win for them since I’m not going to subscribe to Showtime just for that one show, so otherwise they don’t get any of my money.
I understand that Showtime deserves to be paid if people want to see a particular show (or shows) on their channel; okay, fair enough.
Then it shouldn’t have been announced (when the show was announced) that the show would be available in forms other than just on Showtime. THIS is my issue with how this has been handled. It’s not that I take exception to Showtime wanting to make money; I take exception to them promising one thing and delivering another.
No “blast” from me. I think you’re right on the mark. Too many fans seem to view the NASCAR world with a sense of entitlement, conveniently forgetting that the sport and it’s related activities are businesses. I think there was a lot of shock and anger at the cancellation of TWIN after so many years. It seems unfair to take out that anger on “Inside NASCAR,” which is not by any means an equivalent program either in intent or in production values. And it’s not as if there are no other NASCAR-related shows on both broadcast and basic cable.
Have to agree with you, even though it would be nice for it to be free at my doorstep. Thank you for a clear, reasoned assessment.
Love you NASCAR Insiders, been a steady reader for about 3 seasons now. You’re my go-to guys.
Here’s what upsets me: I pay $6 a month for a ‘sports package’ from my cable provider. With it I get two NFL channels, (NFL Net and Red Zone), a MLB channel, a NHL channel, a NBA channel… but no NASCAR channel.
Certainly if the NHL has a channel, NASCAR can have a channel.
I don’t subscribe to Showtime and do not watch Inside NASCAR. Why would I pay a fee to watch Michael Waltrip? I only have to watch FastTrack to Fame and that is more than enough to satisfy my utter fascination w/ Waltrip.
To all the people that complain that they have to pay to watch “Inside NASCAR” I say tough as well. I live in Canada and I can watch every NASCAR race (truck, nationwide and Spint) but I don’t even have the option to see this show unless I ‘acquire it’ illegally.
Very well put T.C. Our problem with TWIN was the steady deterioration due to all the content “tweaks” over the last few years. If it was still like the old show with Ken Shraeder and Allen Bestwick we would be paying for Showtime in order to see it. As it was we usually did not watch the show each week during the last year, so it was no great loss when it got cancelled.
And, to digress, about The only thing we watch on Speed anymore is F1 and Wind Tunnel – the rest of the stuff is just so much garbage.
The arrogance of your piece mimics what comes from post Bill Jr Daytona. Correspondingly, TV ratings, sponsorship dollars and fan interest have diminished. An attitude adjustment from all parties might help the future of the sport.
buck2: I assure you, there is no arrogance involved. I’m just telling it like it is.
I would rather pay someone to turn off my TV everytime a shilling Waltrip comes into view. Talk about value for your money!`
I agree Dennis M, when Bestwick left the show, I quickly lost interest in TWIN. I realize that Shrader isn’t relevant in Cup & I really don’t like Mikey, but those three had an awesome dynamic & I bet that lineup could still be successful today.
I don’t mind Inside Nascar being on Showtime. I just wish it was a much better show. TWIN was laidback and informative, with enough off the cuff interaction to be both entertaining and analytical. Inside Nascar is way too scripted and buttoned-down. I’d much rather see Michael Waltrip in crazy tennis shoes and jeans giving props to any number of sponsors than in a suit reading off a teleprompter.
Right on T.C.,You told it stright!
I watched TWiN for two years or so – when Bestwick, then Despain hosted it with Waltrip and Schrader. I thought it was a great show and that Waltrip and Schrader, for all their clowning around, were passionate about racing and really wanted to share their thoughts and insights with the audience.
As for the new show, I get Showtime, but have never seen Inside Nascar. Maybe I’ll look for a 2 AM showing so I can tape it.
It seems to me that offering the shows online or through some other media and charging something like $1 or $1.50 per show would benefit everyone. A lot of people who won’t pay for Showtime itself would be willing to pay that much, and Showtime would likely make more of a profit that way. True, they may not get quite as many new subscribers, but somehow I doubt they’re getting many solely from Inside NASCAR anyway.
Actually, you guys have to realize that a lot of the reason its a great show is BECAUSE its on a pay station. Its uncensored, and most importantly- not beholden to advertisers.
Trust me, the second one is a major reason NASCAR races suck on TV. Not 100%, but its part of it.
Showtime puts on great shows. Better than network/basic cable many times. A lot of the reason is their subscriber base is ALL they have to be beholden to.
Measure: If NASCAR had a channel, it would just be SPEED without the F1, Indy, etc. content.
And in its place they’d just re-run programs. Trust me- you wouldn’t get more information.
Also, the NFL/MLB/NHL channels work because there are games being played every day for most of the year. NASCAR has one race per week. Analyzing that one race over and over would get pretty boring.
Very good. It’s not like “Inside NASCAR” is the only post-race analysis show on TV – in particular there is EESPN’s Monday NASCAR Now with Allen Bestwick. And as far as free, anyone who has access to EESPN is paying about $2.50 per month in their cable bill for the privilege, whether you ever watch EESPN or not.
I’m 100% with you on this one.
The only things I would watch on Showtime are ‘Dexter’ and ‘Inside NASCAR’ and I can’t justify the cost of a monthly subscription.
That’s my problem, not NASCAR’s or SPEED’s or Showtime.
I would certainly be interested in syndication via something like iTunes but I’m not losing any sleep over it.
With NASCAR news on SiriusXM, SPEED-TV, Twitter, blogs and podcasts, there aren’t enough hours in the day to consume it all.
Great article! I completely agree with you.
I agree with you 100%. As a musician I deal with the Internet belief that all music should be free. And it’s getting to be the same with any entertainment. Although I am sure they would be upset if I walked into their business and just took what I wanted.
It was better when it was “Inside Winston Cup Racing” on TNN!
Who would pay “good-money” to see Waltrip run his big mouth, hawking his sponsors! I didn’t watch TWIN nor Outside Nextel Cup even when it was free, unless I found out he wouldn’t be on the show that evening.
I guess it wasn’t totally free, as Speed is part of my cable-system’s sports-package, as Richard has explained.
TC, i agree as well. the sole objection i have with your piece is the use of the word “tough.” it made me cringe b/c that was david hill’s response to fans who complained about the dumbing down of the fox broadcast and the relentless shilling of the gopher.
but, it’s a seriously minor point and i agree with your thoughts on this one.
(ps glad everyone came thru the ‘dega weather safely!)
I agree with you TC, Showtime deserves compensation for their efforts. Its a good show and worth watching. I wish I could get it in the area that I live but Showtime is not offered there – yet. When it is I will be one of the first people to sign up for it.
As an aside, I just want to let you and your readers know that the other person who is posting comments as 4ever3 is not me. Although I regularly read your blog (I think its awesome!) I very rarely leave comments because I read so many NASCAR blogs each night that if I were to leave a comment at each site I would be on the computer for hours. I find your Wednesday posts the best, I’m almost always learning something new. Take Care.