OT: No WRC on Speed TV ?!?
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mixdj1
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OT: No WRC on Speed TV ?!?
I went to set up my DVR to record Monte Carlo and there are no listings for any WRC on speed. There's not really any info on speedtv.com either. I know there are a few other WRC fans on here and was wondering if anyone knows if they plan to air future rallies or if they've completely dropped it this season? If they're not carrying it does anyone know of any WRC bittorrent sites or something? This is a major bummer.
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pk500
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No WRC on Speed this season. I've fretted about this for about the last month and have been searching for alternatives.
Here's some background. Speed used the Eurosport feed last year, with Nicky Grist doing on-site segments for Speed. Up until a week ago, Eurosport wasn't even going to show the WRC this season due to the emasculated nature of the series, with just two works teams.
But a deal was struck early this week between ISC, David Richards' company that owns the WRC commercial rights, and Eurosport. So Eurosport's feed is available now to Speed, I presume.
But it's questionable whether Speed will pick up the WRC with its increasing emphasis on NASCAR.
A friend of mine is about midway up the food chain at Speed on the network side, and he told me a couple of months ago that Speed had big plans for the WRC three years ago when it ran delayed coverage all three nights of the rally. Speed really thought the WRC might become the next "extreme" motorsport in the U.S. on TV because of the connection between the Mitsu, Soobies and the tuner car craze and because the rallies took place in such extreme conditions, etc.
But the ratings never supported that belief. So Speed changed to just a 90-minute Sunday wrap-up show two years ago, but the ratings still didn't come. As my buddy told me, "The WRC fans who watch Speed are rabid, like you, Paul, but there just aren't enough of them."
Considering Speed probably gets better ratings for "Texas Hardtails" or "How Buffy Waltrip Cooks Brownies" than WRC telecasts, it's very shaky whether Speed will pick up the WRC.
There is hope, though. I saw a post last week either at the WRC board at speedtv.com or at rallyforum.com (EXCELLENT forum, by the way) where Subaru of America might be interested in helping support a move of the WRC to OLN with advertising buys.
It makes sense, as OLN took over for Speed on the Dakar Rally this year. The coverage wasn't as good as Speed, but it was better than nothing. My oldest son and I watched it every day, and it never hurts to see Kirsten Gum's cans hanging in the African sunshine.
The Swedish Rally is coming right up the first week of February, but then there is a four-week gap until the third round, in Mexico. So hopefully a U.S. cable deal can be struck between Rally Sweden and Rally Mexico, either with Speed or OLN.
I can't believe David Richards would let the U.S. market slide since it's a huge market for the two remaining works manufacturers in the series, Ford and Subaru. Plus with Rally New York being considered as a possible WRC round as soon as 2008 or 2009, DR would be nuts to let American TV rally coverage go dark.
If not, there already are some torrents floating around, including a very good 25-minute Monte preview from Eurosport. The fact that no U.S. network is showing the WRC is well known on the rally boards, and there are some sympathetic Euros out there willing to help.
Here are a few sites with WRC torrents from last year and hopefully this year:
http://rally.stanis.info/
http://www.coolcarvids.com/
The Eurosport Monte preview can be found at the rally.stanis site. It's a direct download and is a really nice primer for all of the team changes and new rules. It's also an excellent-quality TV rip.
I'm searching the rally forums daily for more torrent possibilities and will keep you posted.
This really sucks, but if there's a will, there's a way to see WRC in the U.S. I have more will to watch the WRC than any other form of motorsport in the world, so I'll find a way.
I'll keep you posted, man.
Take care,
PK
No WRC on Speed this season. I've fretted about this for about the last month and have been searching for alternatives.
Here's some background. Speed used the Eurosport feed last year, with Nicky Grist doing on-site segments for Speed. Up until a week ago, Eurosport wasn't even going to show the WRC this season due to the emasculated nature of the series, with just two works teams.
But a deal was struck early this week between ISC, David Richards' company that owns the WRC commercial rights, and Eurosport. So Eurosport's feed is available now to Speed, I presume.
But it's questionable whether Speed will pick up the WRC with its increasing emphasis on NASCAR.
A friend of mine is about midway up the food chain at Speed on the network side, and he told me a couple of months ago that Speed had big plans for the WRC three years ago when it ran delayed coverage all three nights of the rally. Speed really thought the WRC might become the next "extreme" motorsport in the U.S. on TV because of the connection between the Mitsu, Soobies and the tuner car craze and because the rallies took place in such extreme conditions, etc.
But the ratings never supported that belief. So Speed changed to just a 90-minute Sunday wrap-up show two years ago, but the ratings still didn't come. As my buddy told me, "The WRC fans who watch Speed are rabid, like you, Paul, but there just aren't enough of them."
Considering Speed probably gets better ratings for "Texas Hardtails" or "How Buffy Waltrip Cooks Brownies" than WRC telecasts, it's very shaky whether Speed will pick up the WRC.
There is hope, though. I saw a post last week either at the WRC board at speedtv.com or at rallyforum.com (EXCELLENT forum, by the way) where Subaru of America might be interested in helping support a move of the WRC to OLN with advertising buys.
It makes sense, as OLN took over for Speed on the Dakar Rally this year. The coverage wasn't as good as Speed, but it was better than nothing. My oldest son and I watched it every day, and it never hurts to see Kirsten Gum's cans hanging in the African sunshine.
The Swedish Rally is coming right up the first week of February, but then there is a four-week gap until the third round, in Mexico. So hopefully a U.S. cable deal can be struck between Rally Sweden and Rally Mexico, either with Speed or OLN.
I can't believe David Richards would let the U.S. market slide since it's a huge market for the two remaining works manufacturers in the series, Ford and Subaru. Plus with Rally New York being considered as a possible WRC round as soon as 2008 or 2009, DR would be nuts to let American TV rally coverage go dark.
If not, there already are some torrents floating around, including a very good 25-minute Monte preview from Eurosport. The fact that no U.S. network is showing the WRC is well known on the rally boards, and there are some sympathetic Euros out there willing to help.
Here are a few sites with WRC torrents from last year and hopefully this year:
http://rally.stanis.info/
http://www.coolcarvids.com/
The Eurosport Monte preview can be found at the rally.stanis site. It's a direct download and is a really nice primer for all of the team changes and new rules. It's also an excellent-quality TV rip.
I'm searching the rally forums daily for more torrent possibilities and will keep you posted.
This really sucks, but if there's a will, there's a way to see WRC in the U.S. I have more will to watch the WRC than any other form of motorsport in the world, so I'll find a way.
I'll keep you posted, man.
Take care,
PK
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mixdj1
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Thanks for all the info! WRC was the only series that I watched every event last year. I'm very bummed about this but it looks like I'll at least be able to download the European coverage. I really appreciate the links. And I guess if OLN picks it up I'll have to sign back up for digital cable. Since the wife is a WRC fan as well I think she'll be all for it. 
Damn, this really bums me out too. After paying no attention to racing news for several weeks, I remembered that the WRC season started this weekend. I went to make sure TIVO was set, only to find nothing on Speed. I guess I should not be that surprised, but it seemed like Speed was committed to it. Crap, crap, crap.
I was looking to record the race also, and was surprised to find out that Speed will not be covering it. If they put one more NASCAR show on I'll be sick. The whole reason I dumped cable and went with DishNetwork was to get Speed TV, because everyone else was brown-nosing NASCAR and I wanted more variety in my motorsports viewing. Now there's no WRC, the Australian V-8's get shoved to an hour during the week (at the same time my wife tapes some of her shows, so I can't even record those ones). A sad state of affairs.
At least the Grand Am races will still be covered. This has turned into my favorite racing series, and I'll be catching as much of the 24 hours of Daytona as I can. (And it will be the ONLY race from Daytona I'll be watching!)
How can Fox be doing such a good job with FSC, but be totally screwing up Speed?
At least the Grand Am races will still be covered. This has turned into my favorite racing series, and I'll be catching as much of the 24 hours of Daytona as I can. (And it will be the ONLY race from Daytona I'll be watching!)
How can Fox be doing such a good job with FSC, but be totally screwing up Speed?
2319!
Gamertag: "Gurantsu"
Gamertag: "Gurantsu"
Im really bummed about WRC not being on. Speed has taken a nose dive lately, and might as well be the nascar channel for that matter. With so many forms of racing out there, its a shame they cant be represented on a station that is supposed to be about racing. They pretty much cut Sprintcars, now WRC, whats next? Its got to the point I just fly by speed when surfing. When f1 comes on is about the only time they get my attention.
