Chicken and the Egg - Timed Races

[NDGator]

This will invariably come up will the influx of new fans here and increase in non-ovals.

Should the ticket buying public be short-changed a full race to appease the television audience?

I know sponsors would say yes as they are reaching a broader audience, but the venue can't be happy about it.

I also think the league derives more revenue from the sanctioning fee paid by the venue, than by the 500 subsidized television contract less Indy and I just don't see ABC pulling out early to show the beginning of the previously taped Schenkel Memorial PBA Open.

So what is fair all the way around...

My one thought is the race broadcast could always be completed on the internet if it ran long...

[NDGator]

With the advent of

DICS

You could always be assured of catching the entire race on DirecTv channel 500.

[Z28]

If a race is billed as the anything 300, the race should run 300 miles unless some form of weather or daylight makes it unsafe to race. If you want to promote a race and call it the anything 1:52 minute GP and stop it when the timer runs out you see how that plays. And let's say that the sport really takes off, you're sitting in a crowded bar filled with race fans having a great time watching the Indycar race on a giant HD TV. For whatever reason the race runs long and the TV time slot runs out and they say, "Just switch over and watch the end of this exciting race on the internet." Everybody in the bar looks at each other and, who's got an internet connection in the bar?

[NDGator]

I think we are in agreement, but if I am at the track and they announce they have shortened the race by 5 laps to accomodate a 0.6 rating audience then I will be pissed. (unless I get free tickets to a StreetFest and I'll be happy they put me out of my misery a few minutes sooner )