Here's the word from Speed commentator and MG guy Mike Joy:
Thanks for all
the kind words, and the interesting observations. I have a longterm deal with
FOX and I'm very happy about the prospects for the future there.
Now I am
not a spokesman for FOX so these are my opinions, not theirs.
Candidly, it
became very difficult to program a car channel 24/7. Live
races of any kind
are expensive to produce, and there is only ad support
for a few
nationally-popular series. Hate to tell you what we spent
going twice to
Australia for V8 Supercars in 2011. Great racing, great
shows, smash
ratings, good ad support, and still it was too expensive to
repeat in 2012.
Similarly, there's little ad support for old shows, even as good as "Behind
the Headlights" or Alan's "Victory by Design".
Many of the series came in
pre-packaged and pre-sold. If you strip away
all the "enhanced reality"
shows, all the "how to polish your rocket"
shows and 4 variations of "Pinks",
not much was left.
FOX Sports 1 will launch at 600am EDT in over 90 million
homes... thats the biggest sports cable channel launch ever.
Here's what
stays from Speed: Live NASCAR racing, practice and
qualifying, and pre-race
show "Raceday" and post-race show "Victory
Lane". NASCAR Race Hub daily,
Mon-Thurs. Barrett-Jackson auctions,
Moto GP, Grand Am/ALMS, ARCA, Monterey
Historic Races, etc.
What goes away: Wind Tunnel, Speed Center, Trackside.
Most of the
pre-produced series go away now or at end of their run, some may
migrate
to Fox Sports 2 (currently FUEL).
http://www.mgexp.com/phorum/read.php?1,2444888,2444888#msg-2444888
Rick
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