BK
10-25-2001, 02:37 PM
The following letter appeared on the rec.boats.racing newsgroup today, and is in reference to the FOX buy-out of Speedvision. Apparently the boat racing shows that we are used to watching on Speedvision will not be produced after 2001.
AeroEFX is the production company that brought us "Competition Offshore" which was a menagerie of boat racing events, not just exclusively offshore. Productions they produced for Speedvisino last year included: Knee riding Pro-Racing from DePue IL, Valleyfield Quebec Formula Two racing, Offshore events, Tunnel Boat and SO racing from Long Beach, The Lake Havasu Classic and the Parker Enduro, among many others. I fairly certain this effects the ODBA events as well. (Am I right? Please correct me if I'm wrong here)
Apparently the contract with AeroEFX will not be renewed for next year. This takes a significant BITE out of all marine related shows we see on TV today. Let's wish Mike Saint Amand best wishes in securing a new contract with the rumored newer "Speedivision" type-network.
Mike Saint-Amand wrote:
>
> To the boat racing community,
>
> AeroEFX has been notified by Speedvision that upon the conclusion of our 2001 contract (airings to be completed in April of 2002) that Competition Offshore on FOX - Speedvision, will not be renewed for the following season.
>
> Fox's intention with Speedvision is to rebrand and transform the
> network that has become known as the motorsports enthusiast channel will now become dominated by NASCAR related program (About 80% of the schedule) with the remaining 20% left to what ever FOX can sell the the time to. This includes anything and everything including informercials.
>
> In a earlier post, Mr. Allwiess alluded to the fact that networks are moving away from barter (where a producer places the show with a network in exchange for commercial space) to a "Time Buy". It boils down to this - those with deep pockets or lucuritive sponsorship deals will afford to be Televised. Television is about money. Short of a few products (i.e. NASCAR) where the network feels strong enough about a return on investment, a network loses money when a outside product (show) "barters" for time. it's not so much a matter of how good the product is or isn't makes no difference, it's about the bottem line. Whether you like it or not, corporate greed, as you may see it, has now put it's hand deep into the motorsports community.
>
For Competition Offshore, as many of you know, has developed a niche product of coverage of powerboat racing events that lack such pockets or sponsor deals. For us to continue a relationship with a network that would push this affordable coverage out of reach would not be in the best interest of the sport. While we have been told by current Speedvision mangement that the "Rebranded Speedvision" will not include marine or aviation, we wish Mr. Alweiss the best of luck in his continued relationship with FOX.
>
Before I continue with some postive outlooks for 2002, I will caution the readers of this newsgroup. Do not vent or take out your frustion on the current staff or management of Speedvision. You may not know, that with the move to Charlotte, that the majority of Speedvision staff have been giving notice that they will only have jobs with the network until Jan. 15. This move, along with the decision to rebrand, is solely in the hands of FOX. This is very similiar to what FOX did to the regional sports networks some 5 years ago when they took over. So before you vent on Speedvision, keep in mind that your anger (or boycott) needs to be direct at FOX.
>
> Now, for the positive news. AeroEFX has already begun discussions with another network. The potential for 2002 is that Competition Offshore may undergo some changes of it's own (including the potential of combining of powerboat racing with other motorsports competition). The discussions are in the early stages. There is a new rumor that has begun to circulate in the trades that a new version of "Speedvision" may be just over the horizon (it seems that some other people might not be happy about FOX as well)
>
We might be taking a step back, but we're not about to let the sport fall off the truck.
>
See you at the races.
>
> Mike Saint-Amand
> AeroEFX
AeroEFX is the production company that brought us "Competition Offshore" which was a menagerie of boat racing events, not just exclusively offshore. Productions they produced for Speedvisino last year included: Knee riding Pro-Racing from DePue IL, Valleyfield Quebec Formula Two racing, Offshore events, Tunnel Boat and SO racing from Long Beach, The Lake Havasu Classic and the Parker Enduro, among many others. I fairly certain this effects the ODBA events as well. (Am I right? Please correct me if I'm wrong here)
Apparently the contract with AeroEFX will not be renewed for next year. This takes a significant BITE out of all marine related shows we see on TV today. Let's wish Mike Saint Amand best wishes in securing a new contract with the rumored newer "Speedivision" type-network.
Mike Saint-Amand wrote:
>
> To the boat racing community,
>
> AeroEFX has been notified by Speedvision that upon the conclusion of our 2001 contract (airings to be completed in April of 2002) that Competition Offshore on FOX - Speedvision, will not be renewed for the following season.
>
> Fox's intention with Speedvision is to rebrand and transform the
> network that has become known as the motorsports enthusiast channel will now become dominated by NASCAR related program (About 80% of the schedule) with the remaining 20% left to what ever FOX can sell the the time to. This includes anything and everything including informercials.
>
> In a earlier post, Mr. Allwiess alluded to the fact that networks are moving away from barter (where a producer places the show with a network in exchange for commercial space) to a "Time Buy". It boils down to this - those with deep pockets or lucuritive sponsorship deals will afford to be Televised. Television is about money. Short of a few products (i.e. NASCAR) where the network feels strong enough about a return on investment, a network loses money when a outside product (show) "barters" for time. it's not so much a matter of how good the product is or isn't makes no difference, it's about the bottem line. Whether you like it or not, corporate greed, as you may see it, has now put it's hand deep into the motorsports community.
>
For Competition Offshore, as many of you know, has developed a niche product of coverage of powerboat racing events that lack such pockets or sponsor deals. For us to continue a relationship with a network that would push this affordable coverage out of reach would not be in the best interest of the sport. While we have been told by current Speedvision mangement that the "Rebranded Speedvision" will not include marine or aviation, we wish Mr. Alweiss the best of luck in his continued relationship with FOX.
>
Before I continue with some postive outlooks for 2002, I will caution the readers of this newsgroup. Do not vent or take out your frustion on the current staff or management of Speedvision. You may not know, that with the move to Charlotte, that the majority of Speedvision staff have been giving notice that they will only have jobs with the network until Jan. 15. This move, along with the decision to rebrand, is solely in the hands of FOX. This is very similiar to what FOX did to the regional sports networks some 5 years ago when they took over. So before you vent on Speedvision, keep in mind that your anger (or boycott) needs to be direct at FOX.
>
> Now, for the positive news. AeroEFX has already begun discussions with another network. The potential for 2002 is that Competition Offshore may undergo some changes of it's own (including the potential of combining of powerboat racing with other motorsports competition). The discussions are in the early stages. There is a new rumor that has begun to circulate in the trades that a new version of "Speedvision" may be just over the horizon (it seems that some other people might not be happy about FOX as well)
>
We might be taking a step back, but we're not about to let the sport fall off the truck.
>
See you at the races.
>
> Mike Saint-Amand
> AeroEFX