Fox "turned in a Super Bowl-worthy effort" for its inaugural broadcast of Sunday's Daytona 500, according to Barry Horn of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS, who wrote that the net "known to push the envelope in its sports productions instead opted for a more conservative approach. It did not break out all of its technological bells and whistles, preferring to wait until they are perfected" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/19). In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich wrote, "Give Fox an A for its inaugural handling of a big-time NASCAR race" (TORONTO STAR, 2/19). In Richmond, Jerry Lindquist wrote that until the accident that claimed the life of Dale Earnhardt, "It had been a solid telecast. ... There were glitches, to be sure, but the Foxies got off to a solid start. Their investment in [analyst Darrell] Waltrip certainly paid instant dividends" (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 2/19). In Atlanta, Prentis Rogers wrote Waltrip's "enthusiasm, insight and honesty were impressive" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 2/19). In St. Petersburg, Sharon Ginn called Waltrip "alternately charming and informative." Meanwhile, "As promised, drivers were referred to by number and name, not by sponsor, a welcome, if temporary, respite from NASCAR's overpowering hard sell" (ST. PETE TIMES, 2/19).
BROADCAST FEATURES: The AP's Howard Fendrich wrote Fox was "cautious about dipping into its bag of technical toys" (AP, 2/18). With 92 laps left in Sunday's race, Fox displayed the "Fox Trax" technology. Announcer Mike Joy said, "We're working on a number of new innovations for our NASCAR coverage, including a way for you to identify the cars more easily at home." An arrow points to the car, and a bubble with the number appears above the car (Fox, 2/18). In Orlando, Roger Simmons wrote Fox had "a promising debut at the 500." The "FOXBox ticker that ran continuously was informative and kept viewers up to date on the drivers, their speeds and times behind the leader. The network's signature graphics were, as usual, eye-catching and on target" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 2/19). USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke wrote the "continuous upper screen scroll is packed with information ... but Fox was missing references to car makes, important with Dodge's return to NASCAR" (USA TODAY, 2/19).
THE CREDENTIAL DEBATE: ESPN Managing Editor Bob Eaton said that the net will "reconsider its options on a week-to-week basis to determine whether it will surrender its credentials for the remaining NASCAR races." Eaton: "Some tracks have easier access in terms of getting people to come to us outside the track" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/18). Meanwhile, TNN's ten-year-old show "RaceDay" has been "denied credentials entirely" to Winston Cup and Busch Series races. TNN publicist Dana Landry: "We saw it coming with their new TV deals" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 2/19).
ISC IN THE MONEY: At a Salomon Smith Barney conference last week, ISC execs estimated TV rights fees for NASCAR events to be $259M for '01. ISC Senior VP H. Lee Combs said the $259M "is more than double what we received in 2000." Credit Suisse First Boston "estimated that" ISC "will record" $235.5M this year "in what it calls motorsports-related income," which includes TV revenue, up from $175.8M in FY '00 (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 2/20).
