1995
■ Speedvision launches on Dec. 31 under the ownership of Comcast Corp., Cox Communications, Continental Cablevision, AT&T and Times Mirror.
1998
■ Fox/Liberty Networks purchases a one-third stake in Speedvision and Outdoor Life Networks for about $100 million.
2001
■ News Corp.’s Fox Cable Networks Group obtains a majority ownership of the channel.
2002
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The Craftsman Truck Series moved to Speed Channel from ESPN and ESPN2 in 2003.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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■ Speedvision changes its name to Speed Channel in February and moves its headquarters from Stamford, Conn., to Charlotte.
■ Speed Channel earns a 1.02 rating for live coverage of NASCAR Winston Cup practice at Talladega, the first time the network broke 1.0 for a single airing of a program.
2003
■ The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series moves to Speed Channel from ESPN and ESPN2.
2005
■ Speed debuts in 500,000 homes in Latin America on July 1.
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Speed showed its first live in-season Nextel Cup event, the Nextel All-Star Challenge, in 2007. Kevin Harvick celebrated after winning the Charlotte race.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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2006
■ Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Hammerhead Entertainment and Speed reach a deal for Earnhardt to host “Back in the Day,” a 30-minute television program.
2007
■ The first live in-season NASCAR Nextel Cup event, the Nextel All-Star Challenge, is broadcast on the network. The Gatorade Duels were shown live earlier in the year.
2008
■ Speed relocates its offices across town to its current headquarters in north Charlotte.
■ Speed and Phoenix International Raceway unveil the first Speed Cantina, a branded bar, grill and entertainment center near Turn 2.
2010
■ Speed Australia is unveiled in November.
■ Speed launches its Speed2 broadband network.
2012
■ In October, Fox Sports and NASCAR extend the channel’s broadcasting deal through the 2022 season for more than $2.4 billion over eight years.
■ Speed loses Formula One broadcasting rights in the U.S. to NBC, ending a 17-year run on the network.
2013
■ On March 5, Fox Sports announces it will relaunch Speed as Fox Sports 1 on Aug. 17.
Source: SportsBusiness Journal research
