Directv Ends NASCAR sponsorship and programming

[RLDreams]

It was just announced that D* has not renewed their sponsorship of NASCAR, and is no longer the "official broadcast provider". So this ends the Directv Hotpass channels in car camera and team radio broadcast. Since the directv blimp was part of the sponsorship, I assume that the DTV blimp will also no longer be flying above providing aerial coverage.
I'll miss the PRN radio simulcast on D*, it was a great alternative to the ESPN talking heads.

 

[Mr Tony]

from jayski

No DirecTV Hot Pass in 2013: DirecTV is doing away with its NASCAR Hot Pass programming this year. The decision brings an end to the five-year-old service that gave subscribers four channels of in-car-driver video and audio. The distributor opted to discontinue the service because of its cost. DirecTV also decided to end its sponsorship of NASCAR. It had been an official partner of the sport since '07. It is looking for other ways to stay involved in the sport and plans to set up displays at some racetracks this season. DirecTV Senior VP/PR Darris Gringeri said, "We tried to charge for the (Hot Pass) product a few years ago, but the demand for it was low. We decided to switch to a free service. It's been great and we've been happy with it. It's been a differentiator. But in the end, the production cost became too much to bear." The offering was expensive because DirecTV had to sublicense the video rights to in-car-camera footage from NASCAR rightsholders Fox, Turner and ESPN

 

[Joe The Dragon]

whats happens to hot pass in Canada?

 

[RLDreams]

whats happens to hot pass in Canada?

If there is no more NASCAR hotpass, there is no more NASCAR hotpass, it doesn't matter where you are watching it from

 

[Joe The Dragon]

But I head that the canada ver was a little differnt and was still a pay thing.

 

[whitewolf8214]

Good move by Directv and so much money they will save but was better than espn talkers

 

[Claude Greiner]

What a waste of money


Didn't dish sponsor a NASCAR also?

 

[RLDreams]

Dish sponsored a team for a while, but Directv sponsored the entire series as the "official " broadcast provider,to the tune of millions of dollars a year. They flew the DTV blimp over the races providing aerial coverage, provided the feeds for the monitors the teams use in the pits and garages,media center etc. Directv was a big part of the sport.If you ever watched or attended a race you would have scene a DTV dish on top of every pit box. Just like Sprint sponsorship provides all the team and official radio communications over their cell signal band.

 

[Mr Tony]

What a waste of money

why do you say that? I guess when I watch a race and see all the DIrectv stuff as a fan I would say "hmmmm Nascar has Directv. Maybe I should too"