Why cant Sportsman Racing be like this on TV these days???

Jeff Kempton · 02-13-2011, 04:30 PM

Thanks for the clarification Bret; I stand corrected. I was hoping that someone with hands-on experience in the TV production of drag racing events would post, and I appreciate you stepping up with some good and accurate information.

If I understand you correctly, then the lawn mower racers/demo derbies/snowmobile racers pay up to $60,000 (less the revenue from the commercial time) to have their event produced and televised? I must say I'm shocked that some of these organizations can afford that much money.

As far as Inside Drag Racing goes, unfortunately here in Canada we do not get that show (I say this through gritted teeth). We also do not get the full ESPN race coverage; instead for each event we only get a single condensed show on TSN of about 2-2.5 hours' duration, usually aired only once and at the most inconvenient time possible. From what you've said, I assume that it costs NHRA for it to be aired here too, and it's edited down because that's all the airtime they're willing to pay for in Canada.

Were the Diamond P shows financed the same way, or was that "another era" in Motorsports TV?

02-13-2011, 04:30 PM	#25
Jeff Kempton Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 236 Likes: 1,043 Liked 66 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Why cant Sportsman Racing be like this on TV these days? Thanks for the clarification Bret; I stand corrected. I was hoping that someone with hands-on experience in the TV production of drag racing events would post, and I appreciate you stepping up with some good and accurate information. If I understand you correctly, then the lawn mower racers/demo derbies/snowmobile racers pay up to $60,000 (less the revenue from the commercial time) to have their event produced and televised? I must say I'm shocked that some of these organizations can afford that much money. As far as Inside Drag Racing goes, unfortunately here in Canada we do not get that show (I say this through gritted teeth). We also do not get the full ESPN race coverage; instead for each event we only get a single condensed show on TSN of about 2-2.5 hours' duration, usually aired only once and at the most inconvenient time possible. From what you've said, I assume that it costs NHRA for it to be aired here too, and it's edited down because that's all the airtime they're willing to pay for in Canada. Were the Diamond P shows financed the same way, or was that "another era" in Motorsports TV?