MOTOR SPORTS: Racing With No Brakes

By Noah Davis UsFANS.com Managing Editor

In an effort to get television coverage of NASCAR to be more fan-friendly, this weekend’s Pennzoil 400 Winston Cup race will feature new coverage – a peep window during commercials. This is just part of the plan NBC has to help improve treatment of NASCAR races.

During some commercial breaks, NBC, which is airing the broadcast on Sunday, will have a small one-quarter window showing the race action while the commercial is being aired on the other three-quarters of the screen. This type of coverage was first tested on October 8, when Turner televised the UAW-GM Quality 500 on TBS.

Advertisers have to agree to participate in order for this to be put in effect, according to NBC spokespeople. Anheuser-Busch, a major NASCAR sponsor, has already agreed to the arrangement for most of its ads during the telecast.

“We will run [some ads]... in this manner, because NBS has agreed to ensure us that the cameras won’t focus on a competitive car while the spot is running,” Peter McLoughlin, vice president of corporate media for Anheuser Busch, told reporters.

Neither NBC nor NASCAR has released how many advertisers will participate in the program, which only affects national ads. Local ads will be run are they typically do, and will not have the live race window open.

Of course, if the window isn’t showing “a competitive car” – the ones that viewers want to see – we’re left to wonder how this will benefit the advertisers. If the action isn’t compelling people to at least listen to the ad, commercial breaks will continue to be used as pit stops for the viewing public.

Undaunted, NBC has additional plans for when it takes over NASCAR coverage full-time next year.

The Gocam, or Wirecam, will be tested by NBC at the Pennzoil 500, held at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. At Homestead, this camera will run on a cable down the backstretch on the inside of the track and reach speeds of 85 mph. The idea behind the camera is to follow the cars as they exit turn two and follow them into turn three, while giving viewers a better a clearer sense of the speed of the race cars.

Enhanced microphones will also be tested, to see if the audio coverage can be enhanced. NBC is looking to add the lower range of tones to the sounds delivered on your TV set. Currently all viewers hear are the higher pitched tones.

NBC is also developing Simulcam. This technology would allow qualifying runs to be superimposed. For instance, Jeff Gordon’s qualifying run would be taped and shown over Dale Earhardt’s qualifying run, the result being a simulated “race” with both cars on the track at the same time. NBC insists this will increase viewer’s understanding of the little things that can affect qualifying times.

Finally, more cameras will be added by NBC at the track. NBC will have at least 5 robotic cameras at every speedway, with one in every turn.

NASCAR fans should be rejoicing – TV coverage of NASCAR races is finally joining the big leagues.

Article provided courtesy of UsFANS.com