NBC to show K. Derby Prep Races!

[jayfree41]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/sports/11racing.html?ref=sports

[Stevie Belmont]

This is a good news...

[joanied]

I'll go for that...about time too:ThmbUp: ...but can't they spare us the 'food & fashion'...barfo:ThmbDown:

[bisket]

no offense to abc and espn, but i haven't enjoyed the race coverage since nbc lost the big races.

[Robert Goren]

Lets not too exicted here, It is, after all, NBC. You know the network nobody watches. Maybe they can get Jay Leno to call the races. ;)

[tzipi]

I don't feel this will end up good. I WOULD LOVE IF IT DID THOUGH :ThmbUp:

Here's the problem the Derby will always get viewers and ratings will always go up and down a bit over the years. It a big show,Derby Day. I just dont think ratings for the Lanes End,Louisiana Derby,etc will pull in public viewing and be a big thing. Major channels have had racing before and ratings compared to the Derby were so bad that they dumped it. I remember reading that skateboarding,poker,etc were way higher rating getters than horses.

It's good for us fans though. They have to remember too that people actually do Deby pools at home,office,etc and people watch for that too. I just think ratings are going to be so low for these races that people outside of racing dont know about or even care about. We'll see.

[point given]

I'll go for that...about time too:ThmbUp: ...but can't they spare us the 'food & fashion'...barfo:ThmbDown:

I'm with you, I'll sit and mutter ,SHUT UP at the TV a couple of times before I hit the mute button and wait for the horses to show up on screen. :eek:

[sandpit]

Churchill Downs paid $2M to get these races televised, according to the article on this page: http://www.courier-journal.com/section/sports

[FenceBored]

Churchill Downs paid $2M to get these races televised, according to the article on this page: http://www.courier-journal.com/section/sports

From the Lou CJ article:
Churchill and NBC Sports on Monday announced the partnership, which includes three one-hour “Road to the Kentucky Derby” broadcasts — two on NBC and one on the USA Network.
-- http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100111/BUSINESS/1110332/1037/SPORTS08/Churchill+pays+NBC+$2+million+for+series+of+Derby+ prep+races
I've heard Alex Waldrop on the radio talk about having to pay a network $700k-750k for an hour of racing broadcast, so $2m for 3 hours sounds about right.

[adwplayingfool]

Would be a great time to push ADW advertising such as twinspires and youbet if they acquire them, get some new money into pools

[joanied]

I'm with you, I'll sit and mutter ,SHUT UP at the TV a couple of times before I hit the mute button and wait for the horses to show up on screen. :eek:

Me too...or better yet, record everything, then fast forward thru the garbage:D

What channel has the Super Bowl?? If racing could pay of a small ad spot on during the Super Bowl, that would be incrediblely good exposure for it...I know a spot costs tons...but, IMO, it would be well worth it.