January 31, 2012
By Doug Demmons
Well, it’s better late than never.
Way back in 2001 someone at NASCAR thought it would be a fabulous idea to sell the digital rights to NASCAR content to Turner Sports. Easy money. Don’t have to do anything but cash the check. And that internet stuff will never catch on anyway.
Ten years later, how are those NASCAR iPhone apps workin’ for ya?
Oops.
And how did you like that Sirius Speedway show with Dave Moody that was streamed online?
Double oops.
Yes, NASCAR is behind every other sport on the planet when it comes to its digital footprint. Actually, compared to other sports, NASCAR doesn’t even have a footprint, just a finger smudge.
But that’s changing ... and it’s about time.
NASCAR announced Monday that it was reasserting control over its digital rights from Turner Sports as of 2013. That means editorial content on NASCAR.com will now be controlled by NASCAR.
And it means a whole cornucopia of online content will now be possible. Turner will no longer be damming up the river.
In the near future, you will very likely be able to stream MRN and PRN radio broadcasts of races and watch races on your iPad. It seems radical, but one day soon you might just be able to see and hear and experience what fans of the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball already take for granted.
Financial arrangements for this new deal were not disclosed, but NASCAR likely had to pay up to get Turner to agree to end the arrangement early. NASCAR also agreed to give Turner rights through 2016 to manage advertising and sponsorships online.
The only downside to the deal is the loss of the independent editorial voice that Turner provided on NASCAR.com. But it was highly unusual that the website that bears the sport’s name would published critical articles.
That has never gone over well with NASCAR officials and it was bound to end sooner or later.
And good as it is to have many independent voices in the NASCAR media, it’s kind of absurd to expect NASCAR to allow criticism on the site that bears its own name and logo.
It’s a brave new world and there is no telling how it will all shake out.
But whatever happens, we’ll at least be able to follow it on an app.
Doug Demmons is a writer and editor for the Birmingham News ~ he writes daily and weekly auto racing columns ranging from NASCAR to open wheel to Formula One, local tracks and more... you can read Doug's columns online at ALABAMA MOTORSPORTS
Follow Doug on Twitter: @dougdemmons
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.