NBC PLEASE!

[zinn21]

Lisann wrote:

I have to say, it was REALLY NICE to see horse racing in HD.

Here here!!

[da hossman]

I stayed home for the first time in a few years and watched the races from my house. It may be sacrilege to say it, but it was a much easier day and I had better views of the races. I did not really listen to the NBC coverage until after the Woodford, but what I heard at that time I thought was excellent.

Mario Gutierrez was so real, so emotional and so appreciative of what had just happened, he stole the show. I thought the quirky female reporter that was nipped was entertaining in her "interviews" of the horses. And yes it is important for people to know Thoroughbred stallions bite, they are not lapdogs. Likewise her piece at WinStar with the foaling was very good for the general America audience. Chris Baker did a great job, especially with his "first steps...first Saturday in May" comments.

So I am a cheerleader for the NBC coverage I saw. Sorry I missed the Tony Dutrow piece, he is a good guy and completely dedicated to his horses.

Remember folks, NBC and Thoroughbred racing needs to be sold to an uneducated public. We have to let them take baby steps. Although the Secretariat movie was not absolutely realistic we need to turn a forgiving cheek as the audience is not us but the potential newbies. Thus the importance of showing that celebrities think racing is cool so ordinary people may also think it is cool.

[Joltman]

It's not a matter of making profit. I'm for NBC (even Obama's GE!) making it, but more so for CD for making it. And especially for the owners and trainers for making it.

The 'old Broadcast TV model' in place once again this year is not working well for NBC and probably not for CD either. What will their rating be? Probably the usual.

Granted there is some serious money into CDs coffers from the exclusive contract but think about it.

They pulled in a LIVE crowd of 160,000+. What other events in the sporting world have this kind of following (preceded by 100k at the Oaks which they didn't even cover on the national broadcast). Even the Preakness will have overflow crowds.

They do little real advance promotion and wonder why they

NBC is holding the cards with these racing events. This is upside down. An exclusive contract only works when there is really strong demand for it. Demand for racing TV needs to be created, and it's competition that creates demand. Let the NBCs, CBSs, ABCs, HRTVs, TVGs, ESPNs, and whoever wants to cover the thing as an Event - and compete. That's capitalism. They can Let MSNBC have a side show and do the fluff stuff.

When will the Race Track owners begin to value their Business and their product and the people who put on the show (the Racing community) and create a model that works for racing. Whatever works for racing will ultimately work for them as they have the flagship product.

It's back to the marketing question.

jm

.. my apologies for quoting myself - just for context

The overnight ratings for the TV coverage is interesting:

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/nation ... -year.aspx

The ratings declined 7% - second straight year. Yet if you read the whole article you see that the ratings actually beat the Final Round of the Masters, Daytona 500, etc. showing just what a powerhouse event this is nationally. Yet old fashioned TV is losing it's market share. People are using other media, seeking other outlets for the entertainment and dollar. You cannot expect any growth (or to even hold ground) in this age, using this 50 year old approach.

I think that racing execs have hitched their horse to the wrong wagon.

jm

[madelyn]

Not to mention that Nielsen gives preference to monitoring households where the television is turned on more than six hours a day seven days a week -- who does that? The unemployed? The moms with tots that can't afford day care or help with the chores so that they use the boob tube as an electronic babysitter? Are those your at-home racing fans?