“Johnny said you play a pretty good Fiddle, now let me show You How its done!” Hut-Hut, Arkansas!
Obviously, this No Fenders rant is pointless! But I felt like uncorking
it anyways…
As two songs crystalized upon my internal Jukebox after that Oh, so
clever title sprang to mind! Since none other than the late Larry McMurtry said
He couldn’t write the book until He had a title for it…
Thus Wasted Days and Wasted nights first flashed upon my radar. But
thinking more about the fearful 869lbs Gorr-rillia’ that IndyCar’s so scared to
go up against. Instead Charlie Daniels Devil Went Down to Georgia seemed more
Apropos. Since after all, think Georgia’s Football country, Y’all?
Having said it before, I’ll stand firm on my conviction that IndyCar
sold its Soul to FOX for its latest TV Broadcast deal. For which the crammed
down our gullet July portion of the calendar saw FOX only average 734,000
viewers for the Toronto IndyCar race. Last seen on Terrestrial TV Wayback’ in
gory 2019, when the NBC Sports Broadcast netted a stark 504,000 viewers. Before
NBC showed Oh Canada the love yearly, by making Toronto its only Peacock
streaming race of the season.
As the hoped for silver bullet of inking FOX as the new television
partner, was that the network FOX TV Broadcasts would result in a viewer
ratings surge to above the magic One million viewer threshold weekly, Which we
know didn’t happen.
As Toronto was FOX’s fifth
consecutive race during summer without an audience over 800k. Netting
FOX eighth races under 800k, albeit four races above One million viewers.
Arse-suming Laguna Seca kept FOX’s streak of under 800,000 viewers
going…
Average FOX Broadcast equals 829,000+ to date, through 12 races, not
including this year’s Indianapolis 500. Compared to NBC’s 38 (2019-2024)
non-conflicting races vs. NASCAR, the Indy 500, weather delays, NFL or COVID-19
season averaged 998k plus. Which drops to 935,408 for races going up against
opening weeks of NFL. football.
While NBC’s six non-conflict telecasts last year averaged 932,833 to
FOX’s 829,833 = Over 100k less FOX viewers to date! Which I’d say will not
improve with the doldrums, Err Dog Dazes ‘O August fast approaching. Uhm,
where’d they go Vern?
NBC’s 2024 tally dips to an average of 868k plus when factoring in last
year’s Nashville finale vs. Week 2 of NFL Football, Urgh! Which was still
approx. 40k higher than FOX’s tally through Toronto…
Look, I get it, which doesn’t mean I have to like it! That we’ll never
go back to IndyCar’s Heyday’s of CART. Which for example the 1990 CART PPG
IndyCar World Series also featured 17 races. Beginning on April 8th at Phoenix
International Raceway. And ending on October 21st at Laguna Seca Raceway, with
effectively a Double Header. Due to the Marlboro Challenge race running on
Saturday.
With two new races added that year, both being street races at Denver
and Vancouver, with Pocono being dropped due to safety concerns.
Although 30 years ago, the IndyCar season began another 17 race calendar
on March 5th at Miami’s Bicentennial Park. And concluded the season on
September 10th at Laguna Seca. With seven street races, six Ovals and four road
course races.
Hmm, don’t Y’all just love when history gets in the way of your rant? As
perhaps this six months on/off thingy’ Aint’ so new, Eh?
Yet IndyCar is never going to improve their ratings until they figure
out how to improve the schedule away from its yearly Famine-Feast-Famine
routine. As everyone knows All about the ridiculous six month Hibernation.
Followed by two or three races with three week gaps between them,
Blah-blah-Blah. For which I’d say the 1995 calendar was way more “balanced” and
flowing nicely, without any momentum killing gaps upon it.
Then slamming half of the season between May to June. A weekend off and
then another five races over four July weekends, before limping to the finale
on August 31st, Crickets! Is never going to grow your desired audience…
And let’s not even get started on one of IndyCar’s worst Buzzwords. Can
Y’all say Date Equity? With it being time to play Wackamole again…
I also understand we cannot
compare IndyCar to NASCAR or Groan, Formula 1, who’s sweeping the nation with
it Real Housewives of F1 reality TV Show. Be still my bleeding Heart. What will
they do with the demise of Chris Horner, eh?
But its funny how IMSA’s still got a few races left on their calendar,
i.e.; Battle on The Bricks (Sept 21st) and Petit Le Mans. (Oct 11th)
While the NHRA’s still racing until November 16th at Pomona, the conclusion of
its 20 race season. Even with the litany of Pigskins being tossed round,
Illegal Formation – tweet!
As believe it or not? Thars’ some of us who only follow Motorsports.
Meaning its good to have other racing series to follow in IndyCar’s absence.
Especially since IndyCar has gone into its winter’s slumber, and won’t see its
shadow for another Freakin’ six months, Sigh!
As what’s that ‘Ol saying about Out of sight, Out of mind! Which
ironically, Davey Hamilton said the very same thing during the Laguna Seca
race, regarding the shortness of the IndyCar season…
(TV Ratings Source: Indianapolis Star, Nathan Browne)
