Anyone watching Speed has even a small interest in motorsports. Anyone posting on a Speed Forum has something between "Interest" and "Fanaticism." Recently, on Sunday, October 18, 2009, the World Driver's Championship was awarded to Briton Jenson Button at the Interlagos racecourse in Brazil after finishing fifth with enough points to secure the title. It was an exciting race all around, but the obvious focus of the FIA video feed was on Button as he drove his way into the history books.
The night before, in Charlotte, NC, Jimmie Johnson achieved yet another Chase for the Cup win to further his bid in becoming an unprecedented four-times-in-a-row NASCAR Cup Champion.
The point of this post comes from what happened at the conclusion of the Brazilian Grand Prix as shown on Speed. For various reasons, the allotted broadcast time reached it's conclusion right after the the podium ceremony took place in Brazil. Bob Varsha stated that the regularly scheduled programming would take place immediately after the commercial break, and it cut straight to Trackside Live "In Progress" (which is a fantastic show of it's own right and absolutely no disrespect intended). However, instead of being able to follow the chaos and calamity that follows a major moment in motorsports on my beloved Speed (with an expert and insider, Peter Windsor, on hand) as it happened, I am forced to keep refreshing SpeedTV.com and various other websites for hours to find out what happened after the programming stopped. Programming cut to a taped show rather than keep a momentous event as it happened. It made me wonder, "Does Speed need a Speed 2?"
I understand the present economic situation enough to understand that another channel may not be viable. Yet, with the largest audience, and largest market for the network, a second channel that is strictly for stock car-related events would allow for 24 hour availability to all things NASCAR as well as the other channel that would allow for all other things motor. I know it couldn't be named the NASCAR Channel due to licensing agreements. But, it would leave available another channel for every other motorsport- 24/7.
Speed has apparently lost the rights to the second most popular motorsport on the planet (WRC), but every other non-NASCAR form of racing could be covered without conflicting with their own programming. And, NASCAR would still bring the most revenue (and hopefully, exclusivity) with their own Speed Channel.
Perhaps the various US open wheeled series could make financially feasible deals and gain in popularity. In addition, off-road series, usually untelevised series (carting, SCCA, DTM, etc.), as well as old favorites might find new audiences, and revenue, on Speed.
I pay extra for the cable package that includes Speed because of Speed. Yes, it's primarily because of Formula 1, but I couldn't live without everything Speed brings. Everything. If, and when, it's viable, two channels won't compete with my time. It will just make my DVR that much fuller, and my life that much happier.

100% agreement.

I was really annoyed that I got none of Jenson Button's celebration. He won the most prestigious driving championship in the world, and got zero airtime.

And I would love to see SPEED-2. Let SPEED do ALMS, GA, NASCAR, modifieds, sprints, rally, F1, IRL ... BTCC, Deutshce Touring ... all the on- and off-road bike racing ... every kind of racing they can film.

They could load up both channels with garbage "reality" shows (which apparently make good money) and still have time to give complete coverage to much more racing.

Probably financially impossible for SPEED, but I would pay for the channel if they put racing on it.

Good post and good idea, JD McPhee.

Thank you very much, Maelochs! I know it's too long, but I wanted to be complete. I know the formatting is terrible, but it's my first original post and didn't double-space between paragraphs. I'm sorry if it was hard to read, but appreciate the time you took to read and respond.

I like this FALSE statement! "the allotted broadcast time reached it's conclusion right after the the podium ceremony took place in Brazil"

THE BROADCAST DID NOT END UNTIL AFTER THE DRIVER INTERVIEWS AND FINAL THOUGHTS!!!!!

There is still the final race at Aubudabhi after which he will thouroughly be celebrated, but then we only get what feed the FIA wants us to get.

True enough, Extremedriver. I apologize. There were shown the traditional press room interviews and final thoughts. You are also right in that there is still the final race to go. I was only trying to say that there are so many motorsports, and SPEED is such an excellent and important company, that having two channels would be twice as good and they wouldn't have to compete with themselves.

Sorry for sounding so mean and harsh. I don't mean to be like that. I just get aggrivated sometimes after reading through some of the posts on these forums.

No apologies necessary! I really appreciate your time and thoughts! And you're absolutely right. It's my very first. SPEED means a lot to me and I am only trying to get thoughts on a second channel, for everyone. It just seems like there are 2nd, 3rd, or more channels for other things, but not for motorsports. Thank you again for your comments and your follow-up.

JD McPhee,

I would have to agree with you on most of your views.

I have always wondered why a specialty cable channel, like speed do not show more motorsports from all around the world.

Back in the day when the channel was named Speedvision, it still drove me to drink, trying to figure out why they did not televise racing, instead of occasionally reporting on the outcomes.

There is a flip side to all this, this speed channel is a FOX owned channel.

Nothing wrong with that... Let me finish.

Up here in the Great White North, we have to endure 3 to 4 hours of Paid Programming, every morning. We also have to endure 4 minutes of the very same commercials, every 12 minutes. And finally, we have to endure the audio feed for a Formula One race, broadcasting from somewhere in the United States.

Up here in the Great White North, we have a sports channel called TSN, The Sports Network. I believe an ESPN affiliate.

They have no Paid Programming, they split screen the race, while showing commercials, and they take their audio feed from ITV, (I believe that is what it is called).

Do not get me wrong, Bob Varsha and crew do a fantastic job announcing the race. That is not my point.

However, they do have to deal with the FOX Network, and their ideology of what the motorsports fans will tolerate while still maintaining a sizable profit margin for their shareholders.

Almost sounds like the FIA, doesn't it.

It is always about the money.

I would love to start up an alternate channel which is strictly dedicated to racing, like Speed should be.

I just do not know where to start with that.

It's obvious that SPEED TV has grown into a network that's trying to cater to every facet of the automotive community. That's why I agree with you totaly about SPEED having more than one network. So here is what I would like to do if I was the head honcho at SPEED. I would like to have at least 3 different SPEED Networks much like what ESPN grew into. I think it would alleviate much of the strife that many of the posters in these forums seem to have with SPEED. So here's my plan for SPEED TV.

1. SPEED: The place for all of SPEED'S US based racing coverage and TV shows.

2. SPEED International: This would be the network for all the news and views of F1, MotoGP, and any other international racing series that can be featured.

3. SPEED CLASSIC: This would be the place to see NASCAR Classics, other classic races, Racing movies, and other classic SPEED TV programming.

4. I would also make full race coverage a priority for both SPEED World Challenge, and Ferrari Challenge. I would also like to increase coverage of the IHRA Nitro Jam Series from it's current one hour highlighted format to a 2 or 3 hour highlighted format. I would even like to add Talk shows for the Rolex Sports Car Series, ALMS and Drag Racing. These are just some of the things I would like to do if I were the head honcho at SPEED TV. Laterz guys.

SPEED TV get's whatever the international broadcast feed is so what you see is what F1 want's us to see.