WRC coming back to American TV - LotusTalk

mopho · 07-16-2009, 02:07 AM

Quote:

High-definition WRC coverage coming to America
Television coverage of the FIA World Rally Championship will be available to millions of households in the USA later this year thanks to a new partnership between series promoters, ISC, and the Discovery Channel's HD Theater network.
WRC programming will be shown weekly on HD Theater starting in October. As well as coverage from every round of the championship, a range of other features and news bulletins will be shown.
Part of the Discovery Channel's range of networks, HD Theater is one of the most widely distributed high-definition services available in the United States. Specialising in adventure, technology, nature and world culture programming, HD Theater also covers a number of racing events, all of which are shown in a 1080i picture format and with 5.1 digital surround sound.
“This is tremendous news for the championship and our fans in the United States," said Simon Long, ISC CEO. "It is a ground breaking deal which means the WRC has a high-profile broadcast presence in the United States via a hugely-respected, quality and innovative partner in Discovery Communication’s HD Theater,”
“We’re looking forward to the opportunity to take the WRC to an ever wider audience in the significant U.S. market, and working with HD Theater to bring more attention to what we firmly believe is an ‘epic motorsport adventure by the world’s greatest drivers,’” he added.
Clark Bunting, president and general manager of HD Theater, said: "HD Theater has been a pioneer in high-definition programming and we are excited to introduce the FIA World Rally Championships to our American audience. This year we’ve seen the action go from the snow-covered roads of Norway to the hairpin turns climbing the Cordobese Sierras of Argentina, and the adrenaline-fuelled rally action will shine in high-definition."

World Rally Championship - News - High-definition WRC coverage coming to America

frostylocks · 07-16-2009, 02:21 AM

this is great news.

i'd much rather watch WRC drivers facing varied road surfaces from around the globe than watch a bunch of rednecks drive around in a circle.

sorry NASCAR fans.

Demonized · 07-16-2009, 04:50 AM

Hopefully they don't "Americanize" it and turn it into **** like "pinks", or some reality show about rally car drivers.

Tracktimeplz · 07-16-2009, 06:40 AM

I used to watch it every year on speed, I guess I was one of the few? Its really the most exciting racing to watch IMO, its so dynamic, and has to be one of the most challenging motorsports to participate in.

Rally races are usually won by pure skill, not pit stop times, fuel consumption, tire wear, ect.

JWA · 07-16-2009, 07:43 AM

It's about damn time. Maybe all of the drama with Max has allowed someone else in the FIA to realize that they were shooting themselves in the foot by pricing themselves out of the market.

SweetDaddyD · 07-16-2009, 07:50 AM

Awesome!
Except that it will come back right as I cancel my directTV or scale the package back to basics since I barely watch anything anyway.

Smallfatz · 07-16-2009, 08:06 AM

Finally! I would watch rally religiously when it was on Speed before Nascar took over. It was the reason that I used to have a WRX.

kestrel74 · 07-16-2009, 08:06 AM

REAL racing !

mopho · 07-16-2009, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SweetDaddyD

Awesome!
Except that it will come back right as I cancel my directTV or scale the package back to basics since I barely watch anything anyway.

Yeah, I am on the cusp of canceling my cable too.

mikester · 07-16-2009, 08:56 AM

That's really great news, thanks for sharing that.

I too hope it's not dumbed down,as others have already expressed.

TypeREX · 07-16-2009, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smallfatz

Finally! I would watch rally religiously when it was on Speed before Nascar took over. It was the reason that I used to have a WRX.

Same here, and I still have my WRX!

JWA · 07-16-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TypeREX

Same here, and I still have my WRX!

But now Subaru has pulled out of the WRC, so we'll all have to buy Ford Focuses now

.

ggelise · 07-16-2009, 06:44 PM

Sébastien Loeb is God Like! This is awesome news!! Thanks for the post!

mopho · 07-16-2009, 07:01 PM

Can't wait until Loeb retires

ggelise · 07-16-2009, 07:59 PM

He is not going to retire until he reaches Mike Kimberley's age.

mopho · 07-16-2009, 08:05 PM

Doubt it, he's already talked about leaving the sport

rnr · 07-16-2009, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mopho

Can't wait until Loeb retires

Why??? Its not his fault if the competition cant keep up.

ggelise · 07-16-2009, 08:49 PM

Exactly. How can you not appreciate watching that level of car control.

shay2nak · 07-16-2009, 09:49 PM

mopho · 07-16-2009, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnr

Why??? Its not his fault if the competition cant keep up.

Because him winning all the time has made the sport completely boring, it's not even worth watching anymore.

It's not the other drivers fault Citroen spends more money than all the other teams either.
His winning is as much because of the car/team as his driving. I bet he wouldn't be dominating if he was in a different car. Citroen is the Braun of WRC

I also don't care for him because he has the personality of a grape, so his interviews suck.
Additionally, after I had patiently waited for hours for him to show up to the portrait photoshoot for a magazine story I had scheduled with him a few years ago, he was not particularly friendly and he didn't give me all his attention or very much time. All the other WRC drivers I have photographed were incredibly friendly, gracious and fun, I'd much rather see them win

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggelise

Exactly. How can not appreciate watching that level of car control.

I appreciate the car control of WRC drivers from the 80's and 90's far more, the cars now barely slide compared to those periods.

07-16-2009, 02:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
frostylocks Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central US Posts: 174 Images: 6	this is great news. i'd much rather watch WRC drivers facing varied road surfaces from around the globe than watch a bunch of rednecks drive around in a circle. sorry NASCAR fans. __________________ '08 Elise SC Laser Blue, Sport, Touring, HT, SS, Larini S Club Sport, Manly Motor Mounts, K&N. '02 Audi S6 Avant/snowmobile '01 Toyota Echo (quit laughing! it's the perfect 4 door golf-cart-grocery-getter!)

07-16-2009, 04:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
Demonized NOT ßANNED! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,546	Hopefully they don't "Americanize" it and turn it into **** like "pinks", or some reality show about rally car drivers. __________________ 2005 Saffron Yellow Elise, Katana Supercharger, LSS Wheels, 2Bular exhaust & cat, rear panel delete, Cup Airbox, Volt / Oil temp gauge, Ohlins double adjustable coilovers, Dual Oil Coolers, S111 RTD Brace, Moroso Oil Pan, MicroMirror, S111 "V-Force" Harness bar, Manly Engine Mounts, Odyssey PC680 & RLS Bracket, Saikou Michi OCC, CF Scoops, CF Bootlid, CF Front Lip.

07-16-2009, 06:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tracktimeplz Race lines on the mind Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Northwest Florida Posts: 1,085	I used to watch it every year on speed, I guess I was one of the few? Its really the most exciting racing to watch IMO, its so dynamic, and has to be one of the most challenging motorsports to participate in. Rally races are usually won by pure skill, not pit stop times, fuel consumption, tire wear, ect. __________________ 2003 Honda S2000 - Suzuka Blue 2005 Magnetic Blue Elise Forcefed 275 turbo - Sold 05/20/09

07-16-2009, 08:06 AM	#8 (permalink)
kestrel74 G-200 Driver Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: North of Detroit; Watkins Glen, NY Posts: 9,307	REAL racing ! __________________ 74 Europa Zetec TC Special 3614R Elise #2292 / Chrome Orange !! / Starshield / Nitron Sport SA / RTDbrace / Uprights machined / Down Low rails / ChaseCam / V1 / SS lines w/ R4-S "My daily driver does .85 Mach" " I started flying when Sex was safe and Hang Gliding was dangerous " BUY My Europa ! http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f94/...pa-sale-43829/

07-16-2009, 08:56 AM	#10 (permalink)
mikester Registered Shmoozer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: So Cal Posts: 4,597	That's really great news, thanks for sharing that. I too hope it's not dumbed down,as others have already expressed. __________________ Covered in Brandy and Lard

07-16-2009, 07:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
JWA #33 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 3,737	It's about damn time. Maybe all of the drama with Max has allowed someone else in the FIA to realize that they were shooting themselves in the foot by pricing themselves out of the market.

07-16-2009, 07:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
SweetDaddyD BANNED Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ATL, GA Posts: 7,644 Images: 2	Awesome! Except that it will come back right as I cancel my directTV or scale the package back to basics since I barely watch anything anyway.

07-16-2009, 08:06 AM	#7 (permalink)
Smallfatz Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Phoenix (West Side) Posts: 25	Finally! I would watch rally religiously when it was on Speed before Nascar took over. It was the reason that I used to have a WRX.

07-16-2009, 06:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
ggelise Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 193	Sébastien Loeb is God Like! This is awesome news!! Thanks for the post!

07-16-2009, 07:01 PM	#14 (permalink)
mopho goofn' with the bees Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: out of a suitcase- my stuff lives in LA Posts: 5,306	Can't wait until Loeb retires __________________ ________________ 2004 Caterham 7 Superlight R - 67 Lotus Elan www.morgansegal.com www.socalsportscar.com

07-16-2009, 07:59 PM	#15 (permalink)
ggelise Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 193	He is not going to retire until he reaches Mike Kimberley's age.

07-16-2009, 08:05 PM	#16 (permalink)
mopho goofn' with the bees Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: out of a suitcase- my stuff lives in LA Posts: 5,306	Doubt it, he's already talked about leaving the sport __________________ ________________ 2004 Caterham 7 Superlight R - 67 Lotus Elan www.morgansegal.com www.socalsportscar.com

07-16-2009, 08:49 PM	#18 (permalink)
ggelise Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 193	Exactly. How can you not appreciate watching that level of car control. Last edited by ggelise : 07-17-2009 at 10:07 PM.

07-16-2009, 09:49 PM	#19 (permalink)
shay2nak I <3 chicken, I <3 liver Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Land of da 1000 Oaks, CA Posts: 15,042	__________________ save ~10 lbs gain 1 hp EQ: Y=(190X) / (1984-X) where Y is (HP) and X is (lbs) '07 EXIGE S * MY CAR ** VIDEOS! '08 ACURA TSX 6-speed http://www.makeNYNYagain.com

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