After reaching 194,000 people during the Edmonton broadcast, and not many more during the rest of the NBC races this season, it might be time for IndyCar to do something I long said they should never do. It's time for IndyCar to buy time on TV.
For a long time I was against this idea as I knew it devalued the product to potential broadcasters, but I don't think it's possible to devalue the product anymore than being on NBC Sports Network is already doing. Tracks and teams need to find sponsors, and when you only reach 200,000 or so during the majority of your season, it's going to get harder and harder to find sponsors. That's why it is time to look into paying to keep all the races on ABC/ESPN.
*GASP*
*HORROR*
Relax you ninnies. If IndyCar is paying for the season, that means they get to choose the on and off air talent. So, if your worried this means a full year of the Excitement Brothers (Scott and Marty), don't be. In fact, I think there are a lot of advantages to IndyCar paying to be on ABC/ESPN. The biggest would be that they own the time and in turn they would sell the Ad time. Why is that important?
Right now the teams, tracks, series, and TV are out looking for sponsors, but there is no combined effort between all the parties (or at least it seems like it). Now with TV and the Series under one umbrella it could be easier to offer potential sponsors package deals. For example....
If you are the primary sponsor of a car, you get a 10% discount.
If your TV advertising features an IndyCar driver, 20% discount. (This could lead to more sponsors cross promoting)
Want to sponsor a race? You get four free :30 spots on network TV.
Giving more value to team and race sponsor is exactly what this sport needs now and I've only scratched the surface with things IndyCar could do. Who knows, maybe for an additional low price IndyCar could convince these same sponsor to advertise on live stream during ESPN3 broadcasts.
Yes, I also realize there is the big question of who pays for this. I think IndyCar could go a long way in helping themselves by scheduling as many weekends as they can with other series. Truck, ALMS, ARCA, Grand Am, and even Nationwide. In the end, this is going to be one of those "to make money, you have to spend money," deals, but in the end I think it's worth the risk. Certainly can't hurt more than having your series finale potentially being seen by a combined 300,000 people.
