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NASCAR didn't like ABC switch

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Like many fans, NASCAR Chairman Brian France wasn't happy with ESPN's decision to move the final 34 minutes of Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway from ABC to ESPN2. ABC opted to keep its prime-time lineup intact in the East and Central time zones, where it televised "America's Funniest Home Videos" instead of the end of the race. "We didn't like it," France said Tuesday during a national teleconference with news media. "That was not what we had anticipated. But we have talked to them repeatedly in the last couple of days. "There were lots of circumstances that they had to consider. I don't have to agree with each one of those, but they had their own issues that they had to manage around. We, unfortunately, got the short end of that. We are working with them to hopefully eliminate that happening in the future." ABC/ESPN spokesman George McNeilly said Sunday that "ABC's entertainment viewers and NASCAR fans were both well served in a tough spot" after the race ran longer than expected, partially because of a 24-minute rain delay and an 18-minute red-flag period after an accident. ABC, according to the network, earned a 4.6 overnight Nielsen rating during the 7 to 7:30 p.m. EST window for the race before switching to ESPN2. ABC earned a 3.8 overnight rating combined for "America's Funniest Home Videos" in the Eastern and Central time zones and the race in the Mountain and Pacific time zones.

SceneDaily.com

Brian France, John Harrelson/Getty Images Brian France, John Harrelson/Getty Images
November 12, 2008  08:14 AM ET

All I can say is that it sucked them leaving the race to go to funny vidios!!!!!!

November 12, 2008  08:22 AM ET

The ABC executives took one look at this lightweight and after they stopped laughing in his his face told him "Yeah we did it, and....."
At which point Brian tucked his tail between his legs and as he was scampering away said
"Thank you for talking to me, I appreciate you gentlemen taking the time from your busy schedules to address this matter"
His father would of held one of these ABC idiots out of a window until they produced a contract guaranteeing that this type of bulls**t never happened again

November 12, 2008  08:23 AM ET

This just goes to show you that sometimes the apple CAN fall very far from the tree.

November 12, 2008  08:35 AM ET

Yah, well, next time make the "entertainment viewers" watch their funny videos on ESPN2. I do believe those initials stand for "ENTERTAINMENT and Sports Programming Network"

November 12, 2008  08:46 AM ET
QUOTE(#3):

This just goes to show you that sometimes the apple CAN fall very far from the tree.

If the old man was still around he would beat the crap outta Brian and do a paternity test.

November 12, 2008  08:56 AM ET
QUOTE(#5):

If the old man was still around he would beat the crap outta Brian and do a paternity test.

Exactly !

November 12, 2008  09:38 AM ET

must be running low on articles, they could have combined this one with the one yesterday!

November 12, 2008  09:52 AM ET

It was moved to espn2 in the Mountain Time Zone too. Not sure where they got their information - yet as usual it was wrong.

November 12, 2008  09:53 AM ET
QUOTE(#7):

must be running low on articles, they could have combined this one with the one yesterday!

I'm not going to rant today, but this once. It isn't a shortage of stories, But a shortage of personnel at T&R, or most likely it is just Laziness!

November 12, 2008  10:04 AM ET
QUOTE(#5):

...and do a paternity test.

hee hee - I was almost going to go there, myself - something like: "yeah, the apple fell so far, we're not so sure it's even from the same tree." ;-)

November 12, 2008  10:11 AM ET

FranceASS needs to go on Welfare,,cause he ain't
worth a shi? as CEO,,The dude's a drunk,, to he// with
ABC.

November 12, 2008  10:18 AM ET
QUOTE(#11):

FranceASS needs to go on Welfare,,cause he ain't worth a shi? as CEO,,The dude's a drunk,, to he// withABC.

I admire you, that you can say so much with minimal words, and everyone understands!
Nicely said!

November 12, 2008  10:35 AM ET

What their saying to Brian France is that we are sick of being milked for every dollar and you and your NASCAR just are not that important anymore.

November 12, 2008  11:20 AM ET

Same story as yesterday, except we get a picture of France instead of picture of Childress that Fanniation thinks is really Hendrick,
Just WHO is the alcoholic around here anyway?

November 12, 2008  11:27 AM ET

What choice does he really have? NBC sucks, Fox and CBS have football on Sunday. That only leaves ABC as a broadcast station or he has to goto a Cable outlet.

November 12, 2008  12:31 PM ET

To be honest...the videos were better than that sorry BORING race. Once JJ got his bonus points and didn't get plowed in the first 5 laps the season was done. 2 strikes against this weeks race; 1) It is pretty much a shoe in unless said plowing takes place and Carl finishes first and 2) WHY do they insist on having the last race at the WORST venue on the circuit. Homestead and Michigan are notoriously boring. Move an Atlanta date or Bristol date and make it worth watching. I am planning on watching pretty much ANY footballgame they put on the air rather than snooze through Homestead. The only thing left interesting for NASCAR this year is what the silly-season holds.

November 12, 2008  12:32 PM ET

Oh yeah....Brian France can SUCK IT!!!!

November 12, 2008  01:22 PM ET

Is it just me, or does France look like a great big supersized fat version of Horatio Kane from CSI: Miami?

November 12, 2008  01:28 PM ET

He looks Bloated!LOL, No relation!

 
November 12, 2008  01:52 PM ET

is there a reason that ABC needs to have the races on at all, why not just leave them on ESPN, if you look there is nothing worth watching on the ESPN channels while nascar and football are on the "networks"

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