Mike Harper's Spin Out Zone - NASCAR Entertainment and News (ESPN inside the SOZ)

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NASCAR recently announced that ABC and ESPN will take over NASCAR broadcasting responsibilities in 2007 for the final 17 Nextel Cup Series races. Races include "The Chase" coverage, several practice and qualifying sessions and they will broadcast all of the season's Busch Series races. ESPN's VP of Programming Scott Guglielmino visits with the Spin Out Zone and discusses their new partnership with NASCAR, what fans should expect from them and answers one of the most asked questions by fans, will fans see split screen commercials in NASCAR?

With NASCAR's new 8-year broadcasting agreement now finalized with ABC and ESPN, explain what the reunion with NASCAR means to your networks and is this deal even more bittersweet given that ABC/ESPN was shut out of the last agreement?

ABC/ESPN: We are excited to have NASCAR back with the ESPN/ABC family and look forward to delivering exciting NASCAR race coverage, analysis and editorial to fans across all our platforms.

Regarding the NASCAR broadcast agreement, did ABC/ESPN have an option on what part of the NASCAR season to broadcast? How was it determined that you would cover "The Chase?"

ABC/ESPN: The Chase and capturing the entire BGN series along with a wide range of new media rights and NASCAR branded studio programming was our goal. Mission accomplished. Through our platforms, ESPN will provide year round coverage of NASCAR like never before.

NASCAR chairman Brian France said, "ESPN's network of networks means that NASCAR will have a strong presence on television, radio, print and new media such as the Internet." If you would, please explain ESPN's radio coverage of NASCAR. Does ESPN join MRN and PRN in providing live NASCAR coverage on affiliate stations?

ABC/ESPN: ESPN Radio RaceDay debuted on ESPN Radio on Sunday, Feb. 12th, 2006, and is hosted by veteran NASCAR reporter Pat Patterson and Mike King, the chief announcer at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It airs Sundays from 6-7 a.m. ET 52 weeks a year, and covers auto racing on the NASCAR and IRL circuits, as well as touching on other areas within auto racing. Moving forward ESPN Radio does not have immediate plans to join forces with MRN or PRN and we will not be carrying any of the races live on our network (because we do not have those rights). However, many of our affiliate stations are also affiliates of MRN and/or PRN and do carry races in their specific markets. We are exploring the rebranding of our ESPN Radio RaceDay program with the NASCAR brand, and also entertaining the expansion of this program in the future.

An online petition has been started by race fans to bring back ESPN's RPM2Night. Will we see a return of that program and/or other NASCAR news programs? If so, could you update us on what is coming?

ABC/ESPN: We will feature a daily year round NASCAR branded show beginning in February 2007. We will also have a track-side pre-race show, a documentary series (July '07) and many other content elements to provide complete coverage of NASCAR year round.

At this point of the season, can you tell us who will be joining the broadcast team? We've heard Jerry Punch and Rusty Wallace will be part of the team. However can you share additional names or the make-up of the team? (Rusty Wallace on the ESPN set at Daytona. Picture credit: ESPN)

ABC/ESPN: At this point, the only members of he ESPN/ABC Sports NASCAR announce team that we are able to confirm are Rusty Wallace, and long time ESPN/ABC motorsports broadcaster Dr. Jerry Punch. Overall when complete, our telecast announce team will be a mix of NASCAR drivers (either retired or currently racing), NASCAR Crew Chiefs, pit reporters and potentially other contributors who have a history with NASCAR. We are in the process of speaking with many candidates, reviewing tapes, and formalizing our long term strategy.

Currently the cooperation between NBC, FOX and SPEED has benefited the NASCAR fan. Will ABC/ESPN continue this cooperation between NASCAR broadcasters and how will ABC/ESPN compliment the overall NASCAR broadcast family?

ABC/ESPN: Our number 1 goal is to serve the fan. We have been involved in several meetings that include FOX and Turner as we all prepare for the 2007 NASCAR season. As partners with NASCAR it is in all of our best interests to work together where possible.

ABC and ESPN will carry 17 NASCAR Nextel Cup events including "The Chase" events. ESPN2 will carry Busch Series races and the networks in general will carry some practice and qualifying sessions. Will the NASCAR programming change ESPN's schedule for carrying other professional sporting events like the IRL, NFL and Major League Baseball?

ABC/ESPN: NASCAR programming will compliment our schedules and further enhance our content portfolio. Outside of that, no major changes are expected.

ESPN will be NASCAR's exclusive international sales agent. What does this mean to the NASCAR fan?

ABC/ESPN: ESPN's syndication expertise will help NASCAR reach a wider international audience by increasing (country) coverage and by securing broadcasters with a wider distribution and/or better timeslots.

To touch on commercial breaks during NASCAR races. Will ABC/ESPN implement the split-screen concept for NASCAR as you've done with the IRL?

ABC/ESPN: We do not anticipate doing so.

In closing, what can NASCAR fans expect to see different when they tune into an ABC/ESPN NASCAR broadcast that they aren't getting with today's broadcast partners?

ABC/ESPN: We have been asked many times in recent months, `How is ESPN/ABC going to change or make better NASCAR race telecasts?' The reality is that the current presentation by NASCAR's broadcast partners is of a very high quality in our opinion. Yes, we will bring some new ideas, new talent, new music, new animation, and new technology to the Cup and certainly to the BGN series, which we hope result in a signature presentation. Our goal is to be the best we can, and optimize our product across all of our media platforms.

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