NASCAR Radio News
May 19, 2006:
Stewart inks Satellite radio show: SIRIUS Satellite Radio, the Official Satellite Radio Partner of NASCAR starting in 2007, announced today that two-time and reigning NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Tony Stewart -- one of the sport's most exciting and outspoken drivers -- will host a live weekly talk show exclusively on SIRIUS. Debuting in January, Tony Stewart Live will air exclusively on SIRIUS' upcoming 24/7 NASCAR channel, providing SIRIUS listeners with the ultimate insider's perspective on auto racing. The weekly, two-hour show will feature Stewart -- who has never been shy about expressing his opinions in 27 years of racing -- taking calls from listeners, talking with prominent guests and covering the spectrum of motorsports -- from NASCAR to open-wheel racing and beyond. Matt Yocum, who is a pit reporter for the NASCAR broadcasts on FOX/FX and NBC/TNT, will be Stewart's co-host on Tony Stewart Live. Preview editions of Tony Stewart Live, hosted by Stewart, will begin airing exclusively on SIRIUS in October 2006. Stewart will also be featured in SIRIUS' NASCAR related marketing and advertising (PRNewswire)
Jan. 19, 2006:
Earnhardt Jr. new show on XM Radio: NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins XM Satellite Radio for a weekly show to debut Feb. 13 during Daytona Speedweeks. The program will air on XM’s NASCAR Radio channel (144). Earnhardt will discuss the latest happenings on the NASCAR circuit, as well as music, video games and other personal interests. He will also play a role in various XM promotions as part of a multi-year agreement with XM. "I love racing and I love XM, so I definitely couldn't pass up on an opportunity to combine the two. It's a perfect fit," Earnhardt said in a release. "Listeners will get a real sense of who I am both on and off the track.” Earnhardt has been voted by NASCAR fans as the most popular NASCAR Nextel Cup driver for the past three years in a row. In 2005, his merchandise led NASCAR-related sales and accounted for about 25% of all driver-licensed products. Ironically, in 2007, XM loses it exclusive contract with NASCAR. As reported by Billboard Radio Monitor last February, Sirius becomes the “official” home for the spectactor sport a year from now, when it will broadcast the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races live on a specially created 24/7 NASCAR channel. (Billboard Radio Monitor)
Oct. 26, 2005:
Jimmie Johnson joins XM Radio: NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson is getting behind the wheel of his own talk show on XM Satellite Radio. His weekly show debuts in February 2006 on XM's NASCAR Radio (channal 144). Johnson will discuss the latest happenings on the NASCAR circuit and talk about music and other personal interests. He will also play a key role in various XM promotions as part of a multi-year agreement with XM. “I'm extremely excited to be part of the XM family," Johnson said in a release. "For a few years I've been searching for the right outlet to give people an opportunity to get to know a side of me away from the racetrack. XM approached me with the idea of having a national weekly radio show and it was the perfect fit. I'm really looking forward to the partnership and getting started next season." (Billboard Radio)
Sep. 14, 2005:
Crew Chiefs on Weekly NASCAR Performance Live Radio: NASCAR fans will get the opportunity to hear from the crew chiefs of the drivers competing in the Chase for the Nextel Cup on the NASCAR Performance Live radio show Wednesday. The special two-hour program will air from 7-9 p.m. at the NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI) nationwide on XM Satellite Radio's NASCAR Radio (XM Channel 144) and on more than 100 Motor Racing Network (MRN) affiliates. Steve Post and Larry McReynolds are NASCAR Performance Live hosts and will preview the upcoming Chase for the Nextel Cup, which begins Sunday at the Sylvania 300 at the New Hampshire International Speedway (TNT, 12:30 p.m.) with the crew chiefs. Crew chiefs from the drivers ranked 6-9 in this week's point standings will be on the program from 7-8 p.m. Those include: Pat Tryson (No. 6 Ford), Slugger Labbe (No. 19 Dodge), Bob Osborne (No. 99 Ford) and Robbie Reiser (No. 17 Ford). Crew chiefs from the drivers ranked 1-5 in the standings will be on from 8-9 p.m., including Greg Zipadelli (No. 20 Chevrolet), Doug Richert (No. 16 Ford), Larry Carter (No. 2 Dodge), Chad Knaus (No. 48 Chevrolet) and Jimmy Fennig (No. 97 Ford). (XM/MRN PR)
Aug 26, 2005
NASCAR in Spanish radio: MRN Radio "The Voice of NASCAR" and the nation's largest independent sports radio network, announced today a new partnership with Radiovisa Network. Radiovisa is a 24/7 Spanish-language talk radio network that produces and syndicates long and short form radio programming targeting U. S. Hispanics. MRN Radio and Radiovisa will provide live flag-to-flag coverage of five select NASCAR events in predominately Hispanic markets including coverage of the California 300 NASCAR Busch Series event and the Sony HD 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series event at California Speedway. Additional coverage will include the Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway, the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, and the season-ending Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. MRN Radio will offer additional daily programming on the weeks leading up to NASCAR event weekends. "We are proud to be associated with such a first-class organization as Radiovisa as we continue to broaden and diversify our fan base," said MRN Radio President David Hyatt. "We are excited to provide quality NASCAR programming each week to Hispanic markets across the country." "NASCAR has made a vast effort over the past 2 years to increase Hispanic interest in their great sport," stated Ray De La Garza, Radiovisa Chief Operating Officer. "Through the addition of their first NASCAR race in Mexico and the increasing participation of Hispanics in the sport itself, those efforts have truly paid off. As an avid fan of the sport myself, I could not be more thrilled to team up with MRN Radio to bring all the flag-to-flag excitement to our listeners." MRN Radio and Radiovisa will also produce daily radio programming covering the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship. (MRN PR)
May 31 2005
Why XM Radio let NASCAR go: Hugh Panero interview with Business 2.0 : With NASCAR, he points out that XM has broadcast the sport since 2001. That experience gave him a finely honed sense of what the 2007-2011 rights were worth -- which, suffice it to say, he thought was a good deal less than the $107.5 million that Sirius wound up paying. (XM paid $15 million for the 2001-2006 rights.) (Business 2.0)
April 30, 2005
Sirus to Take Over Sooner: NASCAR's new satellite network radio deal with Sirius may kick off sooner than originally planned, according to NASCAR sources who say Sirius may buy out the last year of XM Radio's contract and take over the exclusive NASCAR franchise.(Salem-Journal)
March 15, 2005
Owners Looking for partial money from contracts: NASCAR's new multimillion-dollar contract with satellite radio provider Sirius has Nextel Cup car owners asking one big question - Where's the money going? Teams get 25 percent of the TV revenue, track owners get 65 percent and NASCAR gets 10 percent. There has been a push by some car owners the past three years for NASCAR to provide a more equitable distribution of that $400 million a year, but NASCAR has ignored such entreaties. Now Sirius (partly owned by DaimlerChrysler) has signed a deal to pay NASCAR $27 million a year, according to sources, beginning in 2007. That money will likely go straight into NASCAR's coffers. Some car owners aren't amused and would like NASCAR to put some of that radio money in the purse."These guys are killing us," one car owner said. (Winston Salem Journal)
Feb. 25, 2005
MRN to telecast Spanish NASCAR Races: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Radiovisa, a 24-hour Spanish-language radio network will partner to air three NASCAR races in 2005 beginning with this weekend's "Stater Bros. 300" NASCAR Busch Series race and the "Auto Club 500" NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race Feb. 26-27 from California Speedway in Fontana. Radiovisa will also travel to Mexico City for NASCAR's first ever Mexico-based race, the Telcel Motorola Mexico 200, from Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on March 6th, 2005. "MRN Radio is excited to have the opportunity to work with Radiovisa in bringing coverage of America's fastest growing sport to America's fastest growing population segment," said David Hyatt, President of MRN Radio. Radiovisa produces and syndicates 24-hour programming including Gerardo Por La Mañana, Ella es*Gigi Graciette, En El Medio con Antonio Gonzalez, El Show de Juancarlos, Deportes Y Más, En Privado and Los Desvelados. Radiovisa also distributes and affiliates CNN en Español RADIO. Radiovisa's programming is aired in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Washington D.C., San Diego, Houston, Las Vegas, Atlanta and Fresno among others. (MRN PR)
Feb. 22, 2005
Sirius to Takes Over the NASCAR Satellite Radio: NASCAR announced Tuesday that it will change partners in satellite radio business beginning with the 2007 season, moving to Sirius from XM. Sirius will pay NASCAR a total of $107.5 million over the five years of the contract, with the annual payments increasing over those five years. The new deal does not affect radio rights for over-the-air stations that carry Motor Racing Network and Performance Racing Network race broadcasts and shows. Those rights are awarded separately from the satellite rights. Sirius will become the official satellite radio partner and will get exclusive trademark and marketing rights and the rights to sell advertising time on live race broadcasts and on other programming on the 24-hour NASCAR channel it will begin. Sirius has signed deals with the NFL and the NCAA men's basketball tournament in an effort to boost its sports programming offerings. Karmazin, the service's chief executive officer. "Our 24/7 NASCAR channel will serve NASCAR fans nationwide in a way that's never been done before. In addition to the races, SIRIUS will take fans behind the scenes for inside news and bring them exclusive shows featuring their favorite drivers." "SIRIUS is the sports leader on satellite radio, and sports programming is a leading reason subscribers choose SIRIUS," said Brian France, Chairman and CEO of NASCAR. "When you combine NASCAR's growing popularity with SIRIUS' commitment to bringing the best in sports to its subscribers, it's easy to understand why we made this move. We believe that our partnership with SIRIUS will offer the best possible experience to NASCAR fans nationwide."(Sirius Radio)
