NASCAR Hot Pass: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 00:45, 1 March 2008
NASCAR Hot Pass is a pay-per-view television package available exclusively on DirecTV in the United States and on various cable & satellite providers in Canada. It debuted at the 2007 Daytona 500, which aired on February 18 of that year.
Features
NASCAR Hot Pass includes a view of the race from a driver's in-car camera, unedited communications between the driver, crew chief, and spotter, and telemetry showing the car's speed and horsepower. Part of the screen also includes the live nationwide race broadcast.
Format
Hot Pass consists of 10 channels between 790 and 799. The first four channels, 790 through 793, show drivers selected by the producers and DirecTV. The drivers vary from race to race and will depend on a number of factors, including driver popularity and past performance on a given track.[1] In addition, for some races, one driver will be selected based on an online vote.[2] For example, the 2008 Daytona 500 free preview had Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, and Tony Stewart.
During the race, viewers have the option of the live official telecast audio, the separate broadcast dedicated to the driver, and in-car communications between the driver and his team. During commercials, only the broadcast audio and in-car channel are available. Also during the breaks, race action is still available, but on a much smaller screen than at other times.
The fifth channel (794) simulcasts the main broadcast and provides subscribers a choice of 12 other audio channels from the drivers not chosen otherwise. Kurt Busch, Michael Waltrip, and Carl Edwards were among the options at the free preview.
Channels 795 through 799, the original Hot Pass channels, have the same features, only with high-definition video and enhanced-quality audio. HD equipment is required to access these channels.
If a driver already chosen has been eliminated from the race before its conclusion, other drivers may be substituted. For example, Jimmie Johnson replaced Gordon at the 2008 Daytona 500, and Denny Hamlin filled in for Stewart at the same race the year before. Also, two substitutions were made on the same channel at the 2007 Pepsi 400, also a free preview, as J.J. Yeley filled in for Harvick, who in turn substituted for Stewart.
History
NASCAR Hot Pass debuted at the 2007 Daytona 500 on February 18. Harvick, who was seen on channel 796, was the race winner. Five channels, 795 to 799, featured different drivers, while a "mix" channel, 794, was a miniature version of each of the driver channels and links to their full screens. On the day after each race, channel 793 was used for "shortcuts," 30-minute excerpts of the previous day's (or night's) coverage. Both options have since been eliminated.
The in-car audio option was added at the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 on March 11.[2]
Driver appearances and performances
The following drivers have appeared on the package (as of the 2008 Daytona 500): Dale Earnhardt, Jr.*, Jeff Gordon*, Tony Stewart*, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick*, Juan Pablo Montoya*, Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson*, Matt Kenseth, David Stremme, Mark Martin, Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer, Dale Jarrett, Jamie McMurray, Robby Gordon, Michael Waltrip, Kasey Kahne*, Dave Blaney, Reed Sorenson, J.J. Yeley, Boris Said, and Martin Truex, Jr. (Those marked with an asterisk have appeared in both 2007 and 2008.)
Earnhardt, Jr. has appeared most frequently, being shown on 24 occasions. However, he was pulled from the lineup during the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup, for which he failed to qualify, after he had become a regular on almost a weekly basis, as NASCAR and DirecTV agreed to focus on the drivers that made the Chase.
Seven drivers have won races on the same week(s) that they were featured (all in 2007): Kevin Harvick (Daytona 500, NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge), Matt Kenseth (Auto Club 500), Jimmie Johnson (Kobalt Tools 500), Jeff Gordon (Aaron's 499 and UAW-Ford 500), Juan Pablo Montoya (Toyota/Save Mart 350), Tony Stewart (Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and Centurion Boats at the Glen), and Carl Edwards (Sharpie 500 and Dodge Dealers 400).
Announcers
NASCAR Hot Pass uses announcers separate from the main national television broadcasts. For example, Rick Allen and Phil Parsons call the races when Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is aired on this package. Other commentators frequently heard are Wendy Venturini, Hermie Sadler, Doug Rice, Adam Alexander, and Pat Patterson. (Venturini became the first woman to call a NASCAR race when she did the lap-by-lap of Robby Gordon at the Toyota/Save Mart 350.) Steve Byrnes, Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds, Brad Sham and Barry LeBrock have made occasional or one-shot appearances.
When Waltrip made his debut at the Pepsi 400, his signature race-beginning call of "boogity boogity boogity" was simulcast on all five channels.
Mike Joy[3] and former WRC (Washington, D.C.) sportscaster George Michael[4] have also been linked to reports that they will be on Hot Pass; however, they have yet to appear.
Nascar iN Car
Nascar Hot Pass is similar to another service called Nascar iN Car. Nascar iN Car was started in 2003 by iN Demand Networks and was exclusive to digital cable subscribers for three years.[5]
Nascar iN Car has been discontinued since the introduction of Nascar Hot Pass. Nascar Hot Pass has performed better than Nascar iN Car. This year Nascar Hot Pass has 100,000 subscribers than Nascar iN Car last year. Nascar iN Car had 30,000 subscribers last year. The price for a season of Nascar iN Car is the same as Nascar Hot Pass[6]
Pricing
The annual price is $99 per year, paid in two monthly installments of $49.50 each. As with all other DirecTV PPV sports packages, there is expected to be an annual renewal discount for subscribers with an account in good standing.
In mid-May, DirecTV began offering a discounted rate of $79 for the remaining races of the season. In July, the price was slashed again, this time to $59. In each case, there are again two installments. From late August through the end of the season, the price was $19.95 for up to the final 11 races, the same price as each individual race up to that time.
In 2008, DirecTV offered a special rate of $40 for the entire season for new subscribers.
Availability
NASCAR Hot Pass is available through the following cable and satellite providers:
- United States:
- DirecTV (Exclusive provider in US)
- Canada:
See also
- NFL Sunday Ticket
- MLB Extra Innings
- NBA League Pass
- NHL Center Ice
- ESPN GamePlan
- ESPN Full Court
- MLS Direct Kick
References
- ^ SpeedCouch posting, late January 2007
- ^ a b Two new features coming to HotPass - DBSTalk.Com
- ^ Behind the Microphone with Mike Joy, NASCAR on Fox
- ^ Michael's 'Sports Machine' going silent
- ^ iN DEMAND NETWORKS AND NASCAR ANNOUNCE 2004 SEASON OF "NASCAR IN CAR"
- ^ DirecTV's Hot Pass is a hot ticket for all
External links
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