TV Blackouts Unlikely

Here's some good news:  David Poole is reporting in the Charlotte Observer that NASCAR is not on board with Bruton Smith's idea of implementing a local TV blackout of races that don't sell out.  Smith owns several race tracks on the NASCAR circuit, two of which rarely sell out both of their Cup races: Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, NC and Atlanta Motor Speedway.

NASCAR executive Paul Brooks put a damper on the idea:

"TV partners, advertisers, ratings, team and event sponsors would all be negatively impacted. However, the most significant issue is the negative effect this move would have for our fans.

"We need to continue to find ways to bring our fans even more television, Internet, radio and new-media coverage and continue to remind fans that the ultimate NASCAR experience will always be sitting in the grandstands watching that race live."

It's nice to see NASCAR take this approach.  In the past they were vigilantly focused foremost on the fan base and making coverage of their events readily available.  I think this is the number one reason they took off in the past few decades and this decision seems to fall in line with that same philosophy.