NASCAR anti-trust lawsuit filed today

[Texas T]

Clicky here (http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/motorsports/12124323.htm)

I'm a big NASCAR fan and believe that the France family has done a lot of good in getting the fan base to where it is today, but their monopoly may be coming to an end within a few years unless they open up to outsiders a little bit more. Just like MSFT, they have just gotten "too big fer their britches".

[bluedogok]

This is the same type of thing that TMS was involved in. That is what happens when you grow outside of your region and control both the organization and tracks. I would think it would be in the best interest of racing if they were didn't have their hand in the cookie jar they control. They grew to the point where it became big money and those outside of their sphere of influence took notice.

I think Intel's policies have been much more "monopolistic" than those of Microsoft. There was anrticle today about the European Commission investigating Intel even deeper.

It won't matter much anyway, if things continue as they are we will be under Chinese world control. They are trying to take over the world by being the lowest bidder :roll:

[kurt]

What is this NASCAR of which you speak? :mrgreen:

[Texas T]

What is this NASCAR of which you speak? :mrgreen: It just this little racing group that has the largest live viewing audience at its sporting events, the second largest television viewing audience (NFL is still #1), and has obtained more television broadcast fees than any other sport (including the NFL).

CNBC did an hour special on it the other night but I didn't get to see it. Big business has finally woken up to the fact that the NASCAR fan base is very supportive of the car sponsors, and more and more (non-redneck) corporations are getting their feet wet in sponsorships.

Yeah, Kurt, I know it was a joke, but many folks still think of the sport as a bunch of former moonshine runners bumping fenders on a dirt track somewhere. :-D

[kurt]

Sorry, I'm just not a fan. :mrgreen:

many folks still think of the sport as a bunch of former moonshine runners bumping fenders on a dirt track somewhere.

Now I'd pay to watch that!

[190 Octane]

What is this NASCAR of which you speak? :mrgreen:

Just turn on Speed Channel for about 5 minutes and you'll find out.

Disclaimer: This is not meant as an insult to NASCAR fans, merely a statement that Speed Channel should get it over with and just become the NASCAR Channel. Then they should reinstate Speedvision as another channel.

Back to the monopoly topic. Isn't it funny how some one can poor money into something, then once their investment pays off everyone else either wants a piece or wants to see them taken out.

I guess the anti-trust thing helps keep things in check. I think its funny how the government broke up Bell and for a while there where a billion small phone companies, now its back to two or three major ones. I guess once they all merge the courts will break them up and the cycle will begin again.

[bluedogok]

We have always gone through a merger/takeover binge and then a "break up the monoploy" binge and it just seems to get worse with each pendulum swing. It has been that way ever since the industrial revolution pretty much created the corporation. The greedy go after more and more and screw everyone in their wake.

I have a whole diatribe on greed and the economy, maybe I will start a topic for it instead of hijacking this one.

BTW - The Speed/NASCAR channel discussion is always one on Speed Forums. They should spin off the NASCAR channel and tie it to Speed as a package. If cable providers want NASCAR then they have to also take Speed. I find it hard to believe that all of the NASCAR lifestyle crap really gets that large of an audience. But then with state of television and their love of "lack of reality" programming (simply because it is cheap to produce) nothing really suprises me anymore :roll:

That is why I just pretty much watch sports anymore......

[Texas T]

Disclaimer: This is not meant as an insult to NASCAR fans, merely a statement that Speed Channel should get it over with and just become the NASCAR Channel. Then they should reinstate Speedvision as another channel.
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