Super Speedway Action Live on the Internet
19 April 1999
The Auto Channel & WEYY Y92FM Team Up to Present Exclusive DIEHARD 500 Week Coverage
For Immediate Release
AUTO CENTRAL; April 18, 1999 -- When NASCAR and IROC roll into Talladega Superspeedway later this week, The Auto Channel Internetwork will be working with Alabama radio station WEYY - Y92 FM to broadcast the most complete coverage of the four day event ever attempted. In fact, the live Internet coverage of the DieHard 500 Week events will represent the most extensive co-production relationship The Auto Channel has had to date with another broadcast medium.
Beginning on Thursday, April 22nd, The Auto Channel will be simulcasting Y92FM's daily wall-to-wall live audio broadcasts from the track. Y92FM normally devotes its broadcast schedule to playing the best in country music, but during NASCAR's semi annual visits to Talladega the station turns its full attention to stock car racing, becoming the direct link to all the action for a large and loyal audience. Backed with strong support from Talladega Superspeedway, WEYY will be utilizing The Auto Channel's multimedia and interactive capabilities to merge all forms of coverage: audio, video, photographs, and text. The broadcasts will consist of interviews, news updates, qualifying results, feature stories, and lap-by-lap reporting. Through The Auto Channel, motor sports fans around the world will now also be able to experience every part of the week's activities as if they were trackside. The specific events at Talladega are:
April 22 NASCAR Busch Series and IROC Practice and Qualifying 23 Advance Auto Parts Qualifying Day for NASCAR Winston Cup Bud Pole Award 24 XXIII IROC and 7th Touchstone Energy 300 NASCAR Busch Series Races 25 30th DieHard 500 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Race
Each evening at 7PM local time, Thursday through Sunday, TACH and Y92FM will present an exclusive Internet-only live TV ON THE NET roundtable discussion show. Leading the roundtable discussions will be former ESPN anchor Larry Nuber. Joining him will be Jim Jacobs, president of Jacobs Broadcasting and WEYY; Nick Nobel from Nashville, Tennessee; and David McDaniel, a track announcer at both Birmingham Internationally Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. Mark Garrow, host of the nationally syndicated daily show Winston Cup Today, will be assisting throughout the weekend.
According to Jim Jacobs, president of Jacobs Broadcasting and WEYY, "the marriage of radio to a strong Internet presence is vital for future success, not only for auto racing but for all sporting events, especially with multiday events." He added, "the Internet's ability to make coverage interactive with not only audio, but video and print, brings the fan into the coverage: it allows them to ask questions and become actively involved." According to Jacobs, both his station and the Talladega Superspeedway are "excited about people anywhere in the world being able to log onto The Auto Channel and listen to the live coverage."
WEYY has been broadcasting the Talladega Superspeedway races in their local market for several years. The Auto Channel's world wide internet broadcasts (which will also be linked to and distributed by a global network of other motor sports related websites) will make this year's coverage the most widely heard, and of course, seen. Internet users can directly access the complete coverage and broadcast schedule at "http://www.theautochannel.com/cybercast/1999talladega/index.html".
According to Bob Gordon, The Auto Channel's President and CEO, "the scope and depth of this coverage once again confirms TACH's commitment to providing the world with the most complete and comprehensive automotive and motor sports information". Earlier this year, The Auto Channel broadcast extensive Internet exclusive coverage of all 15 days of Daytona Speedweeks from the Daytona International Speedway. The archived Daytona Speedweeks coverage can be accessed directly at "http://www.theautochannel.com/news/events/99daytona_speedweeks/index.html?EVENTS".
All DieHard 500 Week race coverage and shows will also be archived and continuously available on The Auto Channel immediately following their original live presentations. The Auto Channel uses Microsoft's Windows Media Player technology for all streaming video and audio. Internet users will need the Windows Media Player plugin, which can be downloaded free-of-charge through The Auto Channel's website at "http://www.theautochannel.com". Installation is quickly and easily accomplished on any of the major Internet browsers. For best results, users are encouraged to use a 28.8 or faster modem.
Company Contact: Marc Rauch (502) 584-4100 (916) 852-1956 email: mjrauch@theautochannel.com
