Monday
SPEED Opens 2012 Full Throttle
Press Release
NASCAR HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS, BARRETT-JACKSON
AND 50TH RUNNING OF THE ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA
SPEED LIVE FROM ALL THREE DAYS OF NASCAR TESTING IN DAYTONA
The term “offseason” gets more and more laughable each year in the world of motor sports, as preparations already are well underway at SPEED for a January schedule that includes a diverse list of six major events. From NASCAR to motorcycles to collector cars to the iconic Rolex 24 at Daytona, SPEED heads into its 17th season of broadcasting with an ambitious 23-day schedule.
SPEED begins the effort with the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season-opener from Anaheim on Jan. 7 at 10 p.m. ET. Coming off its “greatest season ever,” Supercross scored year-to-year ratings increases on SPEED and expands to 11 live events on the network in 2012. Last year’s champ, Ryan Villopoto, a finalist for Mario Andretti Trophy as the SPEED Performer of the Year to be awarded on Jan. 29, returns to the track with fellow champions Ryan Dungey, Chad Reed and James Stewart.
On January 12, NASCAR returns to Daytona for three days of testing and SPEED is there LIVE to report on the happenings from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. ET each day. In addition, SPEED.com provides live coverage from Daytona from 9 a.m. until noon each day.
And beginning January 17, the famed Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction from Scottsdale, Ariz., takes center stage for five days of live coverage, unveiling its new Salon Offering Collection, cars among the world’s most rare, valuable and coveted.
Moved from its May date, the third annual NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will air on SPEED on Jan. 22. As the official television partner of the NHOF, SPEED provides coverage of the event, welcoming inductees Darrell Waltrip, Cale Yarborough, Dale Inman, Richie Evans and Glen Wood.
Closing out the incredible run of events, SPEED offers extensive live coverage over two days from the 50th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, featuring the highly anticipated entry of the new Corvette DP.
On Jan. 29, racing legend Mario Andretti will present the 2011 SPEED Performer of the Year with the Mario Andretti Trophy on a special edition of SPEED Center at 7 p.m. ET. Finalists include Tony Stewart, Sebastian Vettel, Casey Stoner, Kyle Larson, Dario Franchitti, Scott Pruett and Villopoto.
January major event lineup:
- · Jan. 7 – AMA Supercross season opener from Anaheim (10 p.m. ET, LIVE)
- · Jan. 12-14 – NASCAR testing from Daytona International Speedway (1 p.m. – 5 p.m. ET LIVE all three days)
- · Jan. 14 – AMA Supercross from Phoenix
- · Jan. 17-22 – Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction from Scottsdale, Ariz.
- Jan. 17 – 7 p.m. ET to midnight
- Jan. 18 – 7 p.m. ET to midnight
- Jan. 19 – 7 p.m. to midnight
- Jan. 20 – 2 p.m. ET to midnight
- Jan. 21 – 2 pm. ET to 1 a.m. ET
- Jan. 22 – 2 p.m. ET to 6 p.m. ET
- Jan. 22 – NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony from Charlotte, NC. (6 p.m. ET with replay at 9 p.m. ET)
- Jan. 28-29 – 50th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona (1/28 – 3 p.m. ET to 10 p.m. ET; 1/29 – 8 a.m. ET to 4 p.m. ET, LIVE)
EMMY AWARD WINNER ACKERSON NAMED INTERIM SPEED™ PRESIDENT
FOX Sports Media Group has announced Emmy Award winning producer Scott Ackerson will serve as interim president of SPEED, beginning Jan. 1.
“We’re fortunate to have someone in-house with Scott’s production and leadership skills ready to step in as interim president at SPEED,” said FOX Sports Media Group Chairman David Hill. “Moving forward, every program at SPEED has to be of the same high quality you’d find on FOX Sports, and Scott can make that happen. In addition to overseeing all of FOX Sports’ studio production, Scott led the most successful, most-watched, NFL pregame show for 17 years, and his many talents will benefit SPEED on-air immediately.”
Ackerson currently serves as Executive Vice President and Executive Producer for FSMG and will continue in that role. He previously was Coordinating Producer for FOX NFL SUNDAY.
Said Ackerson: “I’m looking forward to building upon what the SPEED team already has started … and creating shows that resonate with the viewers.”
Ackerson joined FOX Sports in 1994, leading FOX NFL SUNDAY to its 17-year run as America’s most-watched NFL pregame show. Under his direction, the network’s signature studio program won four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Studio Show and became a cultural phenomenon watched by millions nationwide every Sunday. Its continuous run at the top places it alongside such iconic programs as “Today” and “60 Minutes.”
About SPEED™
SPEED, anchored by its popular and wide-ranging coverage of NASCAR, is the nation’s first and only cable television network dedicated to automotive and motorcycle racing, performance and lifestyle. Now available in nearly 84 million homes in North America, SPEED, a member of the FOX Sports Media Group, is among the industry leaders in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services, including SPEED2, a groundbreaking new broadband network featuring live, streaming and on-demand events complementing offerings of the linear network. For more information, please visit SPEED.com, the online motor sports authority.
About FOX Sports Media Group
FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) is the umbrella entity representing News Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets under Chairman & CEO David Hill. Built with brands that are capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FSMG includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FSMG now includes FOX Sports, the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; Fox’s 19 regional sports networks, their affiliated regional web sites and FSN national programming; SPEED and SPEED2; Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Plus; FUEL TV; and Fox College Sports. In addition, FSMG also includes FOX Sports Interactive Media, which comprises FOXSports.com on MSN, whatifsports.com and scout.com, reaching almost 30 million unique visitors monthly. Also included are Fox’s interests in joint-venture businesses FOX Deportes, Big Ten Network and STATS, LLC, as well as licensing agreements that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network, FOX Sports Skybox restaurants and FOX Sports Grills.
- SPEED, Press Release
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