Why Killing Off Speed Channel Is A Bad Move For Fox

Nathan Young

11 years ago

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UPDATE: Sign the petition to bring back Speed Channel at: http://www.bringbackspeed.com/

Welcome to the south, where car enthusiasts thrive! Car racing and NASCAR is extremely popular and you find that most males and some females own classic or tricked out cars. Every parade or festival features classic or tricked out cars. And many people visits a local track to watch mud or asphalt racing. Car and racing fans have been able to get their car fix by watching Speed Channel on cable and satellite, but sadly, Speed Channel is now dead and in its place is the new Fox Sports 1.

Ever since the announcement of Fox Sports 1 and the replacement of Speed Channel, many fans have sounded off on social media about the elimination of Speed Channel. Speed Channel started as Speedvision on December 31, 1995. The programming featured various automotive programs, including various documentary-style series focusing on prolific vehicles, manufacturers, and racing teams. The channel also had series focusing on classic automobiles, an AutoWeek-branded television series, and coverage of various minor and professional auto racing series.

On February 11, 2002, Speedvision became Speed Channel after Fox acquired most of the rights to the channel. Along with NASCAR programs, the channel featured motorcycle racing, monster truck racing, other racing series, winter sports racing, how-to shows, original programs, and the call-in show WindTunnel with Dave Despain. Sadly, on August 17th, Speed Channel disappeared and Fox Sports 1 took its place. Here is the goodbye message from Mike Joy and the beginning of Fox Sports 1.

Many fans are not happy seeing Speed Channel go off the air. In the south, many people are involved with cars and they loved seeing programs all about cars and racing. Fans of Speed Channel have gone to social media to discuss their displeasure of Fox Sports 1. On Facebook, there is the We Want Speed Channel Facebook page that now has over 6,000 fans as of August 17th. Fans are also going to the Fox Sports 1 Facebook and Twitter feeds to say their minds about the loss of Speed Channel.

Just in case the Fox Network forgot, the south and most of America has many car enthusiasts. The car fans want to watch shows that involve showing off cars, how to fix cars, and of course, watch car racing. Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2 will have NASCAR coverage and other racing. But the fans don’t want to see Fox Sports 1 and the other shows on the channel competing against ESPN and the NBC Sports Network. With Speed Channel now off the air, another network will have to pick up the slack.

Some of the Speed Channel shows have moved to other networks like Great American Country, Spike TV, and Velocity. Many fans of Speed Channel are hoping networks like Velocity from Discovery will pick up the programming and commitment from the late Speed Channel. In my opinion, Fox Sports made a bad move by killing off Speed Channel. Sure, Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2 was something they wanted to do badly to compete and dethrone ESPN. But they could have created a new channel, not kill off Speed Channel and Fuel TV, those extreme sports fans are not really happy either.

Cable is filling up with more and more general sports channels. Yes, I like to get my daily dose of football and other sports. But I would like to watch other great channels as well. The fans of Speed Channel are hoping that Fox Sports 1 will bomb and will leave Fox in a bad situation. I don’t think that will happen, but I hope we will see a new version of Speed Channel coming soon to cable and satellite. Maybe Velocity will be the network that will become the next Speed Channel.