SPEED TO PROVIDE UNPRECEDENTED USGP COVERAGE & INTERACTIVITY FOR 2006
SPEED On Board Pass OFFERS WORLD DEBUT OF LIVE INTERACTIVE & ON DEMAND FORMULA ONE COVERAGE
SPEED WILL ALSO HOST A PRE-RACE SPECIAL FEATURING RARE U.S. INTERVIEWS WITH FORMULA ONE DRIVERS
SPEED will provide an unprecedented level of LIVE,
highlighted, interactive and on demand Formula One coverage of this
year's United States Grand Prix from historic Indianapolis Motor
Speedway.
LIVE on-track network coverage begins June 30 with the first practice
session at 11 am, E.T., and concludes July 2 with the seventh running of
the USGP beginning at 12:30 p.m., E.T. Bob Varsha, the voice of Formula
One on SPEED, will handle play-by-play duties, while veteran open wheel
analysts David Hobbs and Steve Matchett will provide color commentary.
The venerable Peter Windsor will continue his insights from pit road,
while former driver Sam Posey offers historical context on Indianapolis
Motor Speedway and Formula One in the United States.
The United States Grand Prix on SPEED only starts from there.
SPEED, which has carried Formula One motor racing in the United States
for 10 years, will offer the world's first interactive broadband
Formula One viewing experience through its SPEED on Board Pass platform.
U.S. race fans will be able to log onto SPEEDtv.com, click the
'SPEED on Board Pass' icon and for $14.99, be able to toggle
between five unique, LIVE on-board camera feeds featuring every car on
the grid. A sixth camera will be fixed in a high-action location as well.
"SPEED is honored to be the first television network in
the world to bring an interactive broadband viewing experience to U.S.
Formula One fans," said Kevin Annison, VP of Business Development.
"If there ever was an event you wanted to ride along with, this is
it! Whenever fans tune to LIVE United States Grand Prix coverage on
SPEED, they have an opportunity to enjoy the ultimate two-screen
experience. There is nothing like the sound of a Formula One car at
19,000 rpm, revving at each split-second gear change and coupled with the
pure visual excitement of high speed precision driving. This is the
perfect venue for this type of interactivity."
SPEED, in concert with Michelin Tire and Bridgestone Tire,
will also bring viewers a USGP Pre-Race Special July 1 at 8 p.m., E.T.
The SPEED on-air crew will have the rare chance to speak directly with
Formula One drivers, while hosting one-on-one interactions with race
fans.
"For the first time, SPEED will be bringing you a two-hour pre-race
show on Saturday night," said Rick Miner, SPEED SVP of
Programming/Production. "The interviews and insights will be
gathered throughout the day on Thursday (June 29), during the Formula One
Fan Pit Walk, hosted by Indianapolis Motor Speedway. SPEED will have an
opportunity to speak with Formula One drivers, hosting the many press
conferences that will occur throughout the day. SPEED also will be
offering fans a public discussion forum on Thursday regarding the USGP
and Formula One racing in general."
USGP broadcast schedule on SPEED (all times Eastern);
Friday, June 30
11:00 a.m. *USGP Practice (LIVE)
7:30 p.m. USGP Practice (Replay)
Saturday, July 1
10:00 a.m. *USGP Practice (LIVE)
1:00 p.m. *USGP Qualifying (LIVE)
8:00 p.m. USGP Pre-Race Special (Highlighted
Coverage)
12:00 a.m. USGP Pre-Race Special (Replay)
Sunday, July 2
3:00 a.m. USGP Qualifying (Replay)
12:30 p.m. *United States Grand Prix (LIVE)
11:00 p.m. United States Grand Prix (Replay)
*Denotes SPEED on Board Pass Availability
Also for the first time, SPEEDtv.com will provide an archived
version of the United States Grand Prix to U.S. fans for $3.99 at the
SPEED on Demand Web portal. One day after the race is complete, fans will
be able to visit SPEEDtv.com, click onto 'SPEED on Demand'
and stream the race in its entirety - whenever they wish. The stream will
be available for 90 days.
SPEED, celebrating its 10th Anniversary in 2006, is the nation's first
and foremost cable network dedicated to motor sports and the passion for
everything automotive. From racing to restoration, motorcycles to movies,
SPEED delivers quality programming from the track to the garage. Now
available in more than 71 million homes in North America, SPEED is among
the fastest growing sports cable networks in the country and an industry
leader in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and
broadband services.
--www.SPEEDtv.com--
