IndyCar's Bernard talks Sense

Take a look at the new Associated Press interview with IndyCar Supremo Randy Bernard from the Sports Illustrated website.




The good news is that the chief executive continues to say things that make a lot of sense. The bad news, of course, is that the devil is embedded in details that remain to be seen.




We must keep our television numbers up... Sponsors buy off television... I
think the television number determines the future of the sport. - Randy
Bernard



This is a direct hit. Nothing can create revenue-generating leverage like good television ratings. That Bernard recognizes that poor TV ratings are much more than an unfortunate inconvenience is very good news for IndyCar fans.


Dan Ochs, manager of programming and acquisitions at ESPN, then chimes in with this gem.




We need to determine what's causing viewership to fall off. - Dan
Ochs





The Indy 500 has established historic statistical lows in consecutive years for the following:




1. Television Rating
2. American Drivers


Might there be a causal relationship?
Anyway, let's return to Bernard.


We haven't changed the product, and until we change the product, we have to
be very realistic on this. - Randy Bernard


Mr. Bernard shall get no argument from me. IndyCar has never seriously attempted to manage its product. If it were to do so in a strategically advantageous way, then it might just be able to become a viable competitor in the marketplace.
That, of course, is where those devilish details enter the picture. The product is much more than chassis and engines. The IndyCar "whole product" includes drivers, racing circuits, television broadcasts, and more. A new spec in and of itself could represent nothing more than added cost.
Much more important are those things that the new specs might allow IndyCar to do. Appealing to the present group of true believers will not be sufficient.
I thank Mr. Bernard for providing encouragement and wish him well as he attempts to deduce specific solutions.
Roggespierre
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