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TRAC's Demise Part 2- timing is so crucial in business.
Look at the shift in NASCAR's popularity between 2001-2002 when TRAC was trying to get going and now.
From 2/21/2001
TV loses $100M on NASCAR
Despite ratings success, NBC/Turner drops about $50M and Fox even more Fox, NBC and Turner Sports collectively lost more than $100 million on NASCAR during the first year of a six-year, $2.4 billion television contract despite leaving their own ratings projections in the dust, network sources said.
NASCAR was arguably the leading success story in sports television this year from the standpoint of ratings and critical acclaim, with broadcast ratings up more than 25 percent. But the losses point to the strongest evidence yet that the current economic climate makes it almost impossible for networks to make money on even their best sports properties. In terms of NASCAR, though, network executives say they're OK with losses in the short term.
The NBC/Turner joint venture lost close to $50 million, network sources said, while Fox, which paid a higher rights fee for the more attractive first-half coverage, is widely thought to have lost even more.
None of the networks would comment on the losses. They agreed the year was one of both satisfaction and disappointment.
"We're a victim of the marketplace, the same way everybody else is," said Mark Lazarus, president of Turner Sports.
COMPARE to 2004-2005
Nascar Finale A Ratings Bonanza
Tuesday November 23, 2004 5:34pm
(Sports Network) - NASCAR's new "Chase for the Championship" format turned out to be a television ratings success.
NBC's Sunday afternoon telecast of the Ford 400 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway earned its highest ever rating - 5.6 rating/11 share.
NASCAR has quietly replaced the NBA as one of the nation's top-rated televised sports.
Since NASCAR jumped onto Fox and NBC, weekly races have drawn audiences that have more than doubled the ones watching regular NBA games and have handily beaten pro-basketball's playoffs.
There already are signs. In June, Nextel Communications (nasdaq: NXTL - news - people ) agreed to pay roughly $700 million over 10 years (see "Nextel's Push To Talk Profits") to replace the sport's longstanding title sponsor, Winston, which had paid $200 million for a five-year deal. The Nextel deal set a record for sports sponsorship deals, and the wireless telecom had to fight with McDonald's (nyse: MCD - news - people ) and Coca-Cola (nyse: KO - news - people ) for the privilege of paying this king's ransom.
Do you think ISPO will be able to find big name sponsors for "ATD" racing show?
Good article that summarizes TRAC,TSPT and their demise. This was the shell ISPO merged into prior to the management change and aquisition of Idea Sports Entertainment Group.
Erik Spanberg
Senior staff writer Charlotte Business Journal - September 1, 2003
Team Racing Auto Circuit Inc. spent two years trying to reach the starting line — and ran out of gas before it got there.
The publicly held startup stock-car racing league, based in Huntersville, this week scrapped its plans for launching a NASCAR rival. TRAC's first season was scheduled to begin in May.
"I am so disappointed that we could not deliver a better result to all of our shareholders," says Terry Hanson, chief operating officer. "There are no fingers of blame to be pointed toward any of our partners."
The company's most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, dated Aug. 14, shows TRAC with a cumulative loss of nearly $7 million since its creation a little over two years ago. The figure includes a $1 million deficit through the first half of this year.
The racing league is down to two employees and is scheduled to cease operations within six weeks. Negotiations to restructure payment terms with creditors have also begun, with the company hoping to stave off bankruptcy.
The league announced plans for a new stock-car circuit in May 2001. Hanson, a former PGA Tour executive, was part of a founding group that included former CBS executive Robert Wussler and retired NASCAR champion Cale Yarborough.
The league modeled itself after traditional major league ventures such as the NFL and NBA, with franchises to be located in various cities across the country. In NASCAR, drivers compete head-to-head, but not as teams representing geographic areas.
TRAC also had prototype race cars built that differed from traditional stock-car vehicles. The cars were souped-up versions of muscle cars, such as the Dodge Viper and Chevrolet Corvette.
Also, races were planned in shorter, two-hour competitions, rather than the three to four hours inherent in NASCAR events.
"It was an excellent concept, but the timing was bad," says Tim Frost, president of consulting firm Frost Motorsports in Chicago. "The economy worked against them, but they had a good idea and a good management team in place."
Last spring, TRAC signed a broadcast deal with ESPN. For months, company executives said their success hinged on a national network deal.
The ESPN contract didn't prove to be a panacea. The league couldn't sell franchises — originally priced as high as $11 million — and the broadcast agreement with ESPN didn't pay the league any rights fees.
Instead, the TV deal required a $21 million investment from TRAC in 2004 and 2005 in exchange for putting the races on the air. An initial production payment of $375,000 to ESPN was due in October.
The league had also enlisted Raycom Sports to sell TV advertising and sponsorships and Baltimore-based sports-investment firm Moag & Co. to sell franchise rights. Locally based Speedway Motorsports Inc. had agreed to rent five of its six tracks for races during 2004.
"This was an uphill battle all the way," says Humpy Wheeler, SMI chief operating officer. "I'm not surprised that they didn't make it, but I am disappointed. It would have given us more events, and it would have given a lot of young race-car drivers an opportunity."
The startup series appeared to be on the verge of a breakthrough after unveiling its prototype cars at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May 2002. Industry pundits raved over the cars and proclaimed the series a viable alternative for racing enthusiasts.
After that, however, TRAC began to hemorrhage cash, and it struggled through several executive shakeups. Several industry analysts say the concept of team-based racing remains attractive and may surface again.
"I would work with them again in a heartbeat," says Ken Haines, chief executive at Raycom Sports. "They had a great idea and some talented people. They just didn't have very good timing."
Regarding SportVu. Here's another potential long term prospect.
Aside from all the more glamourous uses for SportVu discussed during webcast. Casino gaming surveillance could be a big money maker for this technology. Casinos lose millions to cheaters.
The system basically gives the viewer the ability to isolate any single or multiple participants from a group, and view the participant(s) from every possible viewpoint.
The system also has applications in the fields of coaching (film analysis), video gaming, military training simulators, and casino gaming surveillance.
Now remember this news release.
Idea Sports Entertainment Group, Inc. (ISPO.BB)OTC announced today that it has acquired Las Vegas-based Strategic Gaming Consultants, LLC (“Strategic”); formerly headed by legendary gaming and entertainment experts, Murray Ehrenberg and Steve Forte.
Now add this piece of info to the mix
Steve Forte is a security consultant for many of the larger Las Vegas Casinos and an author of casino security books. Here's one of the many links I found on him.
http://www.casinogameprotection.com/backstory.html
Stock is in a holding pattern waiting for news imo
PR stands for progress report not press release today.
Tomorrows news release HOP-ON sucessfully catches cab to airport and makes their plane on time.
Wed PR- Hop-on in discussions with Sprint & AT&T.
Hello Sprint Operator this is Dan Gan from HPON I would like to make a collect call. Why don't I use my cell phone to make the call. Well I have a HPON phone but it doesn't work. How much will the call be?? $24.00. Hold on ok, Hey Ernie call my broker and sell another million shares of stock, I have a call to make here...
Hello AT&T this is Dan Gan from HPON, I just got back from Europe and my DSL isn't working. What's that you say...it was turned off because I didn't pay my DSL bill. Hold on please, hey Ernie issue another million shares my DSL is turned off how the heck can I sell HPON stock if I can't go online...
ROFLMAO
This is what really first caught my eye about ISPO. Warrants not shares. I've never seen that before. If they don't build a real company and the stock price doesn't go way up they get nothing.
Finally, a company whose management has to make a real company to get paid. By the way on 9/9/04 ISPO stock was trading between .07-.09.
NOTE 3--ACQUISITION OF IDEA MANAGEMENT GROUP, INC.
On September 9, 2004, the Company acquired IMGI, a development stage company with no prior operations, in exchange for a warrant to purchase 15,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise price of $.10 per share. In addition, in the event IMGI generates $2,000,000 in gross revenue by September 8, 2007, the sellers of IMGI shall receive an additional warrant to purchase 15,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise price of $.10 per share.
More information on the Bejing China Project
Idea Sports Entertainment Group Partners with Chinese Beijing Lin Liu International to Develop Sports, Entertainment, and Travel Projects in Beijing, China-Monday December 27, 8:30 am ET
$600 Million Chinese Government-Backed "Hollywood 21 Century Digital Theme Park" in Beijing to lead list of projects.
Beijing International Hollywood Theme Park will target about 10 million visitors in its first year of operation. With individual ticket prices of US $20, first year gate revenues may reach US $200 million alone.IV. THEME PARK AMENITIES
A. Primary Theme Park Area: featuring roller coaster rides, water slides, video arcades and other entertainment activities.
B. Beijing Entertainment Center: A working TV and film studio as well as a theme park. It will house production facilities and several stages for live theater productions.
C. Museum Hall showcasing China great history.D. International entertainment and sport stadium capable of seating 100,000 people.
E. Global shopping village with international food shops and first class retail shops.
F. Resort and Spa featuring four-star resort hotel, a campground, vacation villas, vacation club and an 18-hole championship golf course.
G. Entertainment District: Featuring nightclubs, concert venues and world class restaurants
Captain from your call it sounds like we just need to be patient and give this one time to grow. Contracts take time I guess.
Welcome to the board. You touched on some very good parts of the ISPO story.
Does anyone know about some new rule that takes effect on 2/15.
Something about market makers who make markets in the pinks needing to verify company info if they want to make a market in a stock. If no market makers file 15c211 short form the stock starts trading on the grey sheets instead of the pinks. Not sure if this will effect HPON or not, but...if I was long this one I would sure do some DD on it.
Here's the link for everyone
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/board.asp?board_id=3459
Robert Wussler donates $1,000,000 to his former alma mater.
So many penny stocks today are forced to sell shares into the market to bankroll the company. As the ISPO story unfolds it will become clear to everyone there are some very strong hands involved here.
http://everforward.shu.edu/voices/wussler.htm
Robert J. Wussler Commits $1 Million to Create the Athletic Hall of Fame Room
When it comes to sports, there are fans—those who enjoy the competition, the statistics and even the history. And then there are believers—those who see sports as a cultural phenomenon capable of bringing people together in a shared goal. Robert J. Wussler ’57, president and CEO of Ted Turner Pictures and Ted Turner Documentaries, is both a fan and a believer. As such, he has generously committed $1 million to support the creation of Seton Hall University’s Athletic Hall of Fame Room.
Wussler’s appreciation for all things sports began more than five decades ago and six blocks from the Seton Hall campus. “Living so close to Seton Hall and going to high school at the Prep [Seton Hall Preparatory School] on the same campus, it was natural for me to be very sports-minded.”
Over the years, Wussler bonded with a legendary Pirate, the late Richie Regan ’53/M.A. ’67. Wussler believes Regan had a tremendous impact on Seton Hall athletics, not only as a key founder of the BIG EAST, but also as a wonderful representative of both Seton Hall and New Jersey.
Wussler began his career at the CBS Television Network. He has served as president of CBS Sports and was the creator of NFL Today. At age 36, he became the youngest person to be named president of the CBS Television Network. He later co-founded the Cable News Network (CNN).
When it comes to Seton Hall, Wussler exudes the same intensity of purpose that has marked his career. He believes the Hall of Fame Room will further promote a culture of sport at the University. “It will help to bring together [the stories of] all of the great players and teams that Seton Hall has fielded over its 150-year existence,” he observes. Wussler envisions a place where people can visit before and after events, where lectures and receptions can take place.
"The Hall of Fame Room also will play a role in recruiting the next generation of athletes, fans and believers…and say, ‘Look, here is a part of the history of Seton Hall going back to the late 1800s and throughout the 20th century,’" says Wussler.
Build it and they will come, that was my thinking.
I have held back posting much of what I've found.
After Watching Level II everyday, I was giving the warriors who have been sitting on the bid at .145-.15 for us, more time to suck up the weak hands. If people only knew. The overhang is almost sucked dry, only 3 mm's with stock left below .21.
Can't wait... baby needs new shoes
Can't we go back to last month when we were trading at 37 cents. I need a do over here!!!!
Why are they moving from USA to Anguilla.
in connection with the proposed continuance of the Corporation from the State of Florida, into Anguilla, B.W.I. (the "Continuance
I saw the same candlestick buy signal. Look at Raging Bull BIGR website, everyone on that board says this stock is a giant scam company. All the investors they fleeced last few years have moved on so now they ramp up the scam machine again. Someone on RB said old CEO skipped town with millions. Only going by what I saw on RB boards. Read old posts on RB about BIGR it before you buy.
Two Las Vegas shows with big name guys to run these projects.
(OTCBB: ISPO -12/16/2004) has acquired Las Vegas-based Strategic Gaming Consultants, LLC ("Strategic"); formerly headed by legendary gaming and entertainment experts, Murray Ehrenberg and Steve Forte.
Ehrenberg previously was casino manager for Golden Nugget Corporation; and Vice President of casino operations at the Stardust Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas.
Steve Forte is a security consultant for many of the larger Las Vegas Casinos and an author of casino security books. Here's one of the many links I found on him.
http://www.casinogameprotection.com/backstory.html
By the way the day 12/16 this news was released ISPO traded 2.8 million shares. The first four days combined after this release it traded over 7 million shares.
Idea Also Acquires Two Key Resort/Casino Based Television Series. That makes three television shows ISPO now owns the rights to.
12/16/04 press release-Idea has also assumed the rights to two key resort/casino-based television series from a separate entity. Details and specifics of the television series will be announced in the near future.
Robert J. Wussler's Bio
11/30/2004 CNN Co-Founder and Former CBS Head Robert J. Wussler to Oversee Idea's Sports and Entertainment Projects.
Robert J. Wussler's instinct for innovation has forever changed the commercial, cable and satellite television industry. He has served as a groundbreaking news pioneer at CBS — overseeing special projects such as election coverage and man's landing on the moon. Mr. Wussler gained industry prominence as a leader, from his early use of miniature cameras to his calm control room demeanor as Walter Cronkite's producer.
As president of CBS Sports, he essentially invented the genre of pre-game telecasts with "NFL Today," for which he hired Brent Musburger, Irv Cross, Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder and Phyllis George. At 36, he was the youngest man ever to be named as president of the CBS Television Network.
Mr. Wussler has been an early cable pioneer. He has co-founded networks such as Cable News Network (CNN) and worked closely with Ted Turner to build Turner Broadcasting into a major power by acquiring high-profile sports and entertainment properties, including broadcast rights for the NBA, the NFL, the Goodwill Games and exclusive movie packages. For nearly 10 years he oversaw the growth of SuperStation TBS as its president and in 1988 was instrumental in the founding of TNT.
After the merger of AOL and Time Warner, Ted Turner tapped Mr. Wussler to launch a new entertainment company — Ted Turner Pictures and Ted Turner Documentaries. Mr. Wussler currently serves as president and CEO of Ted Turner Pictures, a company created to enlighten audiences and promote global unity and positive reform through the storytelling power of motion pictures and documentaries.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, on September 8, 1936, Mr. Wussler went on to graduate from Seton Hall with a bachelor of communication arts. His career in television began in the mailroom of CBS on June 4, 1957. He was 20 years old. Twenty-one years later, he had left an indelible mark on the network.
http://www.americastopdriver.com new reality TV show.
During ISPO's 2/2/05 webcast both the CEO and Robert Wussler said they were still on target to get this show on the air by late Summer, Early Fall.
Mission Control we have a big winner here.
This looks like a stock with a compelling story filled with some big name winners.
Beginning early in February 2005, Diamond I will be offering to the public a Web-based preview of its hand-held Wi-Fi-based gaming system, known as "WifiCasino GS Concierge and Gaming System."
We are the public and it's early February. If anyone calls the company try and find out the date web demo will go live. Please report back to the board with date. TIA
Did anyone ever find out if webcast demo is still scheduled for tomorrow 2/5? What time does it start and how do we log on to it?
ISPO (Idea Sports Entertainment Group) completed IPO/via reverse merger 10 weeks ago. In those 10 weeks Robert Wussler former head of CBS and co-founder of CNN joined company. They purchased rights to reality TV show called Americas Top Driver. Hall of fame driver Cale Yarborough is in charge of new tv show. Check out this site www.americastopdriver.com. Network deal, top name celebrity driver soon to be announced. Stock has run from 2 cents to 31 cents. Pulling back a little now to .15 range. Great entry point before next wave of news releases. They also have purchased two other Las Vegas reality shows soon to be announced. Nothing but top names joining this company. Best potential big runner I've seen on the bb's in ages.
This link just makes me want to buy more stock in ISPO everytime I go to this website. Show on target to air late summer early fall.
www.americastopdriver.com
Yeah!!! the web demo is this Saturday what time does it start??
www.americastopdriver.com
new reality tv show owned by ISPO.ob, Robert Wussler co-founder of CNN and former head of CBS sports is involved.
Has anyone seen what the handheld device looks like?
What date is the webcast scheduled for, company announced webcast would be early February??
Our stock price is just resting up before the next big rally
Warning clicking on this link will cause you to buy ISPO
http://www.americastopdriver.com
Everytime I go to this site, I buy more stock in ISPO.
On target to be on the air this Fall. Sitting on lots of news.
Trades over a million shares on good news days.
Wake me up when news comes out. ZZZZZZZ!!!!!!
Not looking good so far today, down again. Patience needed imo