Satellite : No Hot Pass in 2009

NOTE: The following articles are posted due to Hot Pass being mirrored on Bev


No 'Hot Pass' for DirecTV customers next year
Jim Utter
The Charlotte Observer

DirecTV will not continue its exclusive NASCAR “Hot Pass” pay-per-view package next season, The Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned.

“Hot Pass” debuted with the 2007 Daytona 500 and featured the use of up to 10 channels on DirecTV devoted to expanded coverage each week of NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series races, including views from driver in-car cameras, radio communications and telemetry as well the live nationwide race broadcast.

Fans could pick from a selection of drivers each week and DirecTV would produce coverage of the race specifically devoted to each driver and their team.

Members of the “Hot Pass” production group were informed of the company’s decision during a teleconference call on Tuesday evening.

DirecTV has also sponsored several races on Richard Childress Racing’s No. 07 Chevrolet. It is unclear whether that sponsorship will be affected. A request for comment from a DirecTV spokesman was not immediately returned.

NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston confirmed changes to DirecTV’s broadcast platform for NASCAR.

“The produced package as it exists today will change,” he said. “There will be no more large production pieces but we are confident DirecTV will have NASCAR content next season.

“We are working with DirecTV on a package that will hopefully provide fans some of the same enhancements they received with ‘Hot Pass.’ ”

Poston said a new package, minus the driver-specific broadcasts, could be made available to all DirecTV subscribers, thus expanding the reach of NASCAR coverage on DirecTV. The “Hot Pass” program required an additional subscription for those who already had DirecTV.

“I think the subscription package is going to change for the better for more fans, ultimately,” Poston said.

During each “Hot Pass” broadcast viewers had the option of the live official telecast audio, the separate broadcast dedicated to the driver, and in-car communications between the driver and his team. During commercials, only the broadcast audio and in-car channel were available. Also during breaks, race action was still available, but on a much smaller screen.

On Tuesday, DirecTV Group Inc. announced it had frozen hiring and that all but the most critical capital projects would be suspended due to the poor economy. The nation’s largest satellite TV provider also said it was beefing up some promotions and planned to raise rates for next year.


DirecTV to change NASCAR Hot Pass
SceneDaily

The NASCAR Hot Pass on DirecTV won’t return in 2009 as it has been produced, NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston confirmed Wednesday.

Hot Pass typically would feature five drivers on five different channels with a play-by-play announcer and pit reporter for each driver. The driver’s channel would include video of the car throughout the race from several angles.

It was offered on a subscription basis.

“Hot Pass as we know it today is changing,” Poston said in a statement. “Fans are still going to get unique content from DirecTV, but they won’t be getting fully produced channels. We’re still in discussion with DirecTV for enhancements for 2009.”

DirecTV officials released a statement later in the day.

"NASCAR and DirecTV decided to evolve Hot Pass into a new product that will be available to all DirecTV customers, free of charge, in 2009. We are working through the details now and will unveil the new service in the next few weeks."
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[Error404]

That really sucks!!!!!

[deerpoacher02]

that sucks but maybe dn will pick it up. LOL

[Cougar830]

Oh well maybe bev will be back.