Lucas Oil Pro Motocross and NBC Sports Announce TV Partnership
Monday, November 14, 2011 | 12:45 PM
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PrintLucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship and NBC Sports Group Announce New Television Distribution Partnership
New Partnership Allows Full Broadcast Integration for Series Sponsors
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. - MX Sports Pro Racing and Alli Sports, a division of the NBC Sports Group, announced today that NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network (renamed from VERSUS on Jan. 2) will be the new broadcast home for the 2012 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. The broadcast partnership will feature three live hours on NBC Sports and 21 hours of race programming on the NBC Sports Network, with 11 hours live.
The 2012 season expects to continue the upward trend the series has experienced since MX Sports Pro Racing and Alli Sports became partners in 2009. Since that time, motocross has enjoyed unprecedented growth with fans, and has seen its television audience nearly quadruple in just three years. This new partnership comes on the heels of a highly successful 2011 season that reached the largest overall motocross audience through television, digital and on-site viewers in the sport's 40-year history. In 2011 the series saw a 36 percent increase year-over-year in domestic television viewership, along with a 50 percent increase in overall website traffic.
"NBC Sports and the NBC Sports Network are the perfect broadcast partners for the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship," said MX Sports Pro Racing President Davey Coombs. "We look forward to engaging motocross' strong and devoted fan-base via the various broadcast and digital platforms available through our relationship with Alli Sports. Our work together over the past three years has done a tremendous amount to grow the sport and we're excited to build on it with the expanded television partnership with the NBC Sports Group."
With the move to the NBC Sports Group, Alli Sports will have greater flexibility to offer complete packages to sponsors that include media assets, series sponsorship opportunities, as well as more live hours, better programming windows and the ability to cross-promote the series across various networks and platforms.
"The new television package not only provides new opportunities for our fans, but allows us to better support both our current and future business partners with more robust and flexible sponsorship packages," said Alli Sports President Wade Martin. "The Series has seen amazing growth on all levels and the new television package is another big step."
"The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championships is a terrific programming property for the NBC Sports Group, particularly due to its popularity in young male demographics," said Rob Simmelkjaer, Senior Vice President at NBC Sports. "It will serve as an important part of our action sports strategy going forward."
The 2012 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship will be broadcast on five continents, in 104 countries. The series' widely-popular online coverage will continue as well, allowing enthusiasts to log onto the official website of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship to catch all the opening-moto action at www.allisports.com/motocross.
The 2012 race schedule for the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship will be released in the coming months and will feature a 12 race season at the nation's premier tracks. For additional information on the series please visit http://www.allisports.com/motocross. Visit the American Motocross Facebook page and follow @americanmx on Twitter for up-to-the-minute information on the latest Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship action.
For media information about the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, please contact Media Manager Brandon Short via email at [email protected] or by phone at 949-365-5750 .
MX Sports Pro Racing
MX Sports Pro Racing manages and produces the world's most prestigious motocross series - the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. The industry leader in off road powersport event production and management, its mission is to showcase the sport of professional motocross competition at events throughout the United States. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing organizes events for thousands of action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of motorsports spectators. Visit www.mxsportsproracing.com.
Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports
Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports, is a global business that encompasses national and international action sports tours and events, multimedia production, and a consumer facing lifestyle brand. The Alliance includes: the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, the Dew Tour, Winter Dew Tour, China Invitational, King of Wake series, and the Gatorade Free Flow Tour. Alli TV Productions creates original content, produces and presents content with partners, and distributes Alli content through a variety of channels. Alli is owned by NBC Sports and MTV Networks and represents a network of athletes, fans, brands and properties. Its mission is to facilitate the momentous growth of action sports, through competition and lifestyle, for a new generation of fans and athletes. The Alli properties are home to more than 550,000 spectators each year and broadcasts more than 150 hours of original content in 100 countries and 280 million homes worldwide. Visit www.allisports.com.
Lucas Oil Products
Lucas Oil is a worldwide leader in the production of oils, lubricants and additives. Based in Corona, Calif., Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest-growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry, featuring a premium line of oils, lubricants and problem-solving performance additives. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top-selling additive line in the American truck-stop industry. Lucas Oil is involved in an array of motorsports sponsorships, including the "Official Motor Oil of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship." Visit www.LucasOil.com.
AMA Pro Racing
AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing sanctioning body in the United States, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. From its Daytona Beach headquarters, the organization sanctions professional motorcycle racing competition, which includes, AMA Pro Motocross, AMA Pro Road Racing, and AMA Pro Flat Track. Visit www.amaproracing.com.
NBC Sports Group
When the Comcast-NBCUniversal transaction was completed in January of 2011, the broad reach and storied history of NBC Sports united with Comcast's 24/7 ability to super-serve fans to create the NBC Sports Group. The new sports media company consists of an array of broadcast television, cable television and digital sports assets, including NBC Sports & Olympics, Golf Channel, Versus, 11 SportNets (regional sports networks) and their respective websites. Together, the new combined assets of the NBC Sports Group possess an unparalleled collection of television rights agreements, partnering with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the Olympics, NFL, NHL, PGA TOUR, PGA of America, USGA, IndyCar, Wimbledon, French Open, Tour de France and Kentucky Derby.
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Check out WHEN DAYLIGHT BREAKS
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
When the lights go off on supercross and racing hits the daylight with the launch of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, everyone gets to start over. Page 110.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
It looks as if next years TV viewing will be even worse than this years package.At least I get Verses channel.I wish MX Sports would just do a pay for view on the internet like the GP's are done.Crap.
Oh yeah,Hooole shot
Assuming that the Speed & Fuel TV channels have been dropped due to FOX channels recent Greed Fest screwing of it s customers? Does this also mean more of Ralph S. ?
Have faith that this will be a change for the better. Hope that it brings in revenues for sponsors and the industry can support more teams and more talent. Lastly, be thankful for the internet...the TV broadcasts may suck and be RUINED by appealing to a broader audience.
"Ruined" is sponsored by the PulpMX Show"
MCMoto speed and Fuel have not been dropped. And you may want to rechearch your facts on the greedy screw fest.
. In other news good to see lots of people watching MX!!
Hmmm... Mixed feelings. Hopefully sponsorship dollars will be worth the stupid human interest pieces that take 10 minutes out of race time coverage featuring bmx/skateboard/others I don't care about.
@McMoto- Sheheen and Erin Bates are moto almanacs compared to Jamie Bestwick and whoever that blonde chick is. Explain to me again what dirt is... please. Better than nothing though.
Seriously, you people complain about EVERYTHING..
If I'm reading this correctly, we're down to two channels this season, NBC and Versus (or NBC sports network), as opposed to Fuel, Speed, and NBC. It appears the majority will be run on NBC Sports Network, showing both motos...with a few live events showing the 450's on NBC...sounds great to me.
Pizza, Commie & Liberal are NOT ways to discribe me. I'm a Direct TV subscriber and was mighty pissed that FOX was going to pull they're programming over contract dispute.My understanding was that they were the root of this B.S. I was gonna lose Speed, Fuel TV, etc.stations they own. Direct TV sucks for all kinds of other reasons and I can't wait for my contract with them to expire. So WTF does Commie & Liberal have to do with me and my TV ? You just love to start crap on these posts.
Bill C. I meant to say"will SX/MX be dropped from Speed & Fuel?" My research was completely emotional, I just write TV people a monthly check. Hopefully Emig will stay on with the NBC crew, I kind of ignore Ralph. Heres to another great season!
Won't know until we hear the details.. but 1. Will both motos show in their entirety? 2. Will the 250s be on the same show/network/schedule? 3. Will they continue the habit of having too much time wasted by puff pieces about Kevin Windham's kids or Tyla Ratray's long journey from South Africa. And when will they start having a technical director (the person who chooses which camera to cut to and where that camera is pointing) who has a "fan's" perspective. If I see on more minute of a rider trying to start his bike after a first turn crash (while the most exciting part of the race is taking place) I'm not responsible for my actions..
Never mind the peanut gallery, McMoto. By the way, Davey Coombs and crew are doing an awesome job with the Nats... even if NBC is the turd in the punch bowl.
Isn't VS a Canadian channel? It is the Outdoor Life Network there and VS here because they show more than outdoor stuff. All I assume with NBC buying it, it will be more Americanized. Actually, I just googled it and Comcast who owns VS actually bought NBC, so I guess they are a big dog and hopefully everyone will be able to see it. I have it on my cable, I think that is who shows the GNCC's I DVR.
This has potential, but if anyone reading this has any impact with NBC, nobody wants the human interest stories of athletes from other sports. Unless NBC interupts 10 minutes of an NFL game to talk about Ryan Villopoto, don't take 10 minutes from the racing to talk to Joe stick and ball. Besides that, I'm in.
DanRad,
You're right with the "technical director" comment. Too many races last year had awful race perspectives.
Hopefully, this move will bring a production budget that gives the sport an opportunity to shine, not look like bicycles riding slowly in the distance.
Could care less what network the races are on as long as there's no Ralphy Shaheen.
You all either btchn about the complainers or those saying it is was it is, pull your heads out and get pissed and let those that are responsible know the massive reduce coverage isn't acceptable.
From Vital
Here is the first paragraph of the PR for tv coverage in '11.
MX Sports Pro Racing and Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports announce today the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship will enjoy exclusive coverage across NBC Sports, SPEED and FUEL TV, with 60 hours of original programming, including 28 hours of live coverage. The domestic broadcasts will reach more than 120 million viewers across the three networks.
Here is a portion of the PR for '12.
The broadcast partnership will feature three live hours on NBC Sports and 21 hours of race programming on the NBC Sports Network, with 11 hours live.
So... 60 hours in '11 and 24 hours in '12. 28 hours of live coverage in '11 is more than the total coverage in '12.
This means we get 60% less tv coverage in '12 than in '11 on a network that reaches fewer homes. How is this good for sponsors, fans, riders, etc?
more changes. I wish the change would be the announcers, I'm not sure how much longer I can listen to Emig stumble through everything he wants to say. How about the BMX guy that did Red Bud. He was smooth and interesting to listen too.
Relative to announcers PLEASE REPLACE ralphie sheeeenan ...The half pipe dew cup 5 x champion ...xlnt choice.....Fro thats all folks....
I read some of the comments on here,.. it really shows that some of you are not that smart and whining about Ralph Sheheen... Supercross and Motocross are promoted by two different promoters.... Ralph will be around for Supercross, promoter... Feld Motor Sports and they have a contract with Speed and CBS...
Motocross... MX Sports is the promoter. Contract with NBC.
DanRad,
You concisely and succinctly expressed the concerns of thousands of true fans.
The producers need to have a moto-specialist in the directors chair or we will spend another season yelling at the screen because we know we are missing some dustup or epic, crucial pass to watch a guy get his bike running.
I hate finding out the race deciding drama took place during a commercial break.
But I'm happy they are starting to see the excitement of MX racing.
I like many motorsports and my opinion is that a highlights reel of the entire 2010 F1 racing season couldn't hold a candle to the excitement of one good lites moto.
It's just that good!