Special Events Television Network

Special Events Television Network (SETN) is the name of a defunct syndicated television package that broadcast tape delayed NASCAR races from 1984 to 1988. SETN aired races (typically from Martinsville and Pocono as well as from Rockingham, Charlotte, Richmond and Daytona for good measure) that didn't have live television deals at the time. The broadcasts were aired on tape delay because certain promoters still feared that live telecasts would hurt their gate. SETN also sold VHS videos of some races it carried, with additional footage not seen on TV. In addition to its stock car racing, the network produced twelve telecasts of International Hot Rod Association events.[1]

SETN was headed by Jim Wiglesworth (father of Survivor: Borneo runner up Kelly Wiglesworth) out of Greensboro, North Carolina. SETN was underfunded, and since profits were slim, so were rights fees. Ultimately, the growing popularity of racing on ESPN as well as the overall lack of cash flow drove them out of the business. SETN ceased operations in June 1988; the first Pocono race that year was seen on the Financial News Network's Score weekend sports service,[2] and Martinsville, the last holdout against live television rights, signed an ESPN deal for its fall race.[3]

After SETN folded, one Pocono race a year was produced by Jim Wiglesworth on pay-per-view for Viewer's Choice (now In Demand) from 1988 to 1990. They were not a huge success, as fans were reluctant to pay for what they could see last week for free. The Viewer's Choice shows were noteworthy in that they premiered viewer phone-in questions during the races.

Commentators

Lap-by-lap

Color commentary

Pit road
  • Bob Heiss
  • Pat Patterson

Stations
City Station
Atlanta WVEU 69
Baltimore WBFF 45
Birmingham WVTM 13
Boston WSBK 38
Buffalo WKBW 7
Burlington WVNY 22
Charlotte WBTV 3
Chicago WGN 9
Cincinnati WKRC 12
Columbia WOLO 25
Columbus WTVN 6
Cleveland WUAB 43
Dallas/Fort Worth KTVT 11
Dayton WHIO 7
Denver KWGN 2
Des Moines KDSM 17
Detroit WGPR 62
Fort Wayne WFFT 55
Greensboro WXII 12
Hartford/New Haven WVIT 30
Houston KHOU 11
KHTV 39
Indianapolis WTTV 4
Kansas City KCTV 5
Las Vegas KLAS 8
Los Angeles KTTV 11
KHJ 9
Louisville WDRB 41
Memphis WPTY 24
WMC 5
Miami/Fort Lauderdale WPLG 10
Milwaukee WITI 6
Minneapolis/St. Paul KMSP 9
New Orleans WGNO 26
New York City WOR 9
Norfolk WAVY 10
Oklahoma City KOKH 25
Philadelphia WTAF 29
WGBS 57
Phoenix KNXV 15
Pittsburgh WPGH 53
Providence WLNE 6
Raleigh/Durham WTVD 11
Richmond WXEX 8
Rochester WOKR 13
Sacramento KTXL 40
Salt Lake City KSL 5
San Diego KTTY 69
San Francisco/Oakland KTVU 2
Seattle/Tacoma KSTW 11
Springfield WWLP 22
St. Louis KDNL 30
Tampa/St. Petersburg WTOG 44
Washington, D.C. WDCA 20
West Palm Beach WTVX 34

References
  1. Peltz, James F. (March 13, 1988). "Racing on TV Isn't a Drag Anymore, Thanks to Woodland Hills Firm". Los Angeles Times. p. 10. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  2. Higgins, Tom (June 18, 1988). "Kulwicki Takes Pocono Pole With Record Effort". Charlotte Observer. pp. 1B, 5B. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  3. Higgins, Tom (August 10, 1988). "Record Prize, New Deal Highlight Race At Charlotte". Charlotte Observer. p. 1B, 3B. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.