Saturday, February 10, 2001
ESPN, NASCAR clash over credentials
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NASCAR and ESPN are in a major dispute just as NASCAR begins its new contract with Fox and its cable partner, Fox Sports Net, ESPN's chief rival.
NASCAR refused to give credentials to ESPN's “RPM 2Night” crew for next week's Daytona 500.
ESPN responded by returning all its credentials for the 500.
“We'll have a crew in Daytona,” said Mike Soltys, ESPN director of communications. “But they'll be at a marina, a mile away from the track. We won't have anyone at the track.”
NASCAR denied credentials to “RPM 2Night” because it is a “magazine show.”
“We don't see it as a credential issue,” NASCAR spokesman John Griffin said. “We see it as a video usage issue. "RPM 2Night' people can be at the track. Their cameras can't.”
Soltys counters things shot by “RPM” people could end up on “SportsCenter.”
“All our people down there feed to "SportsCenter,' ESPN Radio, ABC Sports,” Soltys said. “"RPM 2Night' has always been news-driven.”
NASCAR wants a bigger presence on “SportsCenter.”
“That's our priority,” Griffin said. “We want to enhance our position there. We don't feel like we get our fair share.”
The NASCAR-ESPN disputes come as Fox begins coverage of the Daytona 500. Fox Sports Net launches “Totally NASCAR” on Monday. It is FSN's answer to “RPM 2Night.” “Totally NASCAR” will air 6p.m. Monday through Friday. “Totally NASCAR” will get credentials to shoot at the track.
“We wanted to assist Fox as they begin their partnership with us,” Griffin said.
Soltys said this is the first time ESPN has been denied credentials to an event in the United States.
“The Daytona 500 will still be a big part of our coverage,” Soltys said. “But it's more difficult to do this way.”
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ESPN, NASCAR clash over credentials
