An Idiots Opinion: Should racing TV media PAY race tracks to stream their races?!

As motorsport revs up in the digital age, the debate over whether racing TV media should shell out cash to local tracks for streaming rights is gaining traction faster than a dragster at a green light.

Picture this: local tracks, from the dusty charm of Clarksville Speedway to the cozy curves of Duck River in Tennessee, are hanging on by the skin of their tires, relying on ticket sales and whatever sponsorship crumbs they can gather. Meanwhile, streaming giants like DIRTVision, FloRacing, and FRDM+ are laughing all the way to the bank, cashing in on ad revenue and subscriptions from broadcasting live local races and then posting online for streaming on their platform. So, should these media moguls toss some coins to the tracks for the honor of streaming their events? Or pay the tracks a lump sum per ecent to broadcast? Interesting. Let's dive into the financial pit stop, examining ad revenue, the perks for local tracks, and how it all affects our beloved local drivers.

Streaming platforms rake in the big bucks by airing local races, where the raw thrill of grassroots racing—complete with nail-biting finishes, hometown heroes, and tight battles—hooks dedicated fans. Take DIRTVision, for example: this dirt track racing platform is reportedly rolling in millions each year from subscriptions and ads, with grassroots events revving up its $4.25 million revenue engine in some years. FloRacing and its buddies also cash in on local action, selling ad space to regional businesses and using live streams to turbocharge viewership. Meanwhile, the tracks hosting these adrenaline-fueled events get left in the dust, despite being the very heart of the content that fuels these profits. Sharing some of that financial pie with local tracks for streaming rights could make things a bit more fair and square. Am I implying that tracks aren't receiving some form of a revenue share from companies streaming their races? Not at all. I'm merely suggesting that if tracks increased their demands, the racing media might have to negotiate to even attend. Is this the ultimate solution? Likely not. But isn't it the promoter's responsibility to fill the stands and broadcast their events? Definitely. Yet, it's also the track's duty to ensure they're not just getting the leftovers!

When the race wraps up and the lights go out, the track's money-making machine takes a nap until the next big shindig. But those race streams for the media megatrons? They're like that friend who always finds a way to keep the party going, raking in cash for the platform while the track just sits there, twiddling its thumbs. Alright, some of you might be getting frustrated. Consider this perspective to better understand my point: If you're a musician wishing to perform someone else's music, you must pay royalties in addition to rights fees. This guarantees that the creator of the original work is compensated, even years after its release. If you play it, you should pay for it. If you want to broadcast it, pay the required royalties. Perhaps this concept can be extended to drivers: "We earned X amount from the event you participated in; here's your share of the advertising revenue."

Local race tracks are like the underdog race cars, always trying to zoom ahead on a shoestring budget. They juggle the costs of track maintenance, safety gear, and insurance like a circus clown with too many balls, often finding their expenses racing past their income from ticket sales. But wait, there's a pit stop solution! If you're raking in the dough by streaming a local race, the track wants a piece of that pie. Maybe a broader slice of the profits or a flat fee per event—doesn't that sound reasonable? Now, imagine this: local drivers making bank from the ad revenue their heart-pounding races generate. Could it happen? Who knows, maybe pigs will fly next! Take Knoxville Raceway, for example. By negotiating payments based on how many eyeballs are glued to their races, they could potentially pocket thousands per event. This cash could help with everything from sprucing up the track to expanding facilities. Even the tiniest tracks could use this windfall to brighten up the place with better lighting or comfier seating, making the races a more thrilling spectacle for live audiences. Or, imagine X Media wants to swoop in and cover an event. "Absolutely! Just hand over X amount of cash per event you broadcast." Ta-da!

Racing TV media should pony up some cash to local race tracks for streaming their races, considering all the ad bucks they rake in from these events. This would give tracks the dough they need to keep the lights on and spruce up the joint, while giving local drivers fatter wallets and more time in the spotlight. As streaming zooms ahead, it's high time we rejig this financial pit stop to make sure local motorsport communities—both tracks and drivers—are zooming into the digital age with style. Let's give these grassroots speedsters the recognition (and cash) they deserve to keep the engines roaring into the future! Right now, there are gamers on YouTube raking in over $100k a year just for playing video games while we watch them. Meanwhile, racers and tracks are out here struggling like it's still the Stone Age, even though it's 2025! Just picture the prize money for race winners if they tapped into YouTube generated ad revenue from streaming races... we're talking THOUSANDS (unless, of course, the track owners decide they really need a shiny new Corvette). Broadcasting races on YouTube is like a track's sneaky way of shaking down the internet for ad dollars. Imagine your local race photographers suddenly becoming Spielberg behind the camera—it's a win-win! All those ad bucks (minus the YouTube toll fee) zoom straight to the track's pockets. Plenty of tracks have hopped on this bandwagon, and it's been a jackpot! Then who knows... Maybe even drivers could one day get some ad-revenue for the events they participate. What a world that would be. You're the big cheese of the track! You own the whole shebang. So, why not strut your stuff? Sure, having your track in the spotlight is cool, but those videos keep raking in the dough long after the camera crew has hit the road. And hey, who doesn't love a good slice of pie? Time to grab yours! You've got the upper hand here. They want to film at your track, so make 'em cough up the cash. If everyone champions their tracks, we might see fewer closures. Or at least that's my two cents!

-Idiot Devin