TBS Introduces No Brakes Coverage During the UAW-GM Quality 500
5 October 2000
TBS Superstation Introduces No Brakes Coverage During the UAW-GM Quality 500 NASCAR Race on Oct. 8 from Charlotte
ATLANTA--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Oct. 4, 2000--For the first time on television a NASCAR race will be broadcast with almost no regular commercial breaks when TBS Superstation presents the UAW-GM Quality 500, with No Brakes Coverage.The announcement was made today by Turner Sports President Mark Lazarus and TBS Superstation General Manager Dennis Quinn.
In order to provide near-continuous race coverage, commercials will run in a custom-designed picture-in-picture format, so that racing fans almost never miss a lap. At regularly scheduled commercial times, the screen will squeeze back the commercial to allow room for a smaller screen to continue showing the race.
"NASCAR is unique in that there are no natural breaks in the course of a race. Now, race fans will almost never have to miss a minute of the action while watching Winston Cup races on TBS," said Lazarus. "This is only the first of several efforts that TBS and NBC will make under the new contract in an effort to better deliver great races to a very loyal audience."
"The Superstation and our sponsors are very excited to deliver more non-stop coverage than ever before for our NASCAR viewers through this innovation in television advertising," said Quinn.
TBS Superstation will air more than 10 hours of live auto racing next week from Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte, as the network features the UAW-GM Quality 500 Winston Cup race on Sunday, Oct. 8, at 1:05 p.m. (ET). Coverage begins at 12:35 p.m. (ET) with the 30-minute UAW-GM Quality 500 Pre-Race Show.
In addition, the Superstation will air the All Pro/Bumper To Bumper Auto Parts 300 Busch series race on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 1:05 p.m. (ET), followed by NASCAR Happy Hour, a live 90-minute special featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes race coverage, driver and pit crew interviews and a tour of the garages.
TBS Superstation features prime time Winston Cup qualifying for Sunday's race on Winston Cup Pole Night Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 8:05 p.m. (ET).
Play-by-play announcer Allen Bestwick will be joined by color analyst Buddy Baker and expert analyst Dick Berggren in the booth. Ken Squier serves as host, with Mike Massaro, Mike Hogewood and Marty Snider reporting from the pits. Jim Huber will also be in Charlotte for reports and essays.
Turner Sports, Inc. presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide, and is a leader in televised sports programming. With events airing on four networks - TBS Superstation, TNT, Turner South and CNN/Sports Illustrated - Turner Sports' lineup includes the NBA, NASCAR, Wimbledon, Atlanta Braves baseball, Atlanta Thrashers hockey, Atlanta Hawks basketball, professional golf, figure skating, college football, WUSA Soccer and the Goodwill Games.
TBS Superstation is the TV Haven for the Regular Guy. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s flagship entertainment network, the Superstation reaches 80.8 million households and is cable's most-watched network, a position it has held for 23 consecutive years. TBS Superstation offers high-profile original movies and series, blockbuster movies, popular series and sports, all reflecting the attitudes, tastes, values and beliefs of the Regular Guy and the people in his life. The Superstation's Web site is located at TBSsuperstation.com.
This information can also be accessed at pressroom.turner.com.
Note: A Photo is available at URL: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.100400/bb14