Article
'Shows come and go,' and Speed Channel is dropping three of them
By JIM UTTER
The Charlotte Observer
HAMPTON, Ga. - Speed Channel has canceled at least three of its original programs for next season.

"Seven Days," "Beyond the Wheel" and "Reality of Speed" are among the programs that will not be brought back to Speed in 2007, Speed officials confirmed Saturday.

"Television shows come and go with regularity ... that's the nature of the beast. While several shows will not return for 2007, Speed is committed to developing new projects, including multiple NASCAR-themed programs," Speed spokesman Erik Arneson said.

"In addition, look for enhancements to 'NASCAR RaceDay,' 'NASCAR Victory Lane' and the addition of a live audience to the popular and long-running 'Inside Nextel Cup.'"

Speed's "Seven Days" weekly series follows someone who is involved with NASCAR, from Monday through race day. "Beyond the Wheel" showcased “live wire” audio from teams during race weekends, including team radio communications.

"The Reality of Speed" is a reality-based show that showcased Team BooKoo during the 2006 Amp’d Mobil AMA Supercross Series.

Damn, I like Beyond the Wheel. 7 Days is pretty cool too.

Nooooooo! I like Beyond the Wheel. Damn it Speed sucks!

I like Beyond the Wheel, when the drivers I like are on -LOL

7 days was pretty cool sometimes

Speed is shooting themselves in the foot. What happened to all this "take the viewer closer to the action and inside the crews/drivers' world"?

I never watched a whole episode of either so whatever floats their boat.

and really does adding a live audience really do anything for the show? how is Pa and Ma going to increase my NASCAR experience. What it will probably end up being is a bunch of A&E/ Abrocrombie and Fitch/heroin models pimping whatever sponsor buys in that night.

well damnit man I liked 7 Days!

man I was hoping they would get Kasey on 7 days

That's a bunch of crap

INC doesn't need a live audience. Unless I am there. And Brian is still on. And Mikey has bronchitis or something else to make him lose his voice.

Bullshit! I love 7 Days!

And where are we going to get our Kenny fix?!

Dude, Beyond the Wheel is my favorite Speed show!

I'm gonna go firebomb Nascar Images. In the way that I'm only doing it in my head.

I'm going to miss Beyond the Wheel and 7 days :(

Well I think that is just f**king stupid.

:nono SPEED.

geez they are getting rid of all the good ones

blah to them

Column
Cancellation of two TV programs a big loss for NASCAR fans
October 28, 2006
Lee Spencer, Sporting News

I have always been a TV and radio junkie. My freshman comp paper offered an explanation of Arbitron and Nielsen ratings -- two companies that analyze the number of households dialed into specific radio or TV programming at a given time.

Although media forms have changed dramatically in the last 25 years, networks still rely on ratings for a number of determinants but primarily the popularity of shows and whether a program remains in the line-up. Despite the success of Beyond the Wheel last year and the fact that the show earned Speed channel its first Emmy nomination, the network decided to can both BTW and 7 Days. With the slightest effort of promoting or cross-promoting these programs on Speed, I have to believe that BTW and 7 Days would have survived.

When talking about up-close-and-personal, these two shows give fans a more in-depth view of any sports programming on the air. The analysis from drivers and crew chiefs on BTW enhance the race highlights to a level that's never been accomplished before. Where else can sports fans get in the head of competitors as they describe why certain decisions were made throughout the course of an event? BTW was not only entertaining, it was informative.

I can speak of the accuracy of 7 Days first hand, considering that I was one of the first profiles on the show. My own mother said, "I never knew how much you had going in one week." After watching that screening of the episode, she understood. So did the dozens of fans and aspiring writers than contacted me following the airing.

Having worked with people from NASCAR Images, the show's production company, I had no problem offering the crew total access. From what I gathered, watching other installments every subject from Richard Childress, to Shana Mayfield to Peter Gellen was every bit as accommodating.

This is why NASCAR has become as popular as it is today. Accessibility in the garages is more generous than journalists find in any locker room or clubhouse across the country. BTW and 7 Days allowed the fans to take a weekly walk on the wild side with those of us in NASCAR nation. Sadly, that will be no more.

That sucks!

beyond the wheel is my favorite nascar show! that makes me so mad.... :(

seriously that sucks... what are they thinking? GRRRR

That's effin retarded!! Why take away good shows that everyone looked forward to watching?

That sucks!

UGH! this is sad sad news to me! i loved those shows. like its been said they were the fans chance!

Was it just me or did Despain say something on INC Monday about Brian missing the Series Finale or did he say Season Finale?

he said he'd miss the season finale of the show.

Ummm...I thought ESPN was going to be doing a show like 7 Days. I don't want to go look it up, but I am pretty sure they are going to have a new show to do behind the scenes type stuff.

Oh, and someone needs to find an email address for speedtv and we need to throw a fit lol!

ESPN2 is going to have a show like NASCAR Drivers 360. The first episode airs tommorrow night at 10pm actually! :na