Don't forget... set your DVR's for this Friday at 8 pm!!

[camcojb]

http://lateral-g.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/OUSCI_6-900x600.jpg (http://lateral-g.net/set-your-dvrs-optima-ultimate-street-car-invitational-to-air-on-mavtv-friday-night/)


The final episode covering the USCA Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational is airing this Friday night at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time on MavTV. I’ve attended every Optima final except the very first year, and this was the best year yet. There was everything from muscle cars to imports, pre-50’s to late models. They also had side-by-side racing on the road course, looked much more like a real race. If you like seeing all types of street cars compete on the track you do not want to miss this.

http://lateral-g.net/set-your-dvrs-optima-ultimate-street-car-invitational-to-air-on-mavtv-friday-night/

[Sieg]

Why does everybody keep reminding me I don't get MavTV? :D :bang:

[camcojb]

Why does everybody keep reminding me I don't get MavTV? :D :bang:
Head on down... :)

[Jr]

Why does everybody keep reminding me I don't get MavTV? :D :bang:

Agree. Mav tv and AT&T need to work out a deal.

[ccracin]

Jody,

Since it seems a large portion of our community does not get MAVTV (including me) do you think there is a chance we could get a copy of the episode after it airs that could be linked on the site? Just a thought. Thanks!

[camcojb]

Jody,

Since it seems a large portion of our community does not get MAVTV (including me) do you think there is a chance we could get a copy of the episode after it airs that could be linked on the site? Just a thought. Thanks!
If it's available I will definitely post up that info.

[Spiffav8]

Why does everybody keep reminding me I don't get MavTV? :D :bang:

You're not alone.

[camcojb]

Why does everybody keep reminding me I don't get MavTV? :D :bang:

Agree. Mav tv and AT&T need to work out a deal.

You're not alone.
I'm told they are really working on expanding coverage for next year. :thumbsup:

[Sieg]

I'm told they are really working on expanding coverage for next year. :thumbsup:
Comcast couldn't pull their head out of their azz with the help of a Sikorsky Sky Crane.......too much vacuum to overcome. :)

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4086/4839688687_69170bf8d8_z.jpg

[65 347]

Why does everybody keep reminding me I don't get MavTV? :D :bang:

I thought I was the only one missing out.

Mike

[syborg tt]

Anyone want to record this a burn a DVD and share it ?


Marty-MJ
www.garagescene.net

[Sieg]

I thought I was the only one missing out.

Mike

I've submitted numerous requests to Comcast to add MavTV.......I think they go to the same place as my votes. :secret:

[formula88]

Can't get it here either.

Jody,

Since it seems a large portion of our community does not get MAVTV (including me) do you think there is a chance we could get a copy of the episode after it airs that could be linked on the site? Just a thought. Thanks!

Great idea.:idea:

[syborg tt]

I've submitted numerous requests to Comcast to add MavTV.......I think they go to the same place as my votes. :secret:


Agreed


Marty-MJ
www.garagescene.net

[syborg tt]

However I'm at the point where I'm irritated with MavTV and Optima.


Marty-MJ
www.garagescene.net

[TAC]

Cant get MavTV here in British Columbia either. Really sucks because Speed just has a bunch of crap now.

[pokey64]

Upgraded our Dish DVR yesterday and also added a channel pack that includes Mav. Got the timer set.

[Rod P]

I sure hope that the show reaches more people next year! I am happy to say that MAV TV reported we were their #1 show this season and we will be back next season! :flashie:

Thanks to all who watch and support these events and I hope to see many more of you racing next season with us

http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx162/crazyshopmonkey/2014%20events/sema%202014/1780993_10152865298089847_699829903814280129_o_zps 4da2c3c1.jpg

[OptimaJim]

As always, we appreciate everyone's feedback and understand your frustration if your provider doesn't offer MAVTV. I go to my dad's house to watch the episodes on DirecTV, because I have Uverse at home. If I didn't have so many issues with Time Warner Cable previously, I'd have simply switched back to them by now.

There is a link on the MAVTV site (http://www.mavtv.com/index.php?option=com_proforms&view=form&jid=1&Itemid=157&phpMyAdmin=5b59289936a6dec1432bb0637e74be69), where you can demand MAVTV from your current provider and each provider generally has a feedback section as well.

I think those have limited impact, because your request turns into a number. Fortunately, Al Gore's Internet offers us other avenues to pursue, which I have done to probably an unhealthy level. From first-hand experience, I know corporations probably put too much weight at times into what is being said in social media about their brand/product, etc...

The louder the voice, the more it resonates. For whatever reason, more than 3,000 people have decided to follow me on Twitter, which isn't exactly Ashton Kutcher-like in size, but definitely far larger than the typical user. I have voiced my concerns there several times and Uverse does respond with their generic fill out a survey response, to which I angrily reply. Dish also trolls Twitter for angry customers of competitors, with the ladies there offering me sweetheart deals to switch.

All of these companies also seem almost too forthcoming with sharing information about who their executives are and what they do. J Christopher Lauricella (https://twitter.com/JCLauricella) is the decision-maker at Uverse, Jennifer Gaiski (https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=101686622&goback=) is the point person at Comcast (MAVTV is offered in some of their markets) and the list goes on and on, with most of the folks who have "Content Acquisition" or something like that in their titles, being key decision-makers on which networks providers carry. Even if their e-mails aren't visible, probably too many of them can be found in a wide variety of social media channels, especially LinkedIn, where I have also reached out to them with my request for more MAVTV.

Just the fact that I've posted all of those company names on this forum has probably resulted in this thread showing up in multiple monitoring reports for those providers and they are all monitoring conversations, even if they don't actively participate. MAVTV knows who all the key decision-makers are with every provider, but their hands are somewhat tied, because they don't want to upset the wrong people with an onslaught of angry requests that don't come through the "proper channels" by sharing those names with people who want to see their programming changed.

The bottom line is that it all costs a lot of money. It costs a lot to produce the shows, to sponsor the shows, to air the shows, etc... Network carrier agreements prohibit the shows from simply being posted online somewhere for people to watch at their leisure (and FF through commercials) at least anytime soon, but we are working on that.

I remember reading a post on FB earlier this year from Mike Musto about how Big Muscle had to go pay-per-view, just to cover expenses & it looks like NBC Sports picked up /Drive so most of that content will now be shown exclusively to broadcast audiences and not be posted online anymore. The stuff all costs money and I understand the desire to just have it conveniently available to watch online, but unless advertisers and businesses can make a good business case for such a model, they won't do it and people will have to watch it through traditional channels.

If we were able to get the episodes online, how much would you be willing to pay to watch each episode or a season-long subscription?

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries

[Ron in SoCal]

If we were able to get the episodes online, how much would you be willing to pay to watch each episode or a season-long subscription?

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries

Jim that model has already been worked out on Amazon Prime, albeit those are geared toward a wider audience with hit shows. Something like $3 an episode or $18 a season.

[OptimaJim]

I'm not sure that exact price range would necessarily work on our end, but would that be a range you'd be willing to pay?

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries

[SSLance]

I paid $6.95 a month to add the MAV TV channel to my service...just to watch the Search for the Ultimate Street Car Series. When did they start, in August? So $28.00 to watch 12 episodes, little over $2.00 each.

If I didn't have access to that channel package, I'd probably pay $4.99 each to watch them???

Hard to say since I have access, I might be willing to pay more if I did not already have access. What do most PPV movies cost, $3.99 each?

[GrabberGT]

I'm not sure that exact price range would necessarily work on our end, but would that be a range you'd be willing to pay?

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries


I'd pay that to watch the season. Especially if it means I get it in HD. For whatever reason, Direct TV doesnt broadcast it in HD. Makes watching it on my big screen kind of painful.

[glassman]

I'd pay that to watch the season. Especially if it means I get it in HD. For whatever reason, Direct TV doesnt broadcast it in HD. Makes watching it on my big screen kind of painful.


Mine too, my guess is Mavtv doesn't have the resources (doesn't want to payy the extra $$) or experience for the running of the HD equipment (not the camera guys in the field, but rather the distribution to the providers?)

Somebody else know why?

[GregWeld]

The whole thing would be so much more interesting, and perhaps FAR BIGGER, if one of the big outfits like Discovery / History etc would make it a series like they do with the crab boats or Alaska gold etc...

They could pick a few people to follow along all year - like the HellFire build - or HellFish - or the Ridler car and a couple of the other guys.... and we could watch the trials and tribulations of car prep / build. / break and repair or improve... and then follow them when they race into the events.... and then the big final.

I think that type of format - where it becomes a HUMAN story over a RACING story would really broaden the audience. When you think about it -- did you wake up one day and decide you wanted to watch Ice Road Truckers -- or guys sorting crabs in the Bering Sea? HELL NO.... but it becomes about the people and their lives and they just suck you in.

[OptimaJim]

I appreciate the feedback on pricing. Everything shot for the series and everything MAV broadcasts is in HD. It's up to the individual providers as to whether or not they want to offer the channel to their customers in HD. I think Dish does, but I'm not positive. Greg, if you know anyone in content acquisition or programming at Discovery/History, by all means pitch the episode to them :)

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries

[GregWeld]

You know --- come to think about it --- the guy that started / owns Discovery channel IS a car guy... and is the one that was putting together the museum in Colorado.


http://www.gatewayautomuseum.com


Maybe Lillard or somebody knows him.







I appreciate the feedback on pricing. Everything shot for the series and everything MAV broadcasts is in HD. It's up to the individual providers as to whether or not they want to offer the channel to their customers in HD. I think Dish does, but I'm not positive. Greg, if you know anyone in content acquisition or programming at Discovery/History, by all means pitch the episode to them :)

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries

[GregWeld]

John S. Hendricks

Founder and Chairman Discovery Communications, Inc.


John S. Hendricks is the Founder and Chairman of Discovery Communications, the leading global real-world media and entertainment company. Hendricks created the Discovery Channel in 1982 as the first cable network in the United States designed to provide high quality documentary programming enabling people to explore their world and satisfy their natural curiosity.
Hendricks has been the driving force behind Discovery’s dramatic growth including the expansion of Discovery Communications from its core property, the Discovery Channel, to current global operations in more than 160 countries with 1.3 billion total subscribers. Under Hendricks’ leadership, Discovery’s stable of networks now encompass over 100 networks of distinctive programming representing 27 entertainment brands including TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids and Discovery Times Channel. Discovery’s other properties consist of Discovery Education and Discovery Commerce, which operates 116 Discovery Channel Stores.


AND HE'S A CAR GUY!!!

[GregWeld]

There's such good stories to be told ---- The Hobaughs 30 year Father and Son racing of the Corvette... Danny Popps decades with his Corvette... it could go on and on and really be interesting to more people than just "us".

[OptimaJim]

Greg, most of us know who Mr. Hendricks is, but there is a difference between knowing of someone and knowing someone. For instance, I know of Mr. Hendricks and his son, Andrew, because Optima invited Pratt & Miller to run the Apollo Camaro they built for Hendricks a few years ago in the OUSCI. Unfortunately, the Hendricks wanted Andrew, who is a professional race car driver (http://andrewhendricks.com/about/), to drive the car in competiton, which would be against the rules. When that wasn't allowed, they declined the invitation.

Should Optima have broken the rules for a guy who founded a TV network that is now publicly traded (he owns less than 1% of outstanding shares) and is no longer on the management team, in the hope that he might fall in love with the event/series and have some programming influence with the network?

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries

[Chad-1stGen]

I'm lucky enough that my Dad has MavTV and was able to DVR some of the Optima coverage.

I've been able to watch the Fontana event and the Vegas finale (just this past Saturday).

While I'm excited this event exists and is getting media coverage it just doesn't grab me at all.

1) I agree big time with Greg that more about the people would be great. Their are some random interview clips thrown in but if I didn't know that person already or they didn't drive a car like my own I had a hard time caring. I would love to hear more about the people that overcame huge challenges to be there. The only thing that stood out to me was the 2nd place finisher who blew his motor but still came in 2nd and was a hair away from 1st.

2) In car video and data! That makes F1 and NASCAR a lot more fun to watch and so it would make these events.

3) I was actually pretty annoyed trying to watch the Vegas autocross and speed stop because they cuts were so close to the cars that you infrequently got a sense for how they were doing overall or against the next lane over. I wish they showed more distance shots with the finishes so the viewer could see how the cars stacked up. It would be awesome if their could be a running stopwatch in the lower left hand corner with each set of cars and have it freeze a few seconds with the finish. I ended up fast forwarding through a lot of these sections so I could watch the road course portion.

4) My 7 year old niece was told me "this is boring" while watching the finale and insisted we watch the Nightmare before Christmas instead ha ha (we didn't watch it until the Vegas show ended).

[GregWeld]

Greg, most of us know who Mr. Hendricks is, but there is a difference between knowing of someone and knowing someone. For instance, I know of Mr. Hendricks and his son, Andrew, because Optima invited Pratt & Miller to run the Apollo Camaro they built for Hendricks a few years ago in the OUSCI. Unfortunately, the Hendricks wanted Andrew, who is a professional race car driver (http://andrewhendricks.com/about/), to drive the car in competiton, which would be against the rules. When that wasn't allowed, they declined the invitation.

Should Optima have broken the rules for a guy who founded a TV network that is now publicly traded (he owns less than 1% of outstanding shares) and is no longer on the management team, in the hope that he might fall in love with the event/series and have some programming influence with the network?

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries




The short response is - Hell yes break the rules - especially when it COULD benefit everyone involved. You just spell out the rules and make an "exception" the exception is that he couldn't win -- he'd just be a sponsor/pro/exhibition(ist). LOL But yes -- I would have tried any way possible to be "inclusive" provided nobody got "hurt" in the process. It's just good business...

When people get pissed about stuff like that is when the organizer would try to downplay it or talk it off... that's just dirty and angers people. But done right - yeah I think most would understand the reasoning provided it's handled properly.

[GregWeld]

The fact that Hendricks only owns 1% of the outstanding stock isn't really very important. Trust me - the guy knows who to call if he'd like to see something "happen".

We owned 1% of Isilon Systems when it was sold for 2.25 BILLION in 2010...we now own none... I can tell you we still know who to call if we need something. LOL

[modernbeat]

...3) I was actually pretty annoyed trying to watch the Vegas autocross and speed stop because they cuts were so close to the cars that you infrequently got a sense for how they were doing overall or against the next lane over. I wish they showed more distance shots with the finishes so the viewer could see how the cars stacked up. It would be awesome if their could be a running stopwatch in the lower left hand corner with each set of cars and have it freeze a few seconds with the finish...

But why? It didn't matter who was further out front in the autocross, as we weren't competing head-to-head. It was just two timed courses and the clock didn't start until you crossed your side's trip light. This was not timed like drag racing.

[Chad-1stGen]

But why? It didn't matter who was further out front in the autocross, as we weren't competing head-to-head. It was just two timed courses and the clock didn't start until you crossed your side's trip light. This was not timed like drag racing.

Because this is how they spun it on the show. The narration made it all about the competition between the two cars on track but the video was boring.

[OptimaJim]

Well, we try to be as accommodating as we can and we've had several exhibition cars run over the years with professional drivers, but that isn't good enough for everyone. I am glad to hear you're in favor of breaking the rules though. We get a lot of feedback from folks who don't want the rules broken for anyone or anything, so I now have a thread to refer them to for further debate. Knowing of someone, who knows someone, who is in a position to make a significant change in the direction of a large corporation is a long ways away from having a significant change made. If “ifs” and “buts” were candy and nuts, oh what a Christmas we'd have.

Chad & Jason, we appreciate your feedback.

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries

[SSLance]

I lean the other way Jim, when I saw a car\driver in a similar situation start to show up in the pictures from this year's events my first thought was "How did he get into this event?". It made more sense when I found out later he was in the exhibition class. I have met him, raced against him and like him...and his sponsor is overall good for the sport...but rules is rules.

[GregWeld]

Well, we try to be as accommodating as we can and we've had several exhibition cars run over the years with professional drivers, but that isn't good enough for everyone. I am glad to hear you're in favor of breaking the rules though. We get a lot of feedback from folks who don't want the rules broken for anyone or anything, so I now have a thread to refer them to for further debate. Knowing of someone, who knows someone, who is in a position to make a significant change in the direction of a large corporation is a long ways away from having a significant change made. If “ifs” and “buts” were candy and nuts, oh what a Christmas we'd have.

Chad & Jason, we appreciate your feedback.

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries




Totally agree Jim --- It's just not that easy. But poking and probing every angle is just the way my brain functions. LOL


BTW --- Everyone involved in this event does one hell of a great job, and the series, and this particular event have come a long long way. My hats off to all!

[Finch]

The short response is - Hell yes break the rules - especially when it COULD benefit everyone involved. You just spell out the rules and make an "exception" the exception is that he couldn't win -- he'd just be a sponsor/pro/exhibition(ist). LOL But yes -- I would have tried any way possible to be "inclusive" provided nobody got "hurt" in the process. It's just good business...

When people get pissed about stuff like that is when the organizer would try to downplay it or talk it off... that's just dirty and angers people. But done right - yeah I think most would understand the reasoning provided it's handled properly.

I agree with Greg on this one, anytime you can get people at that level to come and play with you is a good thing for all.

John and Andrew are big time car people, and I will be up at their resort in Feb playing in the dirt. I have not heard if John will be there but Andrew should be with us having fun which is what this is all about.

Check out this short clip on the playground we will be at. Scoll down and the video is at the bottom of the page.

http://www.gatewaycanyons.com/driven-experiences.aspx#video

[Silverstreak]

FWIW, dish does carry the Optima show in HD. I am sure there is a reason, but I don't know why anyone would watch cable when you can have dish or direct tv?

Jeff

[OptimaJim]

Jeff, I've had DirecTV and was frustrated with service outages during bad weather/heavy clouds, which seemed to happen a lot (I lived in Seattle at the time). I'm with Uverse right now and couldn't be happier with the price and service, except that they don't offer MAVTV. I had Time Warner Cable before that and had regular outages and Internet connection issues. I also paid more for fewer channels than I'm paying with Uverse. MAVTV offers their programming to all carriers in HD at no extra cost. It's up to the provider as to whether or not they want to offer it to subscribers in HD. If someone's provider doesn't offer MAVTV, they can demand it here (http://www.mavtv.com/index.php?option=com_proforms&view=form&jid=1&Itemid=157&phpMyAdmin=5b59289936a6dec1432bb0637e74be69).

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries

[96z28ss]

I would of been nice to negotiate a move to discovery velocity channel. When Speed channel ended.
Barrett Jackson will now be on discovery channel. Last year was a mess with certain days and time being on different channels. Mad tv is just too limited.

Also a show based on racer struggle, would have to be a reality show. The structure would have to completely change. The driver would have to sign on to do a min of events and be in a certain amount of episodes.

[skooli]

So can we watch anywhere on the interweb? Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime, iTUNES...?

[OptimaJim]

We're actively working on some online possibilities, but need to get through the network's exclusivity period as well (MAVTV will be re-airing episodes more than three dozen times next month alone)

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries