The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) announced the formation of the NASCAR Media Group (NMG). The move consolidates the rights and interests of NASCAR Images and NASCAR Digital Entertainment into a single entity that will develop, produce and distribute a broad range of programming and content for NASCAR fans. Under the new structure, the NMG is positioned to provide a range of new services to its media partners and to develop new content platforms that will expand the reach of the sport and bring additional value to its partners.
NASCAR Media Group will be a rights management, content licensing, distribution and entertainment company designed to better enhance the fan experience.
"The development of the NASCAR Media Group will enhance our commitment to the fans and the entire industry in one integrated unit," said Paul Brooks, president of NASCAR Media Group. "We will continue to work aggressively with the our media partners covering NASCAR and the entertainment industry to provide the highest quality media content, and develop new opportunities to bring the most exciting elements of NASCAR directly to our fans."
NASCAR plans to maximize its content production across NASCAR.COM and other new media platforms and expand its ties to the entertainment community. Previous projects developed by these functions at NASCAR include cutting edge new media platforms NASCAR Hotpass on DIRECTV, Sprint Fan View and NASCAR.COM Track Pass, along with award-winning television programs and theatrical releases, such as the acclaimed biopic "DALE", "NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience" and "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby."
A new state-of-the-art facility is currently under construction as part of the NASCAR Plaza and NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte and will be completed in 2009. The NASCAR Plaza will provide the NASCAR Media Group's Charlotte-based office with more than 100,000 square feet of advanced, full service multimedia production facilities, as well as a 24/7 News Center to service media and news organizations by providing a broad range of content services covering all aspects of the sport.
Paul Brooks will serve as president of NASCAR Media Group, while continuing his role as senior vice president, NASCAR based in Charlotte, N.C. Jay Abraham will serve as chief operating officer of the NASCAR Media Group and vice president for new media and content for NASCAR. His responsibilities include overseeing NASCAR Media Group's new production facility, the development and distribution of new programming & content, as well as managing NASCAR's partnerships with Turner Sports Interactive, DIRECTV, MRN, PRN, IMS Radio and Sirius.
Robbie Weiss will serve as vice president of broadcasting for the NASCAR Media Group and be responsible for managing NASCAR's worldwide broadcast rights and partnerships with FOX, TNT, ESPN, ABC, SPEED and HDNET. Weiss will also continue to oversee NASCAR's international business. A new position of vice president of entertainment and marketing for both NASCAR and the NASCAR Media Group will be based in Los Angeles and report to NASCAR Chief Marketing Officer Steve Phelps. This position will ensure the integration of entertainment strategy and related marketing initiatives for both NASCAR and the NASCAR Media Group. Marc Jenkins is being named managing director, business operations and strategy for NASCAR's Charlotte office and the NASCAR Media Group.
The NASCAR Media Group will be based in Charlotte, N.C., with offices in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Los Angeles. NASCAR was the first sports sanctioning body to establish an office in Los Angeles, which is charged with injecting the sport into mainstream media through relationships with film, television and music industries.
(Source: restrictorplatethis.com)
