
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 26, 1994                   TAG: 9404260090
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE                                LENGTH: Medium

MARTINSVILLE REJECTS 5-YEAR OFFER FROM ESPN

THE SPEEDWAY will keep its options open concerning its television future.

Martinsville Speedway has turned down an offer by ESPN to extend the track's television contract for Winston Cup racing for another five years.

The five-year ESPN-Martinsville contract runs through the two 1995 Winston Cup races. Speedway president Clay Campbell said Sunday that Martinsville has decided to wait on further renewal negotiations because of the potential for greater revenue.

"Things are changing pretty quick in NASCAR with TV," said Campbell during the Hanes 500. "There's more competition for rights and there seems to be more money coming in. We want to make sure we don't jump too quickly."

Martinsville, which was the last Winston Cup stop to allow live telecasts, is receiving $150,000 for each of this year's Winston Cup events from ESPN. That network will pay $175,000 for the Martinsville races next year.

The track has a contract with The Nashville Network for its two Busch Grand National weekend shows. TNN, since moving into Winston Cup coverage in 1992, has created competition for rights and driven up rights fees.

Campbell said Martinsville cannot discuss Winston Cup rights with TNN until after its ESPN contract expires and the incumbent gets an exclusive negotiating period. ESPN also has the right of refusal to match any other financial bid.

He said it isn't likely that Martinsville will make a new TV deal until after the Goody's 500 in September 1995. This year, ESPN is televising 14 Winston Cup races. TNN has eight.

Bristol International Raceway renewed with ESPN through 2000. Although Campbell said ESPN's offer with an escalating rights fee was for a "significant" hike, NASCAR rights in five years might be worth considerably more than any long-term deal made now would pay.

Another potential player in NASCAR is CBS Sports, which could add to its three-race schedule to fill a void left by the loss of NFL and baseball programming.

"It looks like things are finally going to start improving in the TV money NASCAR tracks are getting," Campbell said. "We've been paid nowhere near what the races are worth. Even the networks tell us the ratings are good. The rights fees don't reflect that."

Keywords:
AUTO RACING

by CNB