Special Events Television Network (SETN) is the name of a defunct syndicated television package that broadcast tape delayed NASCAR races from 1984 to 1988. SETN aired races (typically from Martinsville and Pocono as well as from Rockingham, Charlotte, Richmond and Daytona for good measure) that didn't have live television deals at the time. The broadcasts were aired on tape delay because certain promoters still feared that live telecasts would hurt their gate. SETN also sold VHS videos of some races it carried, with additional footage not seen on TV. In addition to its stock car racing, the network produced twelve telecasts of International Hot Rod Association events.
SETN was headed by Jim Wiglesworth (father of Survivor: Borneo runner up Kelly Wiglesworth) out of Greensboro, North Carolina. SETN was underfunded, and since profits were slim, so were rights fees. Ultimately, the growing popularity of racing on ESPN as well as the overall lack of cash flow drove them out of the business. SETN ceased operations in June 1988; the first Pocono race that year was seen on the Financial News Network's Score weekend sports service, and Martinsville, the last holdout against live television rights, signed an ESPN deal for its fall race.
After SETN folded, one Pocono race a year was produced by Jim Wiglesworth on pay-per-view for Viewer's Choice (now In Demand) from 1988 to 1990. They were not a huge success, as fans were reluctant to pay for what they could see last week for free. The Viewer's Choice shows were noteworthy in that they premiered viewer phone-in questions during the races.
Commentators Lap-by-lap Dave Despain Eli Gold Mike Joy
Color commentary Dick Berggren Benny Parsons Ron Bouchard Phil Parsons Jerry Punch
Pit road Bob Heiss Pat Patterson
Stations CityStationAtlantaWVEU 69BaltimoreWBFF 45Birmingham WVTM 13BostonWSBK 38Buffalo WKBW 7Burlington WVNY 22CharlotteWBTV 3ChicagoWGN 9CincinnatiWKRC 12ColumbiaWOLO 25ColumbusWTVN 6ClevelandWUAB 43Dallas/Fort WorthKTVT 11DaytonWHIO 7DenverKWGN 2Des MoinesKDSM 17DetroitWGPR 62 Fort WayneWFFT 55GreensboroWXII 12Hartford/New HavenWVIT 30HoustonKHOU 11KHTV 39IndianapolisWTTV 4Kansas CityKCTV 5Las VegasKLAS 8Los Angeles KTTV 11KHJ 9LouisvilleWDRB 41MemphisWPTY 24WMC 5Miami/Fort LauderdaleWPLG 10MilwaukeeWITI 6Minneapolis/St. PaulKMSP 9New OrleansWGNO 26New York CityWOR 9NorfolkWAVY 10Oklahoma CityKOKH 25PhiladelphiaWTAF 29WGBS 57PhoenixKNXV 15PittsburghWPGH 53ProvidenceWLNE 6Raleigh/DurhamWTVD 11RichmondWXEX 8RochesterWOKR 13SacramentoKTXL 40Salt Lake CityKSL 5San DiegoKTTY 69San Francisco/OaklandKTVU 2Seattle/TacomaKSTW 11SpringfieldWWLP 22St. LouisKDNL 30Tampa/St. PetersburgWTOG 44Washington, D.C.WDCA 20West Palm BeachWTVX 34
References
External links Google Search - Timeline Nascar Racing on TV in the 80s--SETN