| |
|---|---|
| Branding | SETN |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Affiliations | See list ofstations |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Jim Wiglesworth |
| History | |
First air date | 1984 (1984) |
Last air date | 1988 (1988) |
Special Events Television Network (SETN) is the name of a defunctsyndicated television package that broadcasttape delayedNASCAR races from1984 to1988. SETN aired races (typically fromMartinsville andPocono as well as fromRockingham,Charlotte,Richmond andDaytona 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 ofInternational Hot Rod Association events.[1]
SETN was headed by Jim Wiglesworth (father ofSurvivor: Borneo runner up Kelly Wiglesworth) out ofGreensboro, North Carolina. SETN was underfunded, and since profits were slim, so were rights fees. Ultimately, the growing popularity of racing onESPN 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 theFinancial News Network'sScore weekend sports service,[2] and Martinsville, the last holdout against live television rights, signed an ESPN deal for its fall race.[3]
After SETN folded, one Pocono race a year was produced by Jim Wiglesworth on pay-per-view forViewer's Choice (now In Demand) from1988 to1990. 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.