FCC Chair Kevin Martin Named "Porker Of The Month" For $355K NASCAR Sponsorhip

TVWeek:

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin is being named "Porker of the Month" by a government watchdog group thanks to the FCC's $355,000 sponsorship of a NASCAR car to promote the digital TV transition.

Citizens Against Government Waste today suggested the decision demonstrated "poor judgment" and questioned whether Mr. Martin adequately consulted other FCC commissioners before approving the sponsorship.

"It is one thing to have an ad on television about the digital transition, but who is going to see that ad on a racing car?" said Tom Schatz, the group's president. "I also don't know that the intended audience [for digital transition messages] would be watching a NASCAR race. It's a completely ineffective use of tax dollars that raises lots of questions."

Read the whole story: TVWeek

Comments

[maxfax]

Why was this change over necessary?

What happens when their are emergencies and no electricity? Will a battery operated tv work?

[sparkey]

Follow the money. Some company is going to get a lot of money for the conversion boxes that convert analog to digital. I don't know who makes the boxes, but I suspect that they are closely associated with someone at the FCC and to the companies who make the plasma and lcd screens for the tv's that are out now. No more tube type. Next time I'm in Chinamart, I'll look at the bottom of the converter box for the manufacturer.

[DuPageDem]

Martin has been laying groundwork for elected office for some time, in ways that indicate he dreams of becoming the US version of Italian governement/media dictator Silvio Berlusconi. This training under Cheney was a good start, but he's far more PR savy than Dick.

[BushHatr]

I may be a Dem., but this accusation is off base. My take ... The FCC is under direction to make this Digital conversion by Feb. 17. It affects millions of households that run antennas (still). Last month, the FCC did a test conversion in the Wilmington, NC area, but no one really had been effectively made aware of the test. Screens went to snow, and local "mayhem" ensued as no one with an antenna knew what the hell was going on. So they (FCC) had to find a more effective medium, and saw that NASCAR's last few races were on BROADCAST TV (ABC). They simply found a discounted opportunity to use this medium to reach a mass audience and create a viral cause marketing message. NASCAR probably directed them to a team that had a few race sponsorships available - Yates. Why is this different from all the TV commercials they are running currently and other forms of advertising they are spending (already approved and budgeted) ad dollars on? I think this hit job is because such Washington watch dog groups simply view NASCAR as right wing and redneck - which is probably correct to a small degree. But me and my Dem friends are huge fans and love the sport. Get off the FCC's back. I'm glad to see a respected team like that get support and at the same time make a difference in the world. The money was effectively spent.

[Danny]

huh ... is Kevin Martin your cousin, BushHtr? Thou protesteth too much. There are many reasons to award the FCC Chairman a derogatory award, but the NASCAR "earmark" is the least of them.

[geobushono]

Socialism for the rightys.

[BushHatr]

Turtle ... You are on target in your analysis. I totally agree. That money was well spent and Martin should have no scrutiny when people look at the effectiveness of the mass reach.

[TurtleGuy]

The DTV transition is going to be a colossal mess for the FCC. Rural TV viewers will be affected the most. If you live more than 30 miles from the transmission tower, there's a pretty good chance you won't be able to get local major network TV over the air anymore. I'm 30 miles from Boston, and barely pick anything up, even with a large antenna and heavily boosted signal.

NASCAR caters to the rural crowd. There is still tons of misinformation out there about what is needed and what is not to continue to get over the air TV. It's better for the FCC to pay to sponsor a car, and hit millions of eyes, than blindly buy TV air time hoping to get to the most viewers. How many TV ads would 335K buy anyway? A small handful? What's a typical NASCAR sunday afternoon TV viewing crowd?

Many rural viewers in the south rely on satellite TV, not much if any cable around. So many are using antennas to get their local news and major TV networks. Sounds like picture perfect marketing to me, so I have no idea where that comment in the article comes from.

[Bettysdad]

Just check out who owns the racing team, with GOP contributors.

[edva]

what's so surprising? I thought it was the FCC head's job to screw the public, waste our money, and let our publicly-owned airwaves be used to demean and degrade our society.....

[LeeCalif]

Buying NASCAR vote.

Martin is former deputy for Cheney. Two pigs in a pod.

[EndangeredJackalope]

This is indefensible.

It is in NASCAR's interest (as well as the channels they broadcast on) to promote the digital switch-over (less potential viewers = less ratings and ad revenue.)

Digital TV allows broadcasters to more accurately track viewership than antenna usage as well. Overall, digital promotion = sustained viewership, and better data about viewership.

This is a no-brainer. ESPN, ABC, CBS, etc have a big financial incentive to promote, free of charge. That's why you see your local anchor and Brian Williams talking about it frequently.

Considering that Martin is certainly out of a job if Obama wins, its most likely that he's greasing palms with taxpayer money in the hopes of getting a NASCAR/Yates Racing Officership, or at the very least, support from them any potential public office bid.

This guy sucks.

[rextrek]

...he sucks alright-and thats probably how he got the job!

[kimk3]

Oh, there are so many places Mr. Martin can get a job after the sterling job he's done for all the big telecoms...

[demfriend]

And this guy got his fab job how? Is he another Bush crony or is he a friend of a friend who donates heavy GOP?

[EndangeredJackalope]

He's a Bushie - he pushed for all the local ownership deregulation after Colin Powell's son was roasted alive by the public (repeatedly) for trying to push the issue.

[blood1]

Has this watchdog group reported on the $34million for the Alask Natiave Education Equity Program? It is currently listed on the Earmark.org website, but there is no sponser listed.

[bikerdude]

I'm sure this folly will nail him a great position in the new Obama administration. I hear he's trying to learn how to say "do you want fries with that" in Spanish...

[grizhead63]

First, all of these Republikkanthugs must go. Secondly, the new Department of Justice must bring them all to justice AND recover all the taxpayers money they have stolenand or misappropriated.

No difference between druglordsand some of these guys except mobstersaren't in public office betraying the public trust.

[proveit2me]

The Fierce Urgency of Sow

[kae]

"Mr. Schatz said some of the NASCAR races will be in North Carolina, where it has been speculated that Mr. Martin might eventually run for political office."

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I dare this Bush piece to try running for office in this country