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SPEED Channel, based in Charlotte , was launched on New Year's Day 1996 , by Roger Werner, as SpeedVision. The network is primarily devoted to things that have four (or two) wheels, a motor, and move fast. Or it can just have 4 wheels and move fast. Programming on the network includes live Formula One Racing , NASCAR -related shows, how-to programming, Antique Car Shows , less-popular racing series, a weekly news show, call-in shows, and even reality shows. Bobsledding , Luge , and Skeleton events are shown during the Winter months. The network is also the exclusive United States Broadcaster of the 24 Hours Of Daytona , 24 Hours Of Le Mans , and formerly the Dakar Rally until losing the rights to that event to OLN for 2005 . Beginning in 2007 , SPEED will be the exclusive home to the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series ' All-Star race, the Nextel All-Star Challenge . {Link without Title} In February 2002 , SpeedVision became known as SPEED Channel after being bought by Rupert Murdoch 's News Corporation in order to be a 24 hour NASCAR network. This plan was ultimately shelved due to lack of quality NASCAR programming the network could attain at the time. Since News Corp.'s FOX Network had a year-old relationship as a NASCAR broadcaster, many NASCAR shows began airing on SPEED Channel, a move that was unpopular with some of the network's viewers. However, with the increased NASCAR programming, viewership is at all-time highs, with the channel being added to many regular cable lineups. In its nearly four-year existence under its new name, SPEED has made an effort to show more live races. In 2002 and 2003 , SPEED, along with CBS , was one of America's two networks showing Champ Car racing. In 2006 , SPEED will air 8 Champ Car races, alongside CBS and NBC , who will broadcast 7 races combined, with 4 on CBS and 3 on NBC. In February 2003, SPEED also began showing live NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racing. In fact, the network's coverage of the Truck Series' Florida Dodge Dealers 250 for February 18 , 2005 scored a Nielsen Rating of 2.1, the highest-rated program the network has ever had. Another SPEED staple is '' WindTunnel With Dave Despain '', a live call-in show that has been on the network since February 2003. Since its inception in 1996, there has been a racing series named after the network-the SPEED World Challenge , formerly named, not surprisingly, the SpeedVision World Challenge. SPEED also runs a very short segment during its commercial breaks, titled, "My First Car", in which celebrities like Ron Howard , Pierce Brosnan , and George Lucas (who has a great love for Fiat ) and SPEED Channel viewers talk about the first set of wheels they ever drove. SPEED has recently made news with the firing of network president . However, NASCAR programming continues to draw viewers to the network. Some SPEED viewers have suggested a second channel for non-NASCAR programming, just like ESPN has with ESPN2 . Viewers were also upset that SPEED did not jump at the chance to be the U.S. broadcaster of the new A1 Grand Prix series. In December 2005, that honor went to OLN, whom, as mentioned above, also managed to nab the rights to Dakar from SPEED. SPEED is primarily a Satellite and Digital Cable network, although many areas in the U.S. do have the network in their Basic Cable packages. It is also available in Canada . In the Spring of 2006 , SPEED will launch SPEED Mobile, where fans can download ringtones and wallpapers made by SPEED to their Cell Phone s. SPEEDTV has discontinued coverage of the World Rally Championship (FIA) for 2006. This decision was made to the disappointment of many US-based WRC fans, 17,000+ of which have signed an online petition to persuade SPEEDTV to add WRC coverage back to their lineup. LIST OF SPEED CHANNEL PROGRAMS
RACING SERIES SPEED CHANNEL BROADCASTS
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