Consumerist: Nascar

Fail: Giant Metaphor For Digital TV Transition Performs As Expected

Meg Marco — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:59:10 EDT

The Federal Communications Commission and its benevolent overlord, Mr. Kevin Martin, recently spent $350,000 to sponsor a NASCAR team for 3 races. The “Digital TV Transition Ford” sponsored by the Federal Communications Commission crashed during its inaugural NASCAR race Sunday afternoon, says the WSJ.

This is, of course, raising some questions about why exactly the government is sponsoring NASCAR teams as a way of "raising awareness."

“I believe this sponsorship is an extremely effective way for the FCC to raise DTV awareness among people of all ages and income levels across the United States who loyally follow one of the most popular sports in America,” FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said in a statement last week, announcing the deal.

The WSJ says they've also spent $1 million advertising in AARP magazine.

FCC’s Race Car to Promote Digital TV Hits the Wall [WSJ]
(Photo: Getty)

AT&T Sues NASCAR Over Cingular Car's Logo

Meg Marco — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:15:15 EDT

AT&T would really like you to know that Cingular is now part of the new AT&T. In fact, they are claiming in a lawsuit that by not adding the AT&T logo to the existing Cingular car (driven by Jeff Burton) NASCAR is doing "substantial and irreparable" harm to AT&T. From USAToday:

AT&T submitted a mock-up of the paint scheme in January that kept the car's orange paint scheme and Cingular's logo on the hood. The only AT&T branding was its trademark blue and white globe on the quarter panels.
But NASCAR rejected the design.

What's the big deal? Well, NASCAR is sponsored by Nextel, and what Nextel says goes. Sorry, AT&T. —MEGHANN MARCO

NASCAR, teams rubbing fenders in bid for sponsors [USAToday]

Comcast's Finest Print Ever

Ben Popken — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 08:54:30 EDT

Reader Shaun spotted this entry form for a local Nascar tickets sweepstakes, sponsored by Hardees "charbroiled thickness" and Comcast. It seems designers at Comcast went a bit overboard with the mouseprint. Even after digital magnification, it's nigh impossible to discern the contest's rules.

What are they hiding in there? Give us your paranoid guesstimates in the comments or tips at consumerist.com.

The News: Evil Fur Gangsters

popkin — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 15:00:00 EDT

• "Worst Company in America" winner Halliburton expects to double their earnings in the next five years. Hooray for American industriousness. [NYT]
• Net neutrality didn't lose yesterday in the House of Representatives, but it didn't win either. [LAT]
• Hope you kept your receipts for those buckets of red paint, Polo announced it will stop using fur in its apparel and home collections. [LAT]
• From gangsta to wanksta: Grand Theft Auto settles with FTC over hidden sex scene. [CT]
• Scientologists want to be backseat drivers at NASCAR. [CT]

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Morning Deals Round-Up

consumerist.com — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 09:05:51 EST

• Aeropostale is running a clearance sale on clothing for both men and women. You could even get a stuff bear, though only your psychiatrist knows why you'd want one.

• We do not feel the least bit of East Coast haughtiness when we say that we despise NASCAR. So when we recommended this Radio Shack PRO-84 Compact Scanner and Headphone Bundle, do not mistake its NASCAR frequency compatibility as its selling point. That would be its price: $100, or half-off. [via TechBargains]

• Get one of the brand-new 1GB iPod nanos from Abt Electronics for just $134.10 with free shipping, after using coupon code CASFEB2006. [via DealNews]

• Today's Woot! is the Lowrance iFinder Map & Music GPS Receiver with MP3 player for $145. It even plays Ogg Vorbis music files, which may be a selling point or reason not to buy it, depending on your level of hippieness.

Highlights from Dealhack

• Lomography Fisheye Camera now only $25 at Design Within Reach

• SanDisk Cruzer 1GB USB 2.0 Flash Memory Drive $35 & Free Shipping at Amazon

• Go Video R6640 Refurb DVD Player/Recorder $75 at Geeks.com