Racer Network

{{short description|American cable and satellite television channel}}

{{about|the U.S. TV channel formerly branded as "MAVTV"|the Canadian TV channel|REV TV Canada}}

{{Infobox television channel

| name = Racer Network

| logo = Racer_Network.jpg

| logo_alt =

| logo_size = 200px

| launch_date = October 1, 2004

| closed_date =

| picture_format = 1080i (HDTV)

| network =

| owner = Racer Media & Marketing

| country = United States

| area = International

| headquarters = Brownsburg, Indiana

| former_names = MAVTV (2004–2025)

| replaced =

| sister_channels =

| timeshift_service =

| website = [http://www.mavtv.com Mavtv.com]

}}

Racer Network (formerly known as MAVTV) is an American cable and satellite television channel owned by the motorsports media company Racer, which mainly airs programming focused around motorsports and programming for automotive enthusiasts. CJ Olivares serves as the network's president.

History

File:MavTV-2018.PNG

MavTV (short for Maverick Television) launched on October 1, 2004, based out of Atlanta with distribution limited to select cable companies. The network was privately held and founded by four former executives from Showtime Networks—Steve Severn, Steve Smith, Doug Jost and Rob Stevens. It had no connections to the NBA's Dallas Mavericks or Mark Cuban, their owner, nor to Maverick Television, a British reality television production company owned by All3Media.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}

=Purchase by Lucas Oil and change of programming direction=

In October 2011, longtime partner lubricants company Lucas Oil purchased MavTV; the company had provided and sponsored most of the network's motorsports rights even before their purchase, and the network was likely to go dark without the purchase as programming rights had deteriorated towards barter programming and heavy repeats of library content. The network was quickly reformatted away by the new management from a completely male focus towards a general family programming direction.

On July 4, 2012, Lucas rebranded the network, making MavTV's name all capitalized, but with the MAV initials standing for "Movies, Action, and Variety" with the addition of films and more concert programming to the schedule, and a gradual drawdown of racing-related programming to a smaller, yet important part of the schedule to maintain its cable carriage mainly among digital sports tiers, including the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series and the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League. The network is also advertised on the containers of many Lucas Oil products.

Until 2015, MAVTV also aired classic programming such as The Lone Ranger, Starsky & Hutch, and Bonanza, along with films. However, the recovery of the network's revenues under Lucas Oil, along with heavy competition in the classic television rights race from digital over-the-air networks such as MeTV, Antenna TV and movie networks like Movies! and getTV meant that the network began to draw down non-motorsports programming by the start of 2016. The conversion of Fox's Speed to the general-interest Fox Sports 1 also left a plethora of motorsports rights for other networks to pick up, which MAVTV took advantage of. The network also carries motorboat racing and various events from the Federation of International Motorcycling, including ice speedway and motorcycle speedway events.

=Past programming=

The network's 1080i high definition feed was launched during the fall of 2008. The standard definition version of the network is downscaled from the HD master feed at the cable operator's headend level.

Before Lucas Oil took over full management of the network, MAVTV carried programming such as the second season of Rad Girls, SpeedFreaks, Women's Flat Track Roller Derby, American Tailgater, AMA Motorcycle Racing, Wrestlicious TakeDown, Ultimate Combat Experience, Bikini AllStars and Best of the Best. In addition, MAVTV presented the male-specific documentary series Manumentaries. Except for existing Lucas Oil programming and the AMA, none of this programming currently remains on the network's schedule. Overnights had been filled by music video/interactive SMS programming from NOYZ via a time brokerage agreement before that company went bankrupt in early 2008.

=Sports deals=

File:MAVTV broadcast truck ARCA Madison 2018.jpg

In 2007, MAVTV struck a deal with the Women's Flat Track Derby Association to broadcast two of the three roller derby finals: the Eastern Regional Tournament (Heartland Havoc, which was broadcast as a series of one-hour weekly episodes){{cite web |url=http://leadjammer.com/wftda_tournaments_MAVTV |title=[Update] WFTDA tournaments on MavTV | Lead Jammer - Roller Derby News |website=leadjammer.com |access-date=2 February 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070802173940/http://leadjammer.com/wftda_tournaments_MAVTV |archive-date=2 August 2007 |url-status=dead}} and the National Championships (Texas Shootout).{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/sports/playemail/0927playroller.html|author=Zack Dundas|title=Roller Derby Madness|newspaper=The New York Times|date=27 September 2007 |access-date=2015-10-04}}

MAVTV contracted with the Automobile Racing Club of America, the auto racing sanctioning body, to air at least 6 races in 2008, including both 100-mile dirt races at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, and the Southern Illinois State Fairgrounds in DuQuoin.[http://www.arcaracing.com/schedule.cfm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928051355/http://www.arcaracing.com/schedule.cfm|date=September 28, 2009}} SpeedFreaks hosts Kenny Sargent and Crash Gladys also appeared on episodes of the Lucas Motorsports hour.

MAVTV sponsored the MAVTV 500, the final race in the 2012 season of the IndyCar Series, which took place at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

MAVTV is partnered with King of the Cage, broadcasting their live and past Martial Arts events, as well as Championship Wrestling From Hollywood.

MAVTV did their 1st live motorsports event, the Lucas Oil Challenge Cup featuring the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series on October 27, 2013, from Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park. They will also do live coverage of the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals, one of the biggest midget car races every year. The East Bay Winter Nationals from the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and all Moto1 rounds of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motorcross championship in 2014. They will also cover several King of the Cage MMA events live in 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.mavtv.com/news/20-show-news/332-off-road-season-finale-starts-a-new-era-for-mavtv.html |title=Off Road season finale starts a new era for |publisher=MAVTV |date=2013-10-21 |access-date=2015-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005172534/http://www.mavtv.com/news/20-show-news/332-off-road-season-finale-starts-a-new-era-for-mavtv.html |archive-date=2015-10-05 |url-status=dead }}

In 2014, MAVTV partnered with professional road racing series Pirelli World Challenge to air the Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car Championship.

In 2017, MAVTV signed a multi-year deal with ARCA Racing to bring almost all their races live or broadcast at later time/date. Outside the races broadcast from Fox Sports.

In 2018, Signed a deal to show highlights of Tony Stewart All Star Circuit of Champions{{Cite web|url=https://www.mavtv.com/news/2017/eight-arctic-cat-all-star-events-to-be-broadcast-on-mavtv-in-2018|title=MAVTV {{!}} Eight Arctic Cat All Star events to be broadcast on MAVTV in 2018|website=www.mavtv.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-02}} Also MAVTV expanded its coverage of ARCA Racing with 11 of its 12 races broadcasting live{{Cite web|url=https://www.mavtv.com/news/2018/arca-and-mavtv-motorsports-network-announce-12-race-broadcast-schedule|title=MAVTV {{!}} ARCA and MAVTV Motorsports Network Announce 12-Race Broadcast Schedule|website=www.mavtv.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-02}}

In 2019, MAVTV is showing all of its ARCA races its broadcast live for the first time{{Cite web|url=https://autoweek.com/article/nascar/every-arca-racing-series-event-will-air-live-tv-2019|title=Every ARCA race will air live on TV in 2019|website=Autoweek|date=29 January 2019 |access-date=2019-02-02}}

=Movie deals=

On April 27, 2010, MAVTV signed a deal with Sony Pictures giving them access to select titles from Sony's film library. The deal was part of MAVTV's programming strategy to expand its schedule and abandon their former all-male programming direction.{{cite web|url=http://www.MAVTV.com/news |title=News |publisher=MAVTV |access-date=2015-10-04}} The network added films from the Warner Bros. library in July 2012. These deals eventually expired though as mentioned above, and MAVTV eventually went to an all-motorsports schedule by the start of 2016.

=Acquisition by Racer=

On March 27, 2025, MAVTV was acquired by motorsports media company Racer, which quickly made its mark by rebranding the channel as Racer Network the same date, with a new imaging campaign to come to reinforce the brand. {{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Maury |title=MAVTV Purchased And Rebranded By Motorsports Outlet RACER |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2025/03/27/mavtv-purchased-and-rebranded-by-motorsports-outlet-racer/ |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

Personnel

Key people at Racer Network include:{{cite web|url=http://www.mavtv.com/about-us/mavtv-contacts.html |title=Contacts |publisher=MAVTV |access-date=2015-10-04}}{{cite news |title=ดูหนังออนไลน์ |url=https://www.imovie-return.com/ |access-date=23 September 2023}}

CJ Olivares, President of Racer Network
Mark Carter, Vice President of Sales
Scott McLemore, Director of Production & Programming
Kathy Baichtal, Director of Programming & Scheduling
Shawn Stafford, Director of Network Operations
Marc Mazarin, Director of Marketing

Carriage

Racer Network can be found in the US on Cablevision, Spectrum, GCI in Alaska, select cable systems within the Caribbean Co-op, Xfinity, RCN Corporation, AT&T U-verse and DirecTV.

As per an email sent to its subscribers, Verizon FiOS removed the channel from its TV service along with Youtoo TV, Blue Highways TV, and Black Belt TV as of December 31, 2012, making it available as an "On Demand" service. However, the channel returned to Verizon FiOS on June 10, 2014.

DirecTV added MAVTV on June 10, 2013. The channel is carried in high definition.{{cite web|url=http://hd-report.com/2013/06/11/directv-launches-MAVTV-channel |title=DIRECTV launches MAVTV channel |publisher=HD Report |date=2013-06-11 |access-date=2015-10-04}}

MAVTV Canada was launched in January, 2017 in a partnership with the Neon Star Sports & Entertainment Inc, which produces Canadian content.{{Cite web|last=December 2016|first=Kent Gibbons 06|title=MAVTV Sets Canada Launch in January Via CCSA|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/mavtv-sets-canada-launch-january-ccsa-409496|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Multichannel News|date=6 December 2016 |language=en}} It rebranded as REV TV Canada in 2020.

Dish Network previously carried MAVTV in high definition from May 8, 2009 to May 12, 2015. Dish dropped the channel as MAVTV and its parent company Lucas Oil failed to reach a new agreement to continue carrying the channel.{{cite web |url=http://www.mavtv.com/dish-network-awareness |title=Dish Network Awareness |publisher=MAVTV |access-date=2015-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013054132/http://www.mavtv.com/dish-network-awareness |archive-date=2015-10-13 |url-status=dead }}

FuboTV was added in March 2018 with Sportsman Channel, Outdoor Channel, World Fishing Network, Outside TV and till late October motorsports.tv to the Adventure Plus Package.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/fubotv-launches-adventure-plus-add-on-with-outdoor-channel-sportsman-channel-more/|title=fuboTV launches "Adventure Plus" Add-on with Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, & More|last=Bouma|first=Luke|date=2018-03-07|website=Cord Cutters News|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-28}}

A free version of the channel, branded "Racer Select" (formerly "MAVTV Select"), provides a selection of network programming through advertising-supported over-the-top media services Pluto TV, Stirr, The Roku Channel and Plex, among others.{{Cite web|url=https://mavtv.com/platforms/|title=MAVTV Viewing Platforms|website=mavtv.com}}

Programming

=Motorsports coverage=

; Oval racing

ARCA Menards Series (2008, 2015, 2017–2022)
Nashville round shown on tape delay in 2015
ARCA Menards Series East
ARCA Menards Series West
ASA STARS National Tour (2023-present)
Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Series
Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire (2014–present)
Saturday night alphabet mains are featured live.
INEX Legends Cars & Bandolero Cars (2014–present)
Bojangles Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway has aired on the network since 2014.
A part of the Acceleration 2014 coverage, the Legend SuperCup was aired on the network
Knoxville Raceway's Dirt Dreams (2014–present)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
live coverage of the East Bay Winter Nationals
Lucas Oil Modified Series
The 2013 Lucas Oil Challenge Cup was live on the network, it was the network's first live race. The series did not feature live coverage in 2014 however.
Lucas Oil POWRI Midgets
the 2013 & 2014 Jason Leffler Memorial from Wayne County Speedway was covered on Dirty 30
Other races such as DuQuoin from 2014 will be covered on Lucas Oil On The Edge
NEMA Midgets
The 2014 Boston Louie Seymour Memorial at Seekonk was featured with full race coverage on the SPEED SPORT program.
Novelis Supermodifieds
2 to 3 races from the 2014 season at Oswego Speedway were shown on MavTV under the SPEED SPORT program. Those races included the Budweiser International Classic & the Jim Shampine Memorial
Outlaw kart racing
The network featured the SPEED SPORT Challenge at Millbridge Speedway on the SPEED SPORT program in 2014 and 2015.
SRL Spears Southwest Tour (2014–present)
The 2014 races at Irwindale & The Bullring at LVMS were aired.
Super DIRTcar Series (2015)
The round at Rolling Wheels in 2015 was shown on the network
The Dirt (2014–present)
The Dirt features the weekly divisions at WXC Speedway at Western Springs.
USAC Silver Crown Series (2015–present)
Sulmar Classic at Terre Haute to be shown, a part of the JackSlash Dirty 30 program.
USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars (2014–present)
several rounds from the 2014 season were featured on the JackSlash Dirty 30 program. Those include the Kokomo Sprint Car Smackdown, Oval Nationals @ Perris and the season finale at Canyon.
USAC Honda National Midget Championship (2014–present)
several rounds from the 2014 and 2015 seasons were featured on the JackSlash Dirty 30 program.
World of Outlaws Sprint Cars (2014–present)
The FVP Knoxville Nationals presented by Lucas Oil have been aired on the network on a tape delay basis since 2014.