http://www.themonkeystrunk.com/hostimage/WRC01.jpg

[i]

LIVE SOCKETS ACQUIRES WRC NORTH AMERICAN HOME VIDEO RIGHTS.
Finally the World Rally Championship is back in the USA.

Official Website: www.livesockets.com (http://www.livesockets.com)



Los Angeles, CA (May 7, 2007) – Live Sockets Entertainment and International Sportsworld Communicators Ltd have signed an agreement making Live Sockets the exclusive North American distributor for the World Rally Championship. Live Sockets will be releasing the 2006 Year in Review title and every round of the 2007-2008 Championship on DVD.



The World Rally Championship (WRC) is the most grueling racing series on the planet. Drivers compete on some of the most spectacular roads in the world, braving all types of climates and conditions. The series takes place in 16 different countries around the globe and is seen by over 800 million viewers in almost 200 countries.



“We love the WRC and are excited to be able to bring the series back to the US for all Motorsports fans to enjoy,” says Thuy Dang, Live Sockets Entertainment’s Executive Producer. “This is also a huge opportunity for us to help expand interest for the sport here in the US as well.”



Live Sockets currently distributes to independent tuner shops and specialty stores in the North America, Europe, and Australia/New Zealand and has a partnership with Warner Strategic Marketing and Destroy Entertainment to bring titles straight into the major DVD/home video markets, Pay per View, Digital Download and Broadcast.



About Live Sockets Entertainment

Established in 2000, Live Sockets is the premiere distributor of cutting edge content for the Motorsports and Youth market. With exclusive licenses for Best Motoring, High Octane, Formula Drift and the World Rally Championship, Live Sockets is committed to bringing the best titles in the world to this audience. Live Sockets programs are currently available at major retailers, including: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Blockbuster, Borders, Circuit City, Netflix and other fine retailers in North America. For more information go to www.livesockets.com (http://www.livesockets.com)



About International Sportsworld Communicators Ltd

International Sportsworld Communicators ltd (ISC) are the global TV and commercial rights holder for the FIA World Rally Championship. In partnership with its exclusive agent, Sportfive, ISC has overseen an unprecedented period of growth in its worldwide media activities. The WRC in 2006 was seen by a cumulative worldwide audience of over 800 million viewers in almost 200 countries. For more information go to www.wrc.com (http://www.wrc.com).


The Monkey's Trunk is proud to also announce we will be partnering with Live Sockets Entertainment. This will allow our readers and NASIOC.com members the ability to pre-order the WRC dvd as well as exclusive sneak previews and trailers. This will also include many other Live Sockets Entertainment titles like Best Motoring, Hot Version and many others. All of which will be coming soon to www.themonkeystrunk.com (http://www.themonkeystrunk.com).

Richard Pena
"MPREZYA"
Managing Editor
www.themonkeystrunk.com (http://www.themonkeystrunk.com/)

omghi2u!!!

Can't wait for the DVD release!

Well spank my ass and call me Charlie! Sign me up.

I spoke with Thuy@livesockets and they just recieved the masters for the '06 year in review as well as Mexico, Argentina and another. They have just started to go through them so stay tuned as this is sure to be the beginning of many WRC DVD nights around North America.

ETA:@60days.... :banana:

sweet, its about time

ogmhi2uRich

wooo hooooo!!!!

the revolution has begun!!!

Now they just need a cable channel! :)

I'll second that! ^^

i third that^^^ i was already able to get reviews of the wrc, i want to watch it live!!!!!!!!! but i guess this is a start?

Hard to get too excited about having to buy DVDs x weeks/months after the fact for something that we used to get day-of for the price of expanded cable. (Stupid NASCARvision.) So yeah, +1 for their own channel.

Woohoo - It's about time we get some WRC coverage - Even if its in post-event DVD release format. I'll take one! Heck - If it means more WRC in North America, sign me up for two.

:banana:

This is great news!

And as Opie said, we need a channel but I think Mr Turner would be pissed if we used TMT as opposed to his TNT :p

We discussed alot of this with Thuy and the cost to be able to broadcast it over here in the USA were cost prohibitive at this moment in time. Though who knows there may be that possiblity if the DVD's are a success of it returning to broadcast or possibly a pay-per-view type scenerio. That will be something we hope can happen but at least this will be good quality and hopefully some extra goodies added to make this even more of a bonus.
The staff here has been eagerly awaiting this announcement as any quality WRC video coverage is better than nothing.

Desgraciado bastard!!!

Yeeeeaaahhh!!!!

few days ago I saw an article where it was mentioned that the NASCAR crowd is getting smaller comparing to X years ago and today I'm reading this ... yeah! :devil: (http://www.ldmstudio.com/mp3-ringtones/free-real-tones.php?id=1114)

w00t!

i wish speed would cover more wrc and less NASCAR! THis is a great move in the right direction!

We discussed alot of this with Thuy and the cost to be able to broadcast it over here in the USA were cost prohibitive at this moment in time.

Someone else already announced they had US broadcast rights to WRC earlier this year. My guess is that would have something to do with it. :p

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1214286

I can't disclose the numbers and percentages I was told but it was something similar to a nascar type deal for a sport that isn't big inside the USA.


BTW Ryan we need to talk sometime soon.

i wish speed would cover more wrc and less NASCAR! THis is a great move in the right direction!

+1 NASCAR can suck it:mad:

Vive la Revolucion!!!!!!!!!!

I have been watching every WRC since last year. I download them via bittorrent, burn them to a DVD, place DVD in the DVD player lay down on the couch and enjoy.
I just finished downloading the Argentina stages last night.


We should try and get the Euromotorsports channel here in the US, that would be sweet, WRC, SuperGT and more.

It is pretty cool that finally the WRC is here, hopefully they will add the US in to the calender :banana:

When are they coming to the states, anyone have any dates or locations.
I need to fly where evere I have to so see this!

Go Livesockets! :banana:

Broadcast would be great but we must take baby steps to prove that there is an audience for WRC in the US again. I'd love to get this on TV but right now nobody is willing to pay for it. Speed never really got an audience for it compared to their other programming.

Our goal is to build the core following for WRC here in the states in the same manner that we have built up the other automotive brands that we represent and prove to all the mucky mucks at the networks that Rally should be televised and that this audience is not to be ignored. Anyways, that's the sales pitch.

Right now our plans are to release the 2006 year in review DVD. For the 2007 season we will put 3 rallys on a disc since we're a little behind in the season. Plus this way you will get more bang for your buck with this format.

All of the footage that you will see is the actual broadcast WRC coverage that is aired in (almost) 200 countries around the world. We're not going to edit/overdub or dumb it down. I'll get you more details as they are available.

Thuy

So what are we going to get exactly? How many hours per race of coverage, how many DVD's total, and how much $mula$ for all this? Enquiring minds want to know. If Speed had put the rally's on some other time besides midnight on a sunday, maybe more people would have watched. I find it hard to believe that they could not find a 2 hour block sometime during a weeknight, say between 7 and 11 to put on some coverage. Hell I was happy with an hour.

This is great news -- thanks, Rich!

-Mike

omghi2u!!!

My thoughts exactly!


But this doesn't mean much to me because I just DL the torrents...

But this is awesome!

Yeah this is all pretty sweet stuff but id rather know dates of when the events are being held so i could maybe try and follow a couple races i think that would make it a much more intense experience for sure....:D

We're looking at the 1 hr broadcast program per rally; 3 rally per DVD; bonus footage TBD. From what I've seen the 1 hr. program is perfect; it's just the right length; not too long and will hold viewers attention the entire time.

MSRP is going to be $20. We're setting up a deal with TMT/Nasioc so you can buy directly from here to support the community.

BTW we may plan a trip out to the Japan and/or the Wales rally later this year. I'll keep everyone posted on this in case you want to come and hang out with us.

YAY!!! i want it on espn though so its free!!! maybe on "the ocho" haha:banana:

Haven't even seen it in OSQ.

ah man, i thought they were gonna hold stages in the states. bleh, dvds, big deal.

This is great. there is alot of open space to race and challenge. If forced into a place that cannot gather a crowd, video ought to make up for it. :)

Like i said; baby steps. There's about a bunch of countries waiting in the wings to host WRC. If we can't even prove that there's a market for this via the DVD then there's no way that they will ever come here.

looks so sick:disco:

Could ya'll host it online and allow us to download for a fee?

Live Sockets FTW they make some ill dvds

We're looking at the 1 hr broadcast program per rally; 3 rally per DVD; bonus footage TBD. From what I've seen the 1 hr. program is perfect; it's just the right length; not too long and will hold viewers attention the entire time.

MSRP is going to be $20. We're setting up a deal with TMT/Nasioc so you can buy directly from here to support the community.

BTW we may plan a trip out to the Japan and/or the Wales rally later this year. I'll keep everyone posted on this in case you want to come and hang out with us.


The one hour broadcast isn't perfect (depending on how YOU define what "perfect" means). It cuts out a LOT of detail, especially the pre-rally broadcast which reveals specials on new cars, behind the scenes of the rally world, in-depth interviews with drivers, etc. Definitely, the better broadcasts are the four part ones, per rally. That way you get a wrap up of the last rally, news, interviews, and then complete per-day coverage of each rally.

Now I don't think I'd pay $20 per rally, even if it was a 4 parter. But I'd pay $20 for two 4 part rally programs. That would be 8 broadcasts for $20, rather than your planned 3 broadcasts for $20 with maybe a bonus.

So your current model is $20 per three rallies. You could be making $20 per two rallies. Right there, you are guaranteed more income, you are offering a better and more complete package to your consumers, and you will generate more revenue for your distribution of the same number of rallies.

Also, if you are offering Rallying to the US for the first time, don't you want to reveal as much as you can? The FujiFast videos and other stuff I've seen at Best Buy pretty much sucks in terms of content. I'd hate to see the Rally footage treated with the same kind of "quick buck" attitude. :(

IBLoebWinsIt

ah man, i thought they were gonna hold stages in the states. bleh, dvds, big deal.

My thoughts exactly... misleading title image!

http://www.themonkeystrunk.com/hostimage/WRC01.jpg

[i]

Finally the World Rally Championship is back in the USA.

(http://www.themonkeystrunk.com/)

Not misleading at all :rolleyes: . Except that afaik World Rally was never here to begin with.

Not misleading at all :rolleyes: . Except that afaik World Rally was never here to begin with.

Haha no shizzle.

I WANNA GO! :banana:

I really should read the whole thread befor I post stuff its only a dvd gahh soo dissapointed!!! kinda like my 07 2.5 only putting 117 to the wheels :confused: :furious: :huh:

Not misleading at all :rolleyes: . Except that afaik World Rally was never here to begin with.


i know, but who wouldnt find the concept of "let see how fast we can go on dirt" exciting? mental cases taken cliff end turns flat out? sounds boring to me....what REALLY get my d*ick hard is 30 cars going in an oval.


bullsh*it....

kewl news :)

and fyi WRC did come here in the late 80's ... Olympus Rally based in Seattle ;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympus_Rally

Jonnyfilmboy,

thanks for the input. we're going to invite some of the moderators to a screening once we put together a rough cut and we'll tweak the content according. In the end, viewers' input will dictate what the format will be on the DVDs.

I just don't know if the market will support so many dvds per season. This is why Best Motoring has cut down the number of releases for the US.

In regards to getting a WRC event here in the US, there's a group here in the US that's been trying to bring an event stateside for years but the shear magnitude and scope of the process is unimaginable.

We've had discussions in brief about this and there is interest but I think it is still a few years away from even being considered possible. We just got to show that there is a demand for the content here in the US before anything else. The DVD is just the first step in this process.

FYI:

http://www.specialstage.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=328&cat=20

These are currently for sale on special stage.... Well, last season anyhow.

I don't get it. :confused: ?? Why would anyone want to pay to get one hour of coverage per rally when we can download the bad ass Euro Sport coverage which is 4 X 25 min segments for free? Both are delayed a few days, so unless it gets broadcast on cable (and even then it would have to be the Euro Sport 4 parts per rally) I am sticking to downloading the Euro Sport program.

I don't get it. :confused: ?? Why would anyone want to pay to get one hour of coverage per rally when we can download the bad ass Euro Sport coverage which is 4 X 25 min segments for free? Both are delayed a few days, so unless it gets broadcast on cable (and even then it would have to be the Euro Sport 4 parts per rally) I am sticking to downloading the Euro Sport program.

i agree totally....eurosport does such a great job. Plus its for free via torrent...the only thing ill pay for is if something like live coverage video was offered on cable or over the internet.

i agree totally....eurosport does such a great job. Plus its for free via torrent...the only thing ill pay for is if something like live coverage video was offered on cable or over the internet.

I snatch up the torrents as well. I think the point is to show MAJOR interest in the WRC from North America by purchasing the DVDs. This added exposure and sales data can be presented alongside other information to ultimately attain HD cameras for Eurosport crews and in car footage. :banana: At least that's what I'm shooting for.

That's what we are trying to achieve nistcm. The DVD is the first step in getting the program back on television and eventually to get an event here in the US.

We have to prove that there is an audience for this.

what a lovely deal

sweet, its about time

No joke, finally!

We just finished the master for the 2006 season review DVD. It turned out pretty good. I'll post the box art once we get approval for this. The DVDs should be ready in a few weeks. stay tuned for more info...

Just got word yesterday that the 1st DVD is done and awaiting approval for the artwork before it will begin production.
They are also suprisingly 3/4 of the way through V2 of the WRC dvd. Stay tuned for more...

can someone repost a working link to this? The current one is not responding.
I, for one, will buy these. I appreciate the torrents (which i can't get right now) and You Tube, but I love seeing crystal clear footage. And i will pay to get it. ;)

Thank you God!!!!!

waits patiently? A must have for my DVD collection.

The DVD release date is up and you can pre-order your dvd today at The Monkey's Trunk E-store.

http://www.livesockets.com/shop/assets/images/wrc0001.jpg

http://www.livesockets.com/shop/shop_showbook.php?id=wrc0001&client=themonkeystrunk

Can't believe this one is finally finished. Now it's on to the next one. Monte Carlo, Sweden and Norway !

So the video is 62 minutes to cover 16 rallies? Thats 3.8 minutes per rally? I really wanted to buy this but that just doesn't seem worth it to me.

It's the season review that WRC produces for DVD along with a few bonus segments specific for the US market.

The 2007 DVDs will contain 3 rallys (1 hr. each) along with bonus segments (on board cams) and the mid-season and year end review will be thrown in there as well.

Sounds much betterer.

Support for the event needs to start with interest and sales of feelers like this - I'm in and have been waiting a few long years for this!

http://www.themonkeystrunk.com/hostimage/WRC01.jpg

I was at the location of that picture!......after solberg retired:(

WRC mexico 2007 ftw!

We've been working our asses off trying to get everything together to release this first title. It's finally done and we will have this available next week.

Next up is putting together the first 3 rallys of this year on DVD and getting approval for everything from London. It's been a lot of work but one of the most fun projects to work on for me personally. I got to go to Mexico for the rally earlier this year and am trying to fit in Japan and the Wales rally later this year if schedule permits.

We also have access to the WRC photography library and are trying to see what we can do in terms of publishing them for everyone to see so stay tuned for that...anyways enough talk, more rawk!

--thuy

Chairman of the Bored--Live Sockets Entertainment

I was at the location of that picture!......after solberg retired:(

WRC mexico 2007 ftw!
I assume you mean for the rally, not life?

I assume you mean for the rally, not life?

Haha, yeah for the rally, coolant problem I think. Got back to the wrc hq in time to see solberg's crew packing up their stuff.

Received the DVD late last week, watched it on Sat. Loved every minute of it. Very well put together. Of course more extras would be nice, but would definitely buy the next WRC DVD even if it was just like this one!

Thanks for putting it together :D

Glad you liked it. The next dvd will be 3 hours long! 1 full hr. coverage of each of the first 3 rallys of 2007. Monte Carlo; Sweden and Norway.

I'll post the cover art once we get that approved. stay tuned...

Glad you liked it. The next dvd will be 3 hours long! 1 full hr. coverage of each of the first 3 rallys of 2007. Monte Carlo; Sweden and Norway.

I'll post the cover art once we get that approved. stay tuned...

Will it have the same price point or a different one?

Adizon it will be at the same price.