'Challenge of Champions' is a good example of a show that could be on every week with different "themes' done by private promoters like Matt Braun of Billiards International (the co. that originally produced 'Challenge of Champions'). He's was just one of many in the 90's that produced these type of shows, each with a different style and presentation.
The lack of TV coverage in pool is only because the individuals are no longer producing events. In the 90's we had Matt Braun doing this same show, and with, WPBA(Ladies'Board of Directors), Allen Hopkins, BCA(BCA Board), PBTA(Don Mackey), Barry B. (US Open) and the PCA(Earl, George and me), and Bob Meucci (Meucci Cues and sponsor of Rempe, David H. Earl, Buddy, etc) doing them as well (I even produced 12 shows with 6 of them being televised with 3 re broadcasts).
We all produced events of your own, but when you put them together it was hundreds of hours of ESPN Exposure. Pool being on ESPN has nothing to do with ESPN, it's all about the producers, and this is true in all major sports, although ESPN does produce a limited amount for extra revenue.
Most of this shifted to streaming video because it's difficult to make money directly from the ESPN, it's made from using the ESPN Coverage to expand the market a few hundred thousand (people) so more cues, tables, merchandise, pool room income, etc could be made.
NASCAR's merchandising (shirts, hats, cups, cozies, etc) brings in over a BILLION dollars a year......and without TV this would not be possible, and this can be said of every major sport/game.
The "ball" was dropped in the world of pool for some reason....the good news is it was "dropped," not lost and 'Challenge of Champions' proves this is true. Great job Matt Braun, my hat's off to your "brain child" 'The Challenge of Champions'.....I believe Allen Hopkins gets a "shout out" too.
For more on Matt Braun CLICK THIS LINK
The lack of TV coverage in pool is only because the individuals are no longer producing events. In the 90's we had Matt Braun doing this same show, and with, WPBA(Ladies'Board of Directors), Allen Hopkins, BCA(BCA Board), PBTA(Don Mackey), Barry B. (US Open) and the PCA(Earl, George and me), and Bob Meucci (Meucci Cues and sponsor of Rempe, David H. Earl, Buddy, etc) doing them as well (I even produced 12 shows with 6 of them being televised with 3 re broadcasts).
We all produced events of your own, but when you put them together it was hundreds of hours of ESPN Exposure. Pool being on ESPN has nothing to do with ESPN, it's all about the producers, and this is true in all major sports, although ESPN does produce a limited amount for extra revenue.
Most of this shifted to streaming video because it's difficult to make money directly from the ESPN, it's made from using the ESPN Coverage to expand the market a few hundred thousand (people) so more cues, tables, merchandise, pool room income, etc could be made.
NASCAR's merchandising (shirts, hats, cups, cozies, etc) brings in over a BILLION dollars a year......and without TV this would not be possible, and this can be said of every major sport/game.
The "ball" was dropped in the world of pool for some reason....the good news is it was "dropped," not lost and 'Challenge of Champions' proves this is true. Great job Matt Braun, my hat's off to your "brain child" 'The Challenge of Champions'.....I believe Allen Hopkins gets a "shout out" too.