All these comparisons to facebook, microsoft etc...
Those companies blew up because they found an untapped niche and milked it.
What's pool's untapped niche? Is there anyone out there who wants to watch pool but can't?
There's thousands of hours of free footage on youtube and some of it like BClub is fairly
professionally produced. Or if you want something more timely, you can pay for accustats
and TAR matches. There are several free and cheap streams.
I know they are not obligated to share their business plan with anyone, but whatever it is..
it's gotta hinge on getting people to watch pool (and pay for it) who otherwise can't do so.
Does anyone here feel like "man, I wish I had some pool to watch, but there's just nothing on"?
The only thing I feel like I want to see, but cannot see often enough, is seeing pros play in person.
And even that wish isn't that hard to fulfill. Got to do it last weekend, at no charge.
To me, that's the fundamental flaw, even if you execute very well (like recent TAR matches)
there just aren't that many customers starved for the product they're looking to sell.
There is a reason that mma fans pay for the UFC when they can watch fighters who are just as good in other organizations play the same sport for free. If you don't believe that there are fighters just as good then you have bought into the hype or just not aware.
Take this as an example, when fighters dispute with Dana over pay and move on to fight for other organizations their marketability takes a plunge. The UFC is the best at generating excitement for a fight and presenting the sport to the fans like no other can.
Bonus ball has the potential to generate excitement for pool that is not currently here. The question of, "Is there anyone out there who wants to watch pool but can't?" Is an irrelevant question imo.