Game Changer

Bella Don't Cry

Bella Don't Cry

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Over the last 3 years (or so) I have read many threads regarding the demise of Pool and how to get the game more coverage especially on TV.

IMO, we will see less Pool on TV and probably won't be seen at all on TV (not including The Mosconi Cup) in the next 5 years. Only professional streams will survive.

Why (I hear you ask) :thumb:

For the last half-hour I have been watching FIFA's Interactive World Cup Finals, on SKY SPORTS 1. For those who aren't aware:
1. Interactive Football or Soccer - Simulated Gaming Stations
2. Sky Sports are the broadcasters of the Mosconi Cup here in Europe

http://www.fifa.com/interactiveworldcup/information/tournament-format.html

http://www.skysports.com/football/n...up-mohamad-al-bacha-beats-sean-allen-in-final

The show started at 5.30pm and the time is now 6pm (here in the UK) with the show ending at 7.30pm - This is primetime viewing for a new generation who have NO INTEREST in 'real life' sports or games. They are simply plugging into whatever electrical terminal devices they can find and they're all good to go... :thumb:

So where does this leave Pool?
Totally F%&KED is where - At least for the next generation or so.
Whatever direction Pool chooses to go, the masses are going in another direction. 7ft bar tables, 9ft tables - It does not matter how we try to present variation to the public. The facts are that younger generation(s) (the future) are simply not engaging with us.

What can be done?
IMO - The top world pool promoters / governing bodies need to start thinking about the long game. This means planning for the next 10-25 years at least. They also need to be more proactive today in order to reach new spectators and participants. They need to plant the seed. Not easy, but it's the only way.

For the current crop of Pool Players there is very little financial or credential gain to be had. Unfortunately for the majority of these players (Pro's or Amateurs) there is no 'big time' waiting ahead for them.

Life is a cycle and Pool will come around to the masses again. We need to prepare for tomorrow; Today. :thumbup:
 
Out of curiosity, how often does anyone outside of Matchroom Sport court TV channels for any type of coverage? I get the feeling from reading the forum that the primary focus is on streaming.

As previously stated on this forum, pool/billiard/snooker matches get a lot of views on YouTube. So there is interest out there. But what is missing from most non-snooker broadcasts is the human element. If you aren't already familiar with the players, it's just two guys playing pool. A sport needs heroes and villains, someone to root for or against. There has to be an overarching narrative to follow, and not just a one off pool match (from the casual viewers perspective).
 
Banks said:
Long term goals mean nothing if you don't know what the next step will be.
Click to expand...

I agree. It's quite clear that very few people know what the next step is.

One thing that is definitely needed IMO is an annual seminar for Industry, Promoters, Governing Bodies, Players and Participators to attend and share ideas. Something like an international think-tank., similar to how TED.com showcase :thumbup:
 
Cameron Smith said:
Out of curiosity, how often does anyone outside of Matchroom Sport court TV channels for any type of coverage? I get the feeling from reading the forum that the primary focus is on streaming.

As previously stated on this forum, pool/billiard/snooker matches get a lot of views on YouTube. So there is interest out there. But what is missing from most non-snooker broadcasts is the human element. If you aren't already familiar with the players, it's just two guys playing pool. A sport needs heroes and villains, someone to root for or against. There has to be an overarching narrative to follow, and not just a one off pool match (from the casual viewers perspective).
Click to expand...

I wouldn't know that. Perhaps someone here on AZ can share their knowledge. :thumbup:
In any case, what would one present or court to the TV company's anyway?
 
Maybe they've listened to a live stream, where typically you have a commentator that knows nothing about pool and fills airtime with nonsensical drivel, snorting, coughing, sneezing and nut hugging.
 
I go to felt billiards every Saturday from 9AM to 4PM.
The same group of 15 or so regulars are always there. Not a one is under 50 and most are over 60.
Now there are younger people there during the day but they are not the hard core regulars.
And personally i think all tables in pool rooms should be 9 footers instead of those easy 7 foot tables. But I know thats not going to happen now days.
 
Bella Don't Cry said:
I wouldn't know that. Perhaps someone here on AZ can share their knowledge. :thumbup:
In any case, what would one present or court to the TV company's anyway?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how you would court TV execs. For starters though, TV channels are primarily interested in bums in seats, and with little coverage over the last ten years there isn't much to draw upon.

But this FIFA game is broadcasted because on YouTube, individual video game matches are getting anywhere from 400,000 to 1 million views. Same with other Lets Play channels. People like watching others play video games for some reason.

Looking at Pool videos, a lot of them do very well. The best of them seem to trick shots, best shot compilations etc. A lot of videos are around 50,000 to 100,00 views. A handful in the millions, but not nearly as many as video games.

There is an audience there, but a lot of work needs to be done to cultivate it. It's also more complicated than just looking at views, since many of the highest performing pool videos got there over a year or more where as the fifa videos I quoted have been up for only 6 months, and sometimes much less than that. Also, how much of the pool videos are those people watching?

With that said, the first step needs to be to create an infrastructure in North America. Something like the Eurotour (although I don't believe they have a TV deal).
 
They do have a very good live stream though on Kazoom.

I guess a channel like Eurosport could probably pick it up over here, they seem to have upped their snooker coverage and I swear I've even seen carom on there before!
 
vjmehra said:
They do have a very good live stream though on Kazoom.

I guess a channel like Eurosport could probably pick it up over here, they seem to have upped their snooker coverage and I swear I've even seen carom on there before!
Click to expand...

Kozoom does a great job! Their carom site is a excellent value. My only problem with their pool site is with the Canadian dollar where it is, $72 for three months is a little steep. You have to pay for the year to get comparable pricing to the billiard site.
 
Cameron Smith said:
I'm not sure how you would court TV execs. For starters though, TV channels are primarily interested in bums in seats, and with little coverage over the last ten years there isn't much to draw upon.

But this FIFA game is broadcasted because on YouTube, individual video game matches are getting anywhere from 400,000 to 1 million views. Same with other Lets Play channels. People like watching others play video games for some reason.

Looking at Pool videos, a lot of them do very well. The best of them seem to trick shots, best shot compilations etc. A lot of videos are around 50,000 to 100,00 views. A handful in the millions, but not nearly as many as video games.

There is an audience there, but a lot of work needs to be done to cultivate it. It's also more complicated than just looking at views, since many of the highest performing pool videos got there over a year or more where as the fifa videos I quoted have been up for only 6 months, and sometimes much less than that. Also, how much of the pool videos are those people watching?

With that said, the first step needs to be to create an infrastructure in North America. Something like the Eurotour (although I don't believe they have a TV deal).
Click to expand...

The Eurotour was once aired by Eurosport from semi-finals onwards (similar type show as WPBA) but for for some reason it ended :thumbup:
 
measureman said:
I go to felt billiards every Saturday from 9AM to 4PM.
The same group of 15 or so regulars are always there. Not a one is under 50 and most are over 60.
Now there are younger people there during the day but they are not the hard core regulars.
And personally i think all tables in pool rooms should be 9 footers instead of those easy 7 foot tables. But I know thats not going to happen now days.
Click to expand...
Big pool is almost gone. You have rooms full of people yucking it up on bar tables, who don't care about the history of the game or it's future. Just out having fun like I do when I'm playing mini golf with the family or bowling my 135 game. If the majority of pool participants are cut from this cloth , then pool has no future.

I'm out at the pool hall last night for the weekly 9 ball big table tournament...14 players. Front room has 70 people shooting APA. It is as loud and racous as can be. It's so far from what pool was or could be it's unrecognizable. We have just as many spectators as players watching us play the 9 ball tournament as players. Guys who played all their lives and don't play well enough to win anymore...quietly in the corner a man who has to be 75 is playing a younger man straight pool...running out and winning. As I watch I know it won't be long until all the 9 foot tables will be out of the room entirely.
 
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Bella Don't Cry said:
The Eurotour was once aired by Eurosport from semi-finals onwards (similar type show as WPBA) but for for some reason it ended :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Ah I guess they must have not got the viewing figures back then, who knows, maybe in time it will be worth another go!

Its not all doom and gloom after all, it seems with Chinese 8-Ball someone is trying to give pool a big push, so who knows that could be on every channel in a few years time ;-)
 
cueenvy said:
Big pool is almost gone. You have rooms full of people yucking it up on bar tables, who don't care about the history of the game or it's future. Just out having fun like I do when I'm playing mini golf with the family or bowling my 135 game. If the majority of pool participants are cut from this cloth , then pool has no future.

I'm out at the pool hall last night for the weekly 9 ball big table tournament...14 players. Front room has 70 people shooting APA. It is as loud and racous as can be. It's so far from what pool was or could be it's unrecognizable. We have just as many spectators as players watching us play the 9 ball tournament as players. Guys who played all their lives and don't play well enough to win anymore...quietly in the corner a man who has to be 75 is playing a younger man straight pool...running out and winning. As I watch I know it won't be long until all the 9 foot tables will be out of the room entirely.
Click to expand...

Problem is, pool doesnt have the atmosphere it needs - the crowds need to be into it, cheering(for and against) who wants to go to church and watch somebody do 50 airstrokes, get down, get back up,, 50 more airstrokes, walk around the table etc.

Pool should be fast and exciting - the crowd(non serious players) dont wanna see safes, they want to see incredible shots -EARL, ERFEN, HATCH. YOU may love seeing safes, but to the average Joe/Sue that s#!+ is BORING!!!
Jason
 
jasonlaus said:
Problem is, pool doesnt have the atmosphere it needs - the crowds need to be into it, cheering(for and against) who wants to go to church and watch somebody do 50 airstrokes, get down, get back up,, 50 more airstrokes, walk around the table etc.

Pool should be fast and exciting - the crowd(non serious players) dont wanna see safes, they want to see incredible shots -EARL, ERFEN, HATCH. YOU may love seeing safes, but to the average Joe/Sue that s#!+ is BORING!!!
Jason
Click to expand...

You guys want big pool on tv.....even if it were it's not saving the game. I'm telling you 9 foot pool is going extinct.....we need more tournaments and grass roots involvement. Get room owners and local businesses to sponsor events.
 
cueenvy said:
You guys want big pool on tv.....even if it were it's not saving the game. I'm telling you 9 foot pool is going extinct.....we need more tournaments and grass roots involvement. Get room owners and local businesses to sponsor events.
Click to expand...

A quick way to get more publicity quickly would be for the World Championships to come back over here, when they were live on Sky Sports in Cardiff there was a decent following over here (and I'm guessing in the US).

If Matchroom got involved again and run the tournament so it worked out roughly UK evenings/US mornings (well as much as possible with all your crazy time zones ;-) then that would probably be a great step in the right direction.

However I'm guessing that ship has sailed, so its plan B which currently seems to be the globalisation of snooker...or Chinese 8-Ball!
 
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