This is interesting for sure and I was just speaking to a pro player (not Shane Winters) two nights ago about streaming and his view on how it hurts the players and how they are owed. I explained I am contracted by the promoter who pays me up front to do an event. He uses my stream and the number of viewers as a way to get more sponsor money which equals more added money for the players and exposure for the event.
Without a stream some sponsors won't take part because its almost expected for any halfway decent event so promoters use it as part of there pitch since hanging a banner up at a venue isn't going to cut it anymore. He then inquired about YouTube and all the views on videos of him and that he should be owed money.
I explained majority of videos I upload have background music from it being done in pool rooms which triggers copyrights from music companies and they don't make money for whomever uploads them which for me is 90% of my videos I would say. So with say for example 1.5 million views and says 150,000 views being monetized I made around $150 total in all those years from that since you earn about $1000 for a million views.
I think players should contact YouTube and ask how much money there name has made on the videos and they might be shocked its very little. I am asked to put these videos online after I stream them from the event promoter, I would prefer to just hand the footage over and let them do it because that is a bunch of work within itself so some do. From now on I think every tournament should make players sign a release for that event and that the added money is the compensation for using the players image.
Ustream pays nothing to streamers for viewer numbers. Now when guys are doing a PPV then players should get paid like TAR did for them in the past. When it is a PPV tournament then the players need to be explained to that the added money is the players pay because maybe some of the added money is recouped from the PPV but I don't know as I have never done one. Streamers who do PPV for a tournament usually cut a deal with the promoter and whack up the monies so the promoter can recoup some of the added money.
I have streamed thousands of hours of pool and much of it with no compensation and just laying out money every two years for equipment which thankfully in the past people contributed to. Now I generate some revenue which I take some of that money and upgrade after about 2 years or so. If an event for example pays me $500 for a weekend event and I spend 30 hours streaming and 10 hours before and after with promotion and other stuff we are at 50 hours so $12.50 an hour but you have a day of travel before and after the event so your wage would become even lower as more time is invested. You also need to minus monies for the equipment fund which will come fast when you need to upgrade stuff.
When players played on ESPN like other athletes they don't get paid money for it, they either get money from their sponsors, a salary from a team or in the case of pool the added money from the event sponsors which the promoter obtained. Some are baffled that ESPN charges pool to film it, well they do this because they need to make money for the production. If they could obtain TV sponsors who want to advertise the event they would do so to make the money but pool doesn't draw big viewers so no big money from advertising. ESPN probably pays to do certain events because they can get big money from advertising.
I don't see promoters or streamers or players getting rich at all because its pool and there is no money and might never be any real big money in it. The fact is I never started streaming because of money or thoughts there would be big money in it but really because I love the game and I know there were others who did also who wanted to watch.
The players and fans should be thankful for streamers and the legit promoters and sponsors in the game because pool just isn't a big draw. I appreciate the players talent because I like pool but we are a small minority who gives a damn about it. I have had some players shake my hand and appreciated I was there to give them coverage because not only does the event need it for the sponsors of the event but players do also so they can showcase the sponsors they have by being seen.
If any player who is playing on the stream wants me to mention their sponsor and even put up a banner on the stream at some point during their match just ask and I will do that no problem. I am proud to help the events, promoters, players, fans and the game. My biggest pay comes in the form of all the people I have met players and fans alike, experiences and memories I will cherish.
Without a stream some sponsors won't take part because its almost expected for any halfway decent event so promoters use it as part of there pitch since hanging a banner up at a venue isn't going to cut it anymore. He then inquired about YouTube and all the views on videos of him and that he should be owed money.
I explained majority of videos I upload have background music from it being done in pool rooms which triggers copyrights from music companies and they don't make money for whomever uploads them which for me is 90% of my videos I would say. So with say for example 1.5 million views and says 150,000 views being monetized I made around $150 total in all those years from that since you earn about $1000 for a million views.
I think players should contact YouTube and ask how much money there name has made on the videos and they might be shocked its very little. I am asked to put these videos online after I stream them from the event promoter, I would prefer to just hand the footage over and let them do it because that is a bunch of work within itself so some do. From now on I think every tournament should make players sign a release for that event and that the added money is the compensation for using the players image.
Ustream pays nothing to streamers for viewer numbers. Now when guys are doing a PPV then players should get paid like TAR did for them in the past. When it is a PPV tournament then the players need to be explained to that the added money is the players pay because maybe some of the added money is recouped from the PPV but I don't know as I have never done one. Streamers who do PPV for a tournament usually cut a deal with the promoter and whack up the monies so the promoter can recoup some of the added money.
I have streamed thousands of hours of pool and much of it with no compensation and just laying out money every two years for equipment which thankfully in the past people contributed to. Now I generate some revenue which I take some of that money and upgrade after about 2 years or so. If an event for example pays me $500 for a weekend event and I spend 30 hours streaming and 10 hours before and after with promotion and other stuff we are at 50 hours so $12.50 an hour but you have a day of travel before and after the event so your wage would become even lower as more time is invested. You also need to minus monies for the equipment fund which will come fast when you need to upgrade stuff.
When players played on ESPN like other athletes they don't get paid money for it, they either get money from their sponsors, a salary from a team or in the case of pool the added money from the event sponsors which the promoter obtained. Some are baffled that ESPN charges pool to film it, well they do this because they need to make money for the production. If they could obtain TV sponsors who want to advertise the event they would do so to make the money but pool doesn't draw big viewers so no big money from advertising. ESPN probably pays to do certain events because they can get big money from advertising.
I don't see promoters or streamers or players getting rich at all because its pool and there is no money and might never be any real big money in it. The fact is I never started streaming because of money or thoughts there would be big money in it but really because I love the game and I know there were others who did also who wanted to watch.
The players and fans should be thankful for streamers and the legit promoters and sponsors in the game because pool just isn't a big draw. I appreciate the players talent because I like pool but we are a small minority who gives a damn about it. I have had some players shake my hand and appreciated I was there to give them coverage because not only does the event need it for the sponsors of the event but players do also so they can showcase the sponsors they have by being seen.
If any player who is playing on the stream wants me to mention their sponsor and even put up a banner on the stream at some point during their match just ask and I will do that no problem. I am proud to help the events, promoters, players, fans and the game. My biggest pay comes in the form of all the people I have met players and fans alike, experiences and memories I will cherish.
Last edited:
