Bar Box on TV?

macguy said:
This subject is getting funny. It doesn't matter what game is played or what size table. Weather they are pros or amateurs, it just doesn't matter. The audience it just not there. Pool is NOT a spectator sport. Beyond the trick shot stuff that gets some peoples attention with the novelty value, pool can't be sold to the general public. Heck most pool lovers would much rather play then watch. Except for a couple tournaments a year that draw pretty good like the US Open and the Derby that are more of happenings then tournaments, few people want to watch pool. That is just a fact. The average pool room who puts on a tournament can't even get it's own customers to pay anything to watch. I don't think the jury is out anymore on this and sponsors are not stupid. Pool is a very, very small subculture with some hard core followers and that is it.
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Finally! Well said. The mainstream public doesnt care about pool. Never has, never will. Never say never, but when their choices are the NFL, NBA, MLB, PGA Tour, Nascar, or the UFC, almost nobody is going to choose pool, ever. Its just a simple fact and it can be debated until you are blue in the face. The PI is not the United States.
 
Celtic said:
I don't agree with that. 6-ball tournaments with buckets for pockets did not exactly bring in a stream of viewers and popularity to the sport.

Making the sport look super easy is not the answer. People want to see pro's do things they cannot, making 9-ball outs on a bar box is way too easy and the top 1000 players in the world are all flipping coins on who would win the match in a race to 9 pretty much. That would murder pool.

As to what Mark was saying, 8-ball on a diamond changes things, that was high offense world class pool. 8-ball is alot harder of a game on a box though once a person has rudimentary shape and potting skills.
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The pockets can be 4 1/2 inch pockets on a diamond barbox and although it would still be easy for the pros the general public wouldn't know the difference.
I agree I would much rather see barbox eight ball on tv myself but no-one really knows what average joe would want to see.
As for you saying that would murder pool I don't agree, because if it gets the public involved it could attract more sponsors to get pool on tv more and then they could slowly build back up to big table 9 or 10 ball for the die hard fans.

I have a question for everyone, How in the hell could someone find Golf more interesting to watch on tv than pool?
 
pool halls are still considered criminal elements.That being said I have seen all kinds of T.V. pool shows over the years and not one ever makes it here.The best is the womens league and ESPN is hardly showing that anymore.People mentioned poker,but that is fading away from T.V. also.
It is a fickle public out there with no attention span.
 
My idea for pool on a bar table short length races with matches scored tennis style like 3 races (sets) to 5 or 6 winners break.

So Game Set Match just like tennis

Breaking on the set decided by lag for first break, lag looser breaks next set for sure, winner of lag breaks thrid set.

I do not care for 2 races to 7, 1 game to act as a tie breaker pretty lame there. I hate cut for a commerical come back 3 or 4 games later. I also do not care for watching matches 2 or 3 years old and shown as being somewhat current. BTW - I spend money same as the other multiple millions of pool players do in this country, that is if any potential advertisers are reading this thread.

As far as pool not being a spectator sport you are right currently in the US it is not a spectator sport, somethings need to change but some how or another it has been a very viewable sport recently in the Far East and also in th UK with snooker. If it was well sponsored and the money got up there to some decent level, draw out some real talent and put it on live, I do believe it would be viewed by many more than you might expect but for now that is not the case.

No cash, no slot on TV = no viewers.
 
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Johnnyt said:
Someone just hasn't come up with the right combo yet. Look at poker. I'd laugh my a$$ off if it was the bar box that went over big. Take it a little further and play the old shoot out with a time clock. Need good people in the both to add to the exitment and drama. Johnnyt
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The only reason poker gets an audience is because people see all the money that is available. That gets their interest and creates hopes of them becoming the next poker champ. Poker doesn't take the skill and practice that pool does to become a champ. You can sit on your butt and with luck, some knowledge and guts win a ton. They feel by watching it they can learn to play. It doesn't work that way in pool.
 
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