Barry Hearn - Promoter - Does He Have Lessons For American Pool Promotion?

[Hungarian]

The U.S. television markets won't buy pool programming! It's basically that simple. Matchroom is a business, not a charity.

The Mosconi Cup is easily the most exciting pool show produced every year. If we can't get that on TV here, then there is little hope for pool in this country. I would suggest you ask this question to the heads of programming for ESPN, Fox Sports and any other network you can think of. Maybe if a million people wrote to the networks and asked to see the Mosconi Cup or the equally entertaining World Cup of Pool, they would take notice. Until then good luck.

Barry Hearn has deep stroke. He's been at it for a long time building brands and images. He has the events, the stream, the network, the players contracts, etc. If we had that type of long term rain maker things might be different here.

So back to your point. Who do we have to send to the meetings with the heads of programming executives to ask those questions?

The biggest events we have on US soil are by independant promoters, most of which I like very much, but they have very little stroke and funding. The individual promoter doesn't have a big enough agenda.

I think a governing body is needed before any mega impact can be made and I would vote Jay on as a cabinet member.

 

[justadub]

The U.S. television markets won't buy pool programming! It's basically that simple. Matchroom is a business, not a charity.

The Mosconi Cup is easily the most exciting pool show produced every year. If we can't get that on TV here, then there is little hope for pool in this country. I would suggest you ask this question to the heads of programming for ESPN, Fox Sports and any other network you can think of. Maybe if a million people wrote to the networks and asked to see the Mosconi Cup or the equally entertaining World Cup of Pool, they would take notice. Until then good luck.

Thanks for the reply. I figured that you would know the answer.

It seems strange that with all the hundreds of cable/satellite channels we have here, that none of them are interested in an already developed and produced product, especially one with a track record overseas. If Mr.Hearn can't get it sold here, we peons have little hope in influencing the network executives...

 

[sjm]

What were the consequences for the players involved?

Presumably nothing.

Snooker's governing body levies heavy fines and suspensions.

This is well said. There were, as you suspected, no consequences nor loss of reputation for those that were part of the 1991 fix. Snooker chooses to police itself, while pool tends to let anything and everything go. Fines and suspensions are really few and far between in American pool, and this, to some extent, explains why snooker players tend to be viewed as dignified and legitimate sportsmen while American pool players tend to be viewed as undisciplined poor sports.

Those who disgrace the sport of pool are not only given a free pass but typically have legions of fans who defend their appalling conduct, dismissing it as colorful and amusing.