What game would draw the most viewers on tv ? I believe that 8-ball on bar tables would be the best. Everybody that plays or has played pool understands how 8-ball is played. The number of players that could win a big tournament of 8-ball is probably in the range of 200 or more . People would be able to root for all kinds of unknown players and think through the rack with the players. Alternate break and no 8-ball on the break with a race to 7. Any thoughts out there ?
Best type of pool game for best ratings on tv
- Thread starter real irish
- Start date
I dont think that would work. I love 8 ball, but it has the potential to take a long time to finish the match. I mostly play 9 ball, so I like to watch 9 ball. I play 8 ball, one pocket, and 9 ball, and I have seen other games too, but in my opinion, 9 ball is the best suited game for tv. not too fast, not too slow, and easy as hell to understand.
Joe
Joe
I like the bar box idea. a strong box player can beat any pro at any given time. I'm not saying the strong box player is loving it but, in a short race to 5 or 7...in a tourney format there would be a lot of cinderella stories! would probably raise the interest in pool. :thumbup:
But you're not the audience. Most people don't understand the rules of 9-ball let alone the intricacies of the game. Everybody in the country knows how to play 8-ball, and most play it on bar tables or 8 footers in their home. It's the game most people can relate to which would equate to more viewers. People watching would then get the idea, "Hey! I can do that too!" which means more players in the rooms.
Snooker is huge in the UK and 9-ball is huge in S.E. Asia. Unfortunately, 9-ball and straight pool have already proven unsuccessful in the US...You know what they say about trying the same thing and expecting different results? One-pocket is quite possibly the most boring game to watch for people not familiar with it. I think that would be absolutely disastrous on TV.
Personally, I would love to see a lot more bar table 8-ball action. I like watching difficult patterns and tight position played by the best. There's enough big table 9-ball recorded to last a lifetime. There's only so many times you can watch long tough shots before getting bored. I hate to say it, but there's not too much to learn from watching 9-ball...you can either make the shots, or you can't.
Just keep in mind, pool on TV is for the viewers not the players.
balkline................... the ratings would go through the roof
you want people to watch???
ok...
enough of the silent match .. lets see the pro's talk some shit during the match....
enough with the safety's...
I know why... you know why...
joe blow at home wants you to play an exciting shot...and make the ball.. kick two rails at the bank shot..and sink it.,,, that kinda stuff sells tickets and airtime
pool played well looks simple. and boring.. you don't impress anyone making shots they themselves ...can make..sometimes..
( I know I know getting shape is the whole game I GET IT!!!)
but if you want to sell the game...
make the pro's go for it.... like joe banger does....
I don't know a way to implement that.. and still have a fair skillful game..
but that IS the gap we have to bridge to get pool on tv in america with decent ratings..
ok...
enough of the silent match .. lets see the pro's talk some shit during the match....
enough with the safety's...
I know why... you know why...
joe blow at home wants you to play an exciting shot...and make the ball.. kick two rails at the bank shot..and sink it.,,, that kinda stuff sells tickets and airtime
pool played well looks simple. and boring.. you don't impress anyone making shots they themselves ...can make..sometimes..
( I know I know getting shape is the whole game I GET IT!!!)
but if you want to sell the game...
make the pro's go for it.... like joe banger does....
I don't know a way to implement that.. and still have a fair skillful game..
but that IS the gap we have to bridge to get pool on tv in america with decent ratings..
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how about this rule..
Failure to sink a legal object ball.. on your stroke... results in ball in hand for the incoming player...
that creates a go for it or lose game... bet you'd see A LOT more tv friendly shots per match....
I'm not even saying that's the best thing for the game... I'm saying that's how you sell tickets to the bangers... and create an advertising base outside the pool industry..
Failure to sink a legal object ball.. on your stroke... results in ball in hand for the incoming player...
that creates a go for it or lose game... bet you'd see A LOT more tv friendly shots per match....
I'm not even saying that's the best thing for the game... I'm saying that's how you sell tickets to the bangers... and create an advertising base outside the pool industry..
I agree with the exception of the bar box. Your average banger doesn't know that tables vary in size, and even if they did I don't believe that it would have much effect on viewership. To most people, pool is pool, they don't know what difference varying sizes of tables make.
None, pool is a subculture with a limited appeal. Probably the trick shot stuff may appeal to the largest demographic and that is not even a pool game. If every pool fan tuned it would still not be a large enough audience to attract sponsors. Pools only future is on the net. As this technology improves this will be where we will watch pool.
I have to say, I pretty much agree with this. The subculture has grown, to some extent, but not as much as some newer players think. And, a lot of the older players disagree with a lot of the newer ones about the appeal of the game.
I agree with macguy as well. If you look at ESPN (not ESPN Classic), they pretty much only show trick shot competition and speed pool ocassionally. Of course, you have to look at which country you are talking about. I think in the states, trick shot gets the most viewers. The general public understand it and its much more exciting for people who know nothing about pool. In Asia, like Taiwan and Philippines, 9-ball is definitely the game to watch. The yearly tournaments are 9-ball and they actually broadcast them on the local sports channels.
It's already pretty well-known what games draw viewers to TV.
As pool players we love to bítch about the stuff they show on TV, but ESPN shows that stuff because it's figured out what the average viewer can tolerate without getting bored... not because it's in the dark about what games are popular and interesting to the more hardcore pool players.
That is why we see tons of trick shots, some seven ball, speed pool, some 9 ball, and occasional doubles with very hot female players.
There is no eight ball (even though it's still the most widely played game in america) because nobody wants to see johnny pick lint and swap balls out of pockets while he visualizes 20 different possible ways to solve clusters (and then re-evaluates after each shot).
If you want to know the best type of game for the ratings just look at what's already on there. Sadly that's as good as it gets.
As pool players we love to bítch about the stuff they show on TV, but ESPN shows that stuff because it's figured out what the average viewer can tolerate without getting bored... not because it's in the dark about what games are popular and interesting to the more hardcore pool players.
That is why we see tons of trick shots, some seven ball, speed pool, some 9 ball, and occasional doubles with very hot female players.
There is no eight ball (even though it's still the most widely played game in america) because nobody wants to see johnny pick lint and swap balls out of pockets while he visualizes 20 different possible ways to solve clusters (and then re-evaluates after each shot).
If you want to know the best type of game for the ratings just look at what's already on there. Sadly that's as good as it gets.
My idea how to make this work. . .Pool on TV should change to a boxing format with TV timeouts. Basically, it should be 8-ball, basically BCA rules, but allow 8 on the break wins and winner breaks. NEW TV RULE: 3 turns at the table without pocketing a ball results in ball in hand for opponent. Additionally, players should be miked and encouraged to talk. Matches should be grudge matched with money on the line. Tournaments would be used to determine player rankings. TV time would be grudge matches. Players would come with matching sponsers.
Can you imagine. . .Reyes vs. Shane Van Boening Reyes brings Toyota to the table and SVB brings Ford to the table. Each backer throws in $200k + the sponser, Ticketmaster matches (has TV/venue/DVD rights) with $400k. Sponser + player split all winnings according to agreement.
Maybe race to 9, 8 ball with the above rules? Ideally, this would add trash talking, a game many people think they know how to play and big money like boxing. Maybe PPV?
This idea came to me watching Fats vs. Mosconi matches!
Can you imagine. . .Reyes vs. Shane Van Boening Reyes brings Toyota to the table and SVB brings Ford to the table. Each backer throws in $200k + the sponser, Ticketmaster matches (has TV/venue/DVD rights) with $400k. Sponser + player split all winnings according to agreement.
Maybe race to 9, 8 ball with the above rules? Ideally, this would add trash talking, a game many people think they know how to play and big money like boxing. Maybe PPV?
This idea came to me watching Fats vs. Mosconi matches!
I still don't understand why those trick shot competitions are (relatively) popular, so I have no idea -- I can appreciate a good trick shot, but the way those competitions work, the shot has to be just difficult enough so your opponent will miss. The result is a lot of uninteresting shots.
I would think 8-ball would be more popular too, but who knows?
I would think 8-ball would be more popular too, but who knows?
"It ain't the game---It's the commentary". That's all there is to it.
Please explain how balkline billiards is played. I have been looking for info about this game.
:thumbup::dance:
http://www.usapoolhalls.com/billiards/balkline/
i've only seen one video of it being played but i liked it. i couldn't find the video or i'd have posted it for you
i guess maybe to increase ratings they could show ring games.......... it's really hard to say. people that like pool really like it but people that don't dig it have no interest in watching it. thats something that i don't think can be changed
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