Better Pool on TV
- Thread starter horton129
- Start date
TheThaiger
Banned
How about this for an idea: make the game points based, with one point per pot, two for a combination, three for a bank, four for two balls in one shot etc etc. Deduct points for missing/safeties. Race to one hundred.
Some good thoughts here from many and want to give a big thumbs up to BigTruck for the coverage he provides it's awesome. Only been playing for a while and the Richard Sweet Memorial at Mr Cues2 was the first I watched..................Thanks BigTruck!
However as for more Pool on TV, if we are talking about mainstream TV like ESPN etc I think we have big problems especially with the economy as it is but also.
1. There are far too many governing bodies, nobody knows who runs what, where or when unless you are intimately involved in Pool, even then it's difficult.
2. Pool in general still has some what of a 'seedy' image in many peoples eyes. It may not be true or as true as it was, but I believe it's still out there. You only have to look at the Corey v Charlie incident a few years ago, it's still being debated in Forums, I saw one yesterday here. That's ok once you are established as a TV sport, can even raise ratings, but when you are trying to get 'in' not always a good thing.
3. We need Promoters and big established ones at that (or ones willing to take risks) to take hold of the Sport and make a concerted effort to raise the publics interest in the sport. You have to pick and chose your starting points for doing this, something that will engage the public and get them involved. Someone mentioned earlier in this thread the Mosconi Cup, that's a great point, you have two teams 'going at it' for 4 days. You have patriotism and emotion from players and supporters, great action it has all the right elements for success. It doesn't matter for the armchair viewer if they know the players or not it's the USA v Europe a great starting point. Maybe when it comes back here next year we can all get together and bug the sh*t out of every media outlet we can to provide some sort of coverage or reporting. I know I have already started this conversation with Matchroom and it's Media Director Luke Riches. More events like this with more coverage, not just TV but all media would do us the world of good. I also plan to contact all the major Atlanta media outlets about providing at least results for this years Mosconi Cup from London. Especially as a local boy, Johnny Archer, should be in the team. If I have to phone in results each night myself to the AJC, 11 Alive, Channel 2 Action News etc etc.
Just some thoughts...........well some would say ramblings. It's just I love this sport, only been playing for a few months after moving here from England to get married. I used to play snooker a good few years ago, but gave up and picked up a cue for the first time in 15-20 years in Feb at MBC. You know the story, I am hooked now, I guess you can tell from the above
And yes as a fairly new US Citizen, finally got it last year, of course I will be rooting for a win for the USA in London! It's going to be tough especially as it's back at the York Hall a unique venue, with some awesome Europen Fans, looking forward to it immensely.
However as for more Pool on TV, if we are talking about mainstream TV like ESPN etc I think we have big problems especially with the economy as it is but also.
1. There are far too many governing bodies, nobody knows who runs what, where or when unless you are intimately involved in Pool, even then it's difficult.
2. Pool in general still has some what of a 'seedy' image in many peoples eyes. It may not be true or as true as it was, but I believe it's still out there. You only have to look at the Corey v Charlie incident a few years ago, it's still being debated in Forums, I saw one yesterday here. That's ok once you are established as a TV sport, can even raise ratings, but when you are trying to get 'in' not always a good thing.
3. We need Promoters and big established ones at that (or ones willing to take risks) to take hold of the Sport and make a concerted effort to raise the publics interest in the sport. You have to pick and chose your starting points for doing this, something that will engage the public and get them involved. Someone mentioned earlier in this thread the Mosconi Cup, that's a great point, you have two teams 'going at it' for 4 days. You have patriotism and emotion from players and supporters, great action it has all the right elements for success. It doesn't matter for the armchair viewer if they know the players or not it's the USA v Europe a great starting point. Maybe when it comes back here next year we can all get together and bug the sh*t out of every media outlet we can to provide some sort of coverage or reporting. I know I have already started this conversation with Matchroom and it's Media Director Luke Riches. More events like this with more coverage, not just TV but all media would do us the world of good. I also plan to contact all the major Atlanta media outlets about providing at least results for this years Mosconi Cup from London. Especially as a local boy, Johnny Archer, should be in the team. If I have to phone in results each night myself to the AJC, 11 Alive, Channel 2 Action News etc etc.
Just some thoughts...........well some would say ramblings. It's just I love this sport, only been playing for a few months after moving here from England to get married. I used to play snooker a good few years ago, but gave up and picked up a cue for the first time in 15-20 years in Feb at MBC. You know the story, I am hooked now, I guess you can tell from the above
And yes as a fairly new US Citizen, finally got it last year, of course I will be rooting for a win for the USA in London! It's going to be tough especially as it's back at the York Hall a unique venue, with some awesome Europen Fans, looking forward to it immensely.Rotation?
I personally don't like the idea. Penalyzing a player for safeties and rewarding for low percentage show shots will reduce pool to the level of artistic billiards. I know that's harsh, but that's the way is see it.
However, I agree with you that people want to see extraordinary shots. Caroms, combos, multirail banks, huge powerd draw shots (I mean, how many know Corey as "the guy on youtube who pulled off that amazing draw shot"?) etc. Most of those shots are, to my limited understanding, quite frequent in rotation.
Rotation tournaments on tv? I'll be sure to watch. The question is, will the general public. And, sadly, I think the answer in no.
Again, just my 0.02€.
J.S.
I personally don't like the idea. Penalyzing a player for safeties and rewarding for low percentage show shots will reduce pool to the level of artistic billiards. I know that's harsh, but that's the way is see it.
However, I agree with you that people want to see extraordinary shots. Caroms, combos, multirail banks, huge powerd draw shots (I mean, how many know Corey as "the guy on youtube who pulled off that amazing draw shot"?) etc. Most of those shots are, to my limited understanding, quite frequent in rotation.
Rotation tournaments on tv? I'll be sure to watch. The question is, will the general public. And, sadly, I think the answer in no.
Again, just my 0.02€.
J.S.
IMO the best thing that could happen for pool on TV would be to have jr. pool events. I would suggest 8 ball.
Find a few sponsors that would provide enough money to create scholarships as prizes.
Hold the tourneys for these scholarships at different skill levels to allow this to get off the ground.
How could ESPN say no to airing kids on TV without looking bad ....
Find a few sponsors that would provide enough money to create scholarships as prizes.
Hold the tourneys for these scholarships at different skill levels to allow this to get off the ground.
How could ESPN say no to airing kids on TV without looking bad ....
Camerawork
For me, the camerawork often prevents me from really getting into the game.
I wish they would just stop showing closeups of balls rolling in. 40+ square feet on a pool table, and they only show 10% of it. Who knows what happened to the cue ball, it's long out of the shot. Pocket cams are the worst offenders. And forget about figuring out who is at the table, you rarely see anything except the guy's bridge. Instead of these stupid closeups that cut away as soon as your eyes focus, give me an overhead view so I know exactly what's happening on the table.
I would also like to see more of the players. I want to see what's happening with their bodies. Especially when they miss. Did he jump? Was he misaligned to begin with? Much more interesting than watching the four roll in.
I'm watching poolactiontv.com as I write this, and one thing I really like about it is that they have a camera angle that is wide enough that you can see the whole table, and the player shooting, at the same time. Even accustats doesn't do that much.
For me, the camerawork often prevents me from really getting into the game.
I wish they would just stop showing closeups of balls rolling in. 40+ square feet on a pool table, and they only show 10% of it. Who knows what happened to the cue ball, it's long out of the shot. Pocket cams are the worst offenders. And forget about figuring out who is at the table, you rarely see anything except the guy's bridge. Instead of these stupid closeups that cut away as soon as your eyes focus, give me an overhead view so I know exactly what's happening on the table.
I would also like to see more of the players. I want to see what's happening with their bodies. Especially when they miss. Did he jump? Was he misaligned to begin with? Much more interesting than watching the four roll in.
I'm watching poolactiontv.com as I write this, and one thing I really like about it is that they have a camera angle that is wide enough that you can see the whole table, and the player shooting, at the same time. Even accustats doesn't do that much.
Jay, the TV balls aren't really about the need to see the 4 and 7 balls better, is it? I always thought it was more just a great idea some middle manager came up with at Saluc to sell more balls to people that already had a perfectly good set of balls but need to have the latest thing that comes out. I mean it kind of is the same thing with the measles cue ball. Most of us can tell by the player's tip placement, reaction of the cue ball off the OB or rail, or just by our own experience with that particular shot, what kind of english is being applied to the CB. But the idea I'm sure has sold more CB's.
All good thoughts here and sometimes lost on TV directors. Like you I want to see the entire path of the cue ball and the player's reaction to a shot. A good end zone camera is still the best tool for pool on television, WHEN USED PROPERLY!
The TV Pro Cup Balls were designed to be more visible on television. Nice try is all I have to say about that. The measles ball is a big plus imo. You can much more easily see how the player has applied english to the cue ball. So one out of two ain't bad.
IMO the best thing that could happen for pool on TV would be to have jr. pool events. I would suggest 8 ball.
Find a few sponsors that would provide enough money to create scholarships as prizes.
Hold the tourneys for these scholarships at different skill levels to allow this to get off the ground.
How could ESPN say no to airing kids on TV without looking bad ....
No one watches pool, therefore espn won't look bad saying no. Besides it's all about money and there is no money in pool. What are the schollies for,,,COLLEGE? That's a contradiction, and there's more money spent in a year of college than what a good player makes in a year of pool.
Pool's problem is pool, not tv.