Boycott The Bcn In 08?
- Thread starter Jody B
- Start date
Sorry, but I don't agree with you on a boycott.
The problems this week have been discouraging:
* choppy video at times
* service being out for an entire day
* dropping all connections in the final match at hill-hill
Clearly they must accept the burden of the blame and take steps to make amends. Some of the cracks that shown this week clearly indicate that they run a sub-standard IT shop. For example, there really is no excuse for allowing a server hardware failure take them off line for an entire day. Not having a disaster recovery plan in place that covers this is an offense that merits somebody getting fired in my opinion.
A lot of serious problems that need to be addressed before the next tournament. However, from my limited experience this week (I was at the DCC about half the time) the service has not been nearly as bad as you have been making it out to be in post after post. I think you may have just had your expectation set way to high. They are streaming live video over the internet from a hotel. There are many many technical factors that come into play, some of which are outside of their direct control. The technical task they undertake is complex and error prone. The service is not going to be TV quality video, and choppiness at times is an unfortunate fact of life.
All this said, I am willing to forgive and forget. Why? Because when there is a real problem, they quickly communicate the problem to their customers and explain what corrective action they are taking. This goes a long way in my book. At the very least it buys them another chance. My patience is not unlimited, but admitting an honest mistake will get them another turn at bat with me.
Also, BCn pledging to send out a DVD to all subscribers as a way of apologizing was a good gesture. IMHO, a discount on the next broadcast to DCC subscribers is also merited.
The problems this week have been discouraging:
* choppy video at times
* service being out for an entire day
* dropping all connections in the final match at hill-hill
Clearly they must accept the burden of the blame and take steps to make amends. Some of the cracks that shown this week clearly indicate that they run a sub-standard IT shop. For example, there really is no excuse for allowing a server hardware failure take them off line for an entire day. Not having a disaster recovery plan in place that covers this is an offense that merits somebody getting fired in my opinion.
A lot of serious problems that need to be addressed before the next tournament. However, from my limited experience this week (I was at the DCC about half the time) the service has not been nearly as bad as you have been making it out to be in post after post. I think you may have just had your expectation set way to high. They are streaming live video over the internet from a hotel. There are many many technical factors that come into play, some of which are outside of their direct control. The technical task they undertake is complex and error prone. The service is not going to be TV quality video, and choppiness at times is an unfortunate fact of life.
All this said, I am willing to forgive and forget. Why? Because when there is a real problem, they quickly communicate the problem to their customers and explain what corrective action they are taking. This goes a long way in my book. At the very least it buys them another chance. My patience is not unlimited, but admitting an honest mistake will get them another turn at bat with me.
Also, BCn pledging to send out a DVD to all subscribers as a way of apologizing was a good gesture. IMHO, a discount on the next broadcast to DCC subscribers is also merited.
mthornto said:
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS WITH THE BCN. THEY HAVE NOT FIXED ANYTHING, EVERY US OPEN AND DERBY CITY ITS THE SAME PROBLEM.
They only care about the money, as long as they get paid they don't give a shit.
Boycott them?? Hell yes!!! I'm STILL pissed from last year!!!
You think they are honest? Look at this damn chalk off/quick clean scam. They ripped of Quick Clean BIG TIME!!!!!!!
I totally disagree with the boycott, If you dont like it dont sign up for it
BCN is just crappy, always has been amd everyone knows it
we a pay a few $$$ for a pool fix as live televised billiards is so rare, simple is that
BCN coverage is what it is
I'll thrown them a bone for my fix next year
we a pay a few $$$ for a pool fix as live televised billiards is so rare, simple is that
BCN coverage is what it is
I'll thrown them a bone for my fix next year
Well, I've already sort of boycotted their broadcasts. However, it's not because of the quality (or lack of) of the broadcast.
It's mostly because I understand that they are now only showing the matches live, and they are not archiving them for later viewing. For those of us that have work and other things going on, we can't just be sitting in front of our computer trying to get our money's worth. They used to tape the matches and then put them online so you could watch them later.
In a way, that was what caused me to say no more BCN for me. For last year's Derby, they had stated online that you would be paying for live broadcast only. I was confused since they used to tape the matches; I sent them an e-mail to confirm whether or not they really meant you would only be able to watch it LIVE. I got an e-mail back saying yes, it would only be live, so no, I could not watch the matches later. With that, I said there's no way I'm paying for it because I won't be home to watch most of it.
Somewhere closer to the middle of the event, I think I stumbled onto BCN's website again, and it claimed that they had archived some video, but it would only be available for a couple more days. I then e-mailed again, asking why I had been told they would only show live video, and here they were archiving it. I asked please confirm whether you will be doing this for more video, and I never got a response. So again, I wasn't going to pay for video if I wasn't sure, especially since, according to their website, the video that was up would only be up for a couple more days.
Probably a month or so after the event, I again went onto their website, to find that the video was still up and available, long after the date they said that the video would be removed, but now with a new date. The new date was, you guessed it, only a couple more days from the current day.
For this reason, I will not give them anymore of my money.
It's mostly because I understand that they are now only showing the matches live, and they are not archiving them for later viewing. For those of us that have work and other things going on, we can't just be sitting in front of our computer trying to get our money's worth. They used to tape the matches and then put them online so you could watch them later.
In a way, that was what caused me to say no more BCN for me. For last year's Derby, they had stated online that you would be paying for live broadcast only. I was confused since they used to tape the matches; I sent them an e-mail to confirm whether or not they really meant you would only be able to watch it LIVE. I got an e-mail back saying yes, it would only be live, so no, I could not watch the matches later. With that, I said there's no way I'm paying for it because I won't be home to watch most of it.
Somewhere closer to the middle of the event, I think I stumbled onto BCN's website again, and it claimed that they had archived some video, but it would only be available for a couple more days. I then e-mailed again, asking why I had been told they would only show live video, and here they were archiving it. I asked please confirm whether you will be doing this for more video, and I never got a response. So again, I wasn't going to pay for video if I wasn't sure, especially since, according to their website, the video that was up would only be up for a couple more days.
Probably a month or so after the event, I again went onto their website, to find that the video was still up and available, long after the date they said that the video would be removed, but now with a new date. The new date was, you guessed it, only a couple more days from the current day.
For this reason, I will not give them anymore of my money.
It's easy to remember only the bad things that happen. And forget the good things. Keep this in mind. The BCN doesn't have to show any of the matches live. They could easily stamp some DVD's and charge us per match. Who else out there is providing this type of live coverage for an event. The amount of money they spend on providing coverage (purchasing the hardware, buying new hardware when their crap breaks, hiring people and a hosting company to provide support for the coverage, etc probably ends up becoming a loss in profit). Plus I do agree someone needs to get replaced in the IT group. Some of the problems had NO excuse. I bet the cameras themselves were probably the only thing that their subscriptions covered the cost for. We got to see many live matches that were entertaining. IMHO we saw more than we missed.
Always put yourself in the other person's shoes before threatening to do something. They could easily boycott showing us anything. They make plenty of money from the tourny, that this little tidbit of live streaming coverage could easily be stopped next year. You just got a 9 day (minus the down day) of front row seats that you could watch in the comfort of your home, without travel expenses, and loss of work for 30 bux. I can't do a week's grocery shopping with 30 bux. No one complains about paying 60 bux for a video game that only takes 15 hours to beat.
I think it's a decent deal for those of us unfortunate to be there live. I'd like to see EVERY pool tournament that's goin on live. But I'm content with just seeing 1 or 2 per year.
I wasn't watching when the feed cancelled at midnight. But I know I would have been pissed. Does that mean I'll never subscribe again? Hell no. OOOh, I missed an entire rack of 9 ball, big deal. For 30 bux I saw hundreds of live racks during the week. For 30 bux I saw the goings on of a famous, once a year tournament. I learned more for my 30 bux then I would have paying some local pro idiot to teach me.
Lets just look back of what we DID get for 30 bux. When you weigh it, I'm sure you took in more than any other service has given you. I mean, my son got inspired by watching little Landon run a rack. That to me was worth more than the 30 bux. I got to sit at home and save money all week because there was always something interesting going on at DCC to keep me busy. The feeling of anticipation when leaving work to get home quickly to see what was happening was worth 30 bux. Granted, listening to Danny argue about everything when he can't even make out the colors of the balls (The pink is NOT the 6 danny) wasn't worth 30 bux. But was still entertaining.
If you don't like the price and what you got, go buy a DVD and get 2 hours of entertainment for about the same price. Or fill your tank with gas for the week. You can get a nice get set of silverware for 30 bux.
Thank you BCN and DCC for providing something that doesn't have to be provided at all. You guys would make money with or without the feed. I'm grateful, and will subscribe for your next event. Hopefully that's soon.
Always put yourself in the other person's shoes before threatening to do something. They could easily boycott showing us anything. They make plenty of money from the tourny, that this little tidbit of live streaming coverage could easily be stopped next year. You just got a 9 day (minus the down day) of front row seats that you could watch in the comfort of your home, without travel expenses, and loss of work for 30 bux. I can't do a week's grocery shopping with 30 bux. No one complains about paying 60 bux for a video game that only takes 15 hours to beat.
I think it's a decent deal for those of us unfortunate to be there live. I'd like to see EVERY pool tournament that's goin on live. But I'm content with just seeing 1 or 2 per year.
I wasn't watching when the feed cancelled at midnight. But I know I would have been pissed. Does that mean I'll never subscribe again? Hell no. OOOh, I missed an entire rack of 9 ball, big deal. For 30 bux I saw hundreds of live racks during the week. For 30 bux I saw the goings on of a famous, once a year tournament. I learned more for my 30 bux then I would have paying some local pro idiot to teach me.
Lets just look back of what we DID get for 30 bux. When you weigh it, I'm sure you took in more than any other service has given you. I mean, my son got inspired by watching little Landon run a rack. That to me was worth more than the 30 bux. I got to sit at home and save money all week because there was always something interesting going on at DCC to keep me busy. The feeling of anticipation when leaving work to get home quickly to see what was happening was worth 30 bux. Granted, listening to Danny argue about everything when he can't even make out the colors of the balls (The pink is NOT the 6 danny) wasn't worth 30 bux. But was still entertaining.
If you don't like the price and what you got, go buy a DVD and get 2 hours of entertainment for about the same price. Or fill your tank with gas for the week. You can get a nice get set of silverware for 30 bux.
Thank you BCN and DCC for providing something that doesn't have to be provided at all. You guys would make money with or without the feed. I'm grateful, and will subscribe for your next event. Hopefully that's soon.
My opinion regarding BCN coverage:
It's pretty clear that BCN is not really a professional webcasting outfit, despite their claims or intentions. Really, it's a group of pool enthusiasts who are trying to bring some live pool action to us pool junkies who can't make it to DCC or the US open, and in the course of doing so, make some money. To a certain extent, they deserve our gratitude, despite the problems they have every year, because without it we would have to read about the action on AZ, or hear about it from someone on a cell phone. It's not like they're trying to rip the pool community off and make a quick buck KT-style. It's just poor planning and execution, and maybe some bad luck. But at the end of the day, the BCN people love the game of pool.
I paid the $30 this time, and I definitely got my money's worth, even though it was choppy a lot of the time, and it cut out right at the climax of the incredibly exciting hill-hill game of the finals. I got MUCH more enjoyment out of that choppy 3-inch live feed than I would have from, say, a PPV boxing match, or going to the movies 3 times, or eating out at a mediocre chain restaurant.
Having said that, and given that the broadcasts are directed towards the niche market of pool junkies, I would like to make a request:
SET UP SOME CAMERAS ON THE ACTION TABLES!!!
I want to see Orcollo give Bartrum the 8-9 in 10-ball 10-ahead for 6k! I want to see Efren give Corey 10-7! DCC is all about sweating the money games, let's see some of it!
I don't care if the lighting is a bit crappy, or the angles aren't perfect, or the video quality is lousy. I don't care if there are no announcers, or if someone walks in front of the camera from time to time, or if sometimes you can't tell which ball is which, I'll figure it out. It would be nice to know what the game is and what the score is, but I'll figure that out too (or someone else will and then post it on AZ). It doesn't matter if it's not live, maybe tape the action one night, then broadcast the next night, so on Monday night, we could watch the tape of Sunday night's action. All it would take would be someone, anyone, to set up with a camera every night and record. I would gladly pay an extra $30 next year for that.
I know they are trying to maintain some quality production standards, with the lighting, the different camera angles and close-ups, by having Annigoni (sp?) do interviews, and so on. Well, that's all well and good, and I do appreciate the effort; I think the commentary is great, and I love accustats DVDs, and all that. But this is a CHOPPY 3-INCH WEBCAST! LET'S FACE IT, THE VIDEO QUALITY SUCKS!
In terms of bang for the buck, it would be better to give Annigoni a camcorder and a tripod and stick him in the action room all night. It's the content, and not the whistles and bells that we're interested in. Anyone who even knows that you can get live internet coverage of DCC is going to be a pool addict who (1) wants to see the money games just as much if not more than the tourney matches and (2) is able to follow a pool match without an announcer. I'm not suggesting that they lower the standards on the TV table. But show us the action matches also, even if it's an amateurish single-camera job with imperfect lighting and sound.
I don't really see BCN becoming a true "professional" broadcast anytime soon. As long as it's just a bunch of pool nuts broadcasting the DCC to other pool nuts, might as well give us what we want.
It's pretty clear that BCN is not really a professional webcasting outfit, despite their claims or intentions. Really, it's a group of pool enthusiasts who are trying to bring some live pool action to us pool junkies who can't make it to DCC or the US open, and in the course of doing so, make some money. To a certain extent, they deserve our gratitude, despite the problems they have every year, because without it we would have to read about the action on AZ, or hear about it from someone on a cell phone. It's not like they're trying to rip the pool community off and make a quick buck KT-style. It's just poor planning and execution, and maybe some bad luck. But at the end of the day, the BCN people love the game of pool.
I paid the $30 this time, and I definitely got my money's worth, even though it was choppy a lot of the time, and it cut out right at the climax of the incredibly exciting hill-hill game of the finals. I got MUCH more enjoyment out of that choppy 3-inch live feed than I would have from, say, a PPV boxing match, or going to the movies 3 times, or eating out at a mediocre chain restaurant.
Having said that, and given that the broadcasts are directed towards the niche market of pool junkies, I would like to make a request:
SET UP SOME CAMERAS ON THE ACTION TABLES!!!
I want to see Orcollo give Bartrum the 8-9 in 10-ball 10-ahead for 6k! I want to see Efren give Corey 10-7! DCC is all about sweating the money games, let's see some of it!
I don't care if the lighting is a bit crappy, or the angles aren't perfect, or the video quality is lousy. I don't care if there are no announcers, or if someone walks in front of the camera from time to time, or if sometimes you can't tell which ball is which, I'll figure it out. It would be nice to know what the game is and what the score is, but I'll figure that out too (or someone else will and then post it on AZ). It doesn't matter if it's not live, maybe tape the action one night, then broadcast the next night, so on Monday night, we could watch the tape of Sunday night's action. All it would take would be someone, anyone, to set up with a camera every night and record. I would gladly pay an extra $30 next year for that.
I know they are trying to maintain some quality production standards, with the lighting, the different camera angles and close-ups, by having Annigoni (sp?) do interviews, and so on. Well, that's all well and good, and I do appreciate the effort; I think the commentary is great, and I love accustats DVDs, and all that. But this is a CHOPPY 3-INCH WEBCAST! LET'S FACE IT, THE VIDEO QUALITY SUCKS!
In terms of bang for the buck, it would be better to give Annigoni a camcorder and a tripod and stick him in the action room all night. It's the content, and not the whistles and bells that we're interested in. Anyone who even knows that you can get live internet coverage of DCC is going to be a pool addict who (1) wants to see the money games just as much if not more than the tourney matches and (2) is able to follow a pool match without an announcer. I'm not suggesting that they lower the standards on the TV table. But show us the action matches also, even if it's an amateurish single-camera job with imperfect lighting and sound.
I don't really see BCN becoming a true "professional" broadcast anytime soon. As long as it's just a bunch of pool nuts broadcasting the DCC to other pool nuts, might as well give us what we want.
Guys,
Lets just take the price point into perspective. $30.00 for how many days? Lets say you were watching a Pro Boxing or UFC pay per view. Bing Bang Boom main event may be over in seconds. The are obviously doing this on a tight budget. They are using the existing Hotel infrastructure. No Server Redundancy etc.
Two questions:
How many subscribers do you think they got?
Do you think anyone is getting rich doing this?
Bigger companies then this have been short of expectation as well. Let's see what they do for past subscribers next year (hint hint).
Would you pay $100.00 for guaranteed 100% uptime?
Nick
Lets just take the price point into perspective. $30.00 for how many days? Lets say you were watching a Pro Boxing or UFC pay per view. Bing Bang Boom main event may be over in seconds. The are obviously doing this on a tight budget. They are using the existing Hotel infrastructure. No Server Redundancy etc.
Two questions:
How many subscribers do you think they got?
Do you think anyone is getting rich doing this?
Bigger companies then this have been short of expectation as well. Let's see what they do for past subscribers next year (hint hint).
Would you pay $100.00 for guaranteed 100% uptime?
Nick
cuetechasaurus said:
Is there a difference between Quick Clean and Chalk Off?
And what do you mean by the "scam"?
Truth is I had ordered some Chalk Off from BCn but have cancelled the order as I will not spend any money with BCn.
Sounds like I should just order some Quick Clean from Mueller and move on.
got my money's worth
I am not cool with the boycott. They didn't deliberately leave us out in the cold with their periodic outages. I do think they need to have a better back up in place as in a redundant system, but for 8 days worth of action at 3-4 dollar per, I was happy with the service and would do it again.
I do suggest that they bring back the archived matches for those of us who aren't always online at the convenient times.
I am not cool with the boycott. They didn't deliberately leave us out in the cold with their periodic outages. I do think they need to have a better back up in place as in a redundant system, but for 8 days worth of action at 3-4 dollar per, I was happy with the service and would do it again.
I do suggest that they bring back the archived matches for those of us who aren't always online at the convenient times.