How to Increase Pool's Television Ratings

A

AceHigh

Banned
I have found the solution. What is it, you ask. Well, in reality, there is none. You see I finally realized something that I'm sure most of you already knew. 99.9% of the people that tune in to an ESPN billiards telecast from the beginning and watch all the way to the end are either pool players or pool enthusiasts. The average person will hardly ever sit through an entire match. That is because they do not play the game, and therefore cannot appreciate the difficulty of the game. I want to ask the younger players that post here a question: before you started playing pool, how often did you watch pool on television? how often would you do a search for "billiards" on your cable box, or satellite dish? I am 20 years old, and I started playing pool when I was about 17-18. I can say with confidence that before I started playing pool, I never ONCE watched pool on television, other than when I was channel surfing.

I can only see two ways of increasing pool's popularity when it comes to television:

1. Allow trash talking and verbal confrontations. Allow sharking moves. Allow fights, nothing major, just a few thrown fists, and then have the ref. break it up. Allow sidebets.

2. Go out and get more people interested in the game of billiards (not just 9ball). That way, more people will watch, and the ratings will go up.

You all can make up your own mind on which is more suitable, but for me, I'll go with the latter.

Good day.
 
a better way..............

seat 16 players around the table for a hi stakes game of hold'em.
but only six players get to place their drinks/munchies in the pockets.
 
The truth is, there are very few people who tune in to sports events just to watch them. For example, most people don't watch baseball unless it's their team playing or their favorite player or something of that nature.

The way pool is, with very shaky ranking systems and so few big tournaments, it's just not possible for the average fan to keep up with who's who.

We really need to get a regular showing of live or close to live pool and get average people enthused about that.

How do we do it?

1) Make people have favorite players. Make it so that you can follow a player along the tournament trail and know how well they do.
2) Make statistics part of the game. We're starting to add TPA to the US Open coverage, more talk about break and run percentages, comparison of breaks, etc. But it's just not a sport unless people can log on to some website and look at the standings and percentages and statistics and pull for someone.
3) Get outside of pool sponsorship. We can't keep spreading the same money around. There are several other sponsors that could work for pool. It would add more money and advertising to the game.
4) Have people know when pool is being played and when matches are being televised. Right now it's pretty much a crapshoot of when ESPN televises a match and whether it's new or not. It can't survive on the happenchance that someone who enjoys pool but doesn't know the players happens to tune to ESPN at 11AM on a weekday when most people are at work.

All that being said, things are getting better. The UPA is making great strides to becoming a dominant tour, and TV coverage I believe is soon to follow. Websites such as this one are doing a better and better job of keeping enthusiasts informed.
 
AceHigh said:
I have found the solution. What is it, you ask. Well, in reality, there is none. You see I finally realized something that I'm sure most of you already knew. 99.9% of the people that tune in to an ESPN billiards telecast from the beginning and watch all the way to the end are either pool players or pool enthusiasts. The average person will hardly ever sit through an entire match. That is because they do not play the game, and therefore cannot appreciate the difficulty of the game. I want to ask the younger players that post here a question: before you started playing pool, how often did you watch pool on television? how often would you do a search for "billiards" on your cable box, or satellite dish? I am 20 years old, and I started playing pool when I was about 17-18. I can say with confidence that before I started playing pool, I never ONCE watched pool on television, other than when I was channel surfing.

I can only see two ways of increasing pool's popularity when it comes to television:

1. Allow trash talking and verbal confrontations. Allow sharking moves. Allow fights, nothing major, just a few thrown fists, and then have the ref. break it up. Allow sidebets.

2. Go out and get more people interested in the game of billiards (not just 9ball). That way, more people will watch, and the ratings will go up.

You all can make up your own mind on which is more suitable, but for me, I'll go with the latter.

Good day.
Click to expand...

That's a very well-reasoned post, AceHigh, and, as you say, method two is our best shot.

Most American sports fans have invested quite a bit of time trying to hit a baseball, throw a football, shoot a basketball, hit a golf ball, or hit a tennis ball ---- enough times to appreciate how difficult doing any of these with any proficiency really is. I think it's part of why we watch these sports, because we have developed a profound sense of respect for those who can do what we cannot. We grew up wishing we could do these things well, but save a few of us, we weren't even nearly up to the challenge.

Among American sports fans, only a few grow up trying to develop proficiency hitting a cue ball. In Taipei and the Philippines, it's just the opposite, they play pool early in life,a dn they develop the same kind of appreciation for pool players that we all have for baseball players.

Getting sports fans more involved in pool is where it's at, but it begins with gettng our youth more involved in the game (a point often made by Zim's Rack with great clarity on the AZB forum).
 
Pool wont become popular until it is accepted by parents in a way that they will support their kids playing the game. If it were a part of high school sports, and offered in the gym classes it would be a good start. But untill then it will always be an uphill battle.

As far as getting adults interested it takes promoting the game, and not just getting them through the door. Once they are in there needs to be someone qualified to at least teach them the basics. Pool is a difficult game for the begginer to enjoy, because unless they are lucky enough to play with another begginer they arent going to get to shoot very much and arent going to have very many "good shots" to remember when they go home to bring them back. Playing with a better player may bring them in somewhat because they may see what can be done in the game. But without someone to get them off on the right foot very few fall in love with the game enough to stick with it.

The best way IMO to make pool popular the fastest is to allow on site betting. But with the shape pool is in right now that simply is not possible. There are way to many players needing money that would be willing to dump a match for the quick cash, so no one could feel solid about making a bet. Its sad, but its the truth.

Woody
 
woody_968 said:
Pool wont become popular until it is accepted by parents in a way that they will support their kids playing the game. If it were a part of high school sports, and offered in the gym classes it would be a good start. But untill then it will always be an uphill battle.

...
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You and 1on1tourneys (other thread) are smart people.

I grew up in a state that had no soccer. I raised kids in a soccer haven.

I couldn't watch a game of soccer for more than 2 minutes before my kids played.

Now, if it's a big game, I can watch the whole thing. I even drove 45 minutes to watch the state semifinals and championship game this year.

Pool has to start youth programs for it to have any future.

Also need to keep working on the adult side of the game. But, without a youth program, 20-25 years from now, we'll still be asking the same questions.
 
Gid rid of the pocket cam

Gid rid of Mitch.

Show the whole match

Give good shots of the players stance, and stroke

Have the commentators give insight on how to play the table after the break
 
TheBook said:
Gid rid of the pocket cam

Gid rid of Mitch.

Show the whole match

Give good shots of the players stance, and stroke

Have the commentators give insight on how to play the table after the break
Click to expand...


those things are only geared towards the pool players(well except the mitch thing).

the non playing public are the ones you're after........although i have no idea how to get them........unless you start putting cash on the table for games, and let the players side bet, even on certain shots, and you'll have to let them talk a little shit, not alot, just a little woofing.

america loves when people talk shit, and toss money around.

VAP
 
Would having the players toss money around and talk shit really be the best thing for the game? I thought that the movement was to bring some legitimacy back to the game and quit the old ways of hustling and woofing.
 
TheBook said:
Gid rid of the pocket cam

Gid rid of Mitch.

Show the whole match

Give good shots of the players stance, and stroke

Have the commentators give insight on how to play the table after the break
Click to expand...

In other words, turn it over to Accu-stats.
 
Cue of Fury said:
Would having the players toss money around and talk shit really be the best thing for the game? I thought that the movement was to bring some legitimacy back to the game and quit the old ways of hustling and woofing.
Click to expand...

well.......they tried that.......players used to walk around playing in tuxedos.......didn't work.

sometimes you just have to let something be what it is. people have gambled on this game since it existed.

woofing sometimes is almost as much fun as playing the game.

poker figured it out.........would you sit and watch guys playing poker in tuxedos that were so quiet you could hear a field mouse piss on a ball of cotten????

VAP
 
vapoolplayer said:
...so quiet you could hear a field mouse piss on a ball of cotton????
Click to expand...

LOL. My favorite Shannon Daulton quote! :D

Another goodie: "This feller plays so dag-gone slow, why, he'd even make the Pope kick in a stained-glass window!"

If somebody could incorporate personality AND skills set on a field of green, it would work. To date, it hasn't been accomplished quite yet, but it's getting better.

A couple of younger players expressed desire a year or so ago that they wanted to get on TV, hoping it would advance their pool-playing careers. Some name-brand players, who are currently sponsored by pool industry members, are always hoping to get in the spotlight, to bring recognition to their logo. However, when I have viewed several recent interviews on ESPN with some of the very ones who wanted to be on TV, they never smiled, had very little to say, and did not seize the moment (IMO).

With poker, Chris Moneymaker was the change agent, a nobody from nowhere who scored the big "W," and look at poker on TV, the Internet, and casinos now.

Sometimes a negative event brings attention to a sport and somehow increases its popularity, i.e., Tanya Harding committing an assault on her arch enemy on the ice, Mike Tyson biting an ear off Holyfield live on TV, Pete Rose gambling behind closed curtains, and Dennis Rodman with all of his antics which were followed closely by the press for the pure shock value. :p

And then you have those sports figures who started from the bottom and climbed their way to the top and triumphed in all their glory, the Williams Sisters in tennis, Tiger Woods and Esteban Toledo in golf.

Whatever it is that is going to bring recognition to pool in the States, it ain't going to happen with emotionless players banging balls in the pocket, even if they never miss. JMHO, FWIW!

JAM
 
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JAM said:
LOL. My favorite Shannon Daulton quote! :D

Another goodie: "This feller plays so dag-gone slow, why, he'd even make the Pope kick in a stained-glass window!"

If somebody could incorporate personality AND skills set on a field of green, it would work. To date, it hasn't been accomplished quite yet, but it's getting better.

A couple of younger players expressed desire a year or so ago that they wanted to get on TV, hoping it would advance their pool-playing careers. Some name-brand players, who are currently sponsored by pool industry members, are always hoping to get in the spotlight, to bring recognition to their logo. However, when I have viewed several recent interviews on ESPN with some of the very ones who wanted to be on TV, they never smiled, had very little to say, and did not seize the moment (IMO).

With poker, Chris Moneymaker was the change agent, a nobody from nowhere who scored the big "W," and look at poker on TV, the Internet, and casinos now.

Sometimes a negative event brings attention to a sport and somehow increases its popularity, i.e., Tanya Harding committing an assault on her arch enemy on the ice, Mike Tyson biting an ear off Holyfield live on TV, Pete Rose gambling behind closed curtains, and Dennis Rodman with all of his antics which were followed closely by the press for the pure shock value. :p

And then you have those sports figures who started from the bottom and climbed their way to the top and triumphed in all their glory, the Williams Sisters in tennis, Tiger Woods and Esteban Toledo in golf.

Whatever it is that is going to bring recognition to pool in the States, it ain't going to happen with emotionless players banging balls in the pocket, even if they never miss. JMHO, FWIW!

JAM
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Jam, i did here a R U M O R. note, rumor only, no fact yet. that allen hopkin's skins deal this year is going to incorporate some personality and gamble. that would work really well i think. if all goes well, i'll be in AC again this year for it.

VAP
 
QUOTE=CaptainJR The first issue is getting enough people to watch it. Ratings, that is what it is all about. This has been discussed on here over an over, but no matter what, the issue is going to be ratings. You have to get the ratings high enough so that the big bucks will start to buy commercials. You know, GM, Ford, Wal-Mart. Then the money will come.

People who play golf, watch golf on TV. People who play tennis, watch Tennis on TV. People who bowl, watch bowling on TV.

It has already been established on here that there are a whole lot of people that play casual pool. Why don't the watch it on TV?

Because according to them, there is no pool on TV. For example one of them might simply say to you. 'Oh, they don't play pool on TV. They play ummm, what was it hmmmm., oh yea it was called ball 9. ..... To them pool is 8 ball.

You want a lot of people to watch pool on TV? Bar box 8 ball. (or just 8 ball, maybe not necessarily on a bar box)

1. You wouldn't have to tell everyone the rules of the game. Solids, stripes, make yours then make the 8 ball. Everyone knows this. (maybe a few details a situations arise)

2. Better commentary. 9 ball.....he's going to do this then he will do that and then this. 8 ball......he's got 5 ways he could go here. If he decides on the solids......if he decides on the strips................ now that he chose solids he can do this or that or this or that.

3. More player involvement. When is the last time you saw 5 consecutive 8 ball break and runs?

Yes, we would have to bite the bullet a little because a lot of us don't think that 8 ball is the best game, but I just don't think it is going to happen unless you show the game they play.

Why don't they show Stableford Golf on TV much? Because it isn't what Joe golfer plays or what he wants to watch. /QUOTE
 
vapoolplayer said:
well.......they tried that.......players used to walk around playing in tuxedos.......didn't work.

sometimes you just have to let something be what it is. people have gambled on this game since it existed.

woofing sometimes is almost as much fun as playing the game.

poker figured it out.........would you sit and watch guys playing poker in tuxedos that were so quiet you could hear a field mouse piss on a ball of cotten????

VAP
Click to expand...

that's what I've been saying for a long time. people need to stop trying to change pool. it is what it is, a gambling sport. the real world of pool has it's share of degenerates. but it also has it's share of classy people who don't need to shark or hustle to make it big in the game.

the way I see it, people shouldn't complain about not making huge amounts of money in professional pool. if you don't like the amount of money you're getting (or not getting), then get a real job.

i don't know about any of you, but I would much rather make $50,000 a year playing pool, than $150,000 a year working a 9-5 job.
 
AceHigh said:
i don't know about any of you, but I would much rather make $50,000 a year playing pool, than $150,000 a year working a 9-5 job.
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how many pool players do you know that make 50 dimes a year?

VAP
 
AceHigh said:
I have found the solution. What is it, you ask. Well, in reality, there is none. You see I finally realized something that I'm sure most of you already knew. 99.9% of the people that tune in to an ESPN billiards telecast from the beginning and watch all the way to the end are either pool players or pool enthusiasts. The average person will hardly ever sit through an entire match. That is because they do not play the game, and therefore cannot appreciate the difficulty of the game. I want to ask the younger players that post here a question: before you started playing pool, how often did you watch pool on television? how often would you do a search for "billiards" on your cable box, or satellite dish? I am 20 years old, and I started playing pool when I was about 17-18. I can say with confidence that before I started playing pool, I never ONCE watched pool on television, other than when I was channel surfing.

I can only see two ways of increasing pool's popularity when it comes to television:

1. Allow trash talking and verbal confrontations. Allow sharking moves. Allow fights, nothing major, just a few thrown fists, and then have the ref. break it up. Allow sidebets.

2. Go out and get more people interested in the game of billiards (not just 9ball). That way, more people will watch, and the ratings will go up.

You all can make up your own mind on which is more suitable, but for me, I'll go with the latter.

Good day.
Click to expand...


Nothing will increase the viewer ship, pool is just not watch able to the non player. Once they have seen a few shots they all look the same to the non player, even most players don't watch. Maybe the addition of some player drama or a lot of money involved, that always make it interesting but the game itself is not terribly entertaining. Even the somewhat success of the ladies has more to do with the novelty of them being ladies then the game itself. It's a catch 22, not watch able, = no audience = no sponsors = no money = no professional sport, just a fun to do pastime for millions of people. I don't know any solution and don't kill the messenger I am just making a few obvious observations.
 
vapoolplayer said:
how many pool players do you know that make 50 dimes a year?

VAP
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AND, FWIW, in order for that pool player to get make that 50 dimes a year, he's spending $30,000-plus very easily.

Living out of a suitcase gets old after a while, and it's definitely more expensive when one is on the road for the majority of the year traveling the globe.

When pool payouts get higher, you'll see players take the game more seriously. To date, there are many who think they can make more money in games of high stake, which is why poker on the Internet has captured many of today's existing lot of capable players.

I can tell you this for sure. At the $130,000 Skins Billiards Championship, every single one of the 16 players who were there were very serious about that money and wanted to give it their all. You should have seen the faces of the first eight who were eliminated, standing on the sidelines, dreaming about what could have been.

I am anxious to see what Allen Hopkins' crew has in store for this November. Whatever it may be, I know it will be innovative and exciting, and every single player who gets the opportunity to compete in it will be chomping at the bit to make that big score. The whole atmosphere is different when there's big money on the table.

JAM
 
CaptainJR said:
3. More player involvement. When is the last time you saw 5 consecutive 8 ball break and runs?
Click to expand...

let me answer that question with a question. When is the last time you saw 5 consecutive 9 ball break and runs, on tv? I know I never have. I've seen players win multiple games in a row, but never multiple break and runs. There is plenty of player involvement in 9ball.
 
I have some long winded opinions on this one but im hungry so I will update this after i make a hamburger :) (i think I have ADD) to be continued....

*edit:

Ok heres my take on the situation. I personally would rather watch a game of 8 ball than a game of 9 ball on tv because its what I have played more and there is a lot more going on in 8ball than 9ball just because theres more object balls and traffic. It is also a game that almost everyone has played at one time or another whether it be for recreation or to gamble. Since everyone at one point in their lifes has probable picked up a pool cue or has a family member that has, id use that to promote the sport.

First thing i would do, i think i saw this done 1 time with MTV people and maybe tom green but... i would have more celebrity pool games on tv. Those games would be 8 ball, money would be paid to the winners charities. It would more than likely be doubles to keep it a little more entertaining OR it could be 2 teams of 5. I would use celebrities such as nascar drivers to try to pull in the Nascar fans. Work it so it is taped on a fri. sat. or sun near a track they are racing at, then play it either during the week or sunday before the race would be optimal. I think it could very easily get plugs during prerace or post race discussions by the talk guys. More celebrity matches should bring in people from more walks of life (exactly how texas holdem has done it) it will show that pool isnt just for people in a dirty bar throwing money around. What bringing in celbrities also does is it will lower the seriousness of everything AND there will be more trash talking and so on which people love.

The next thing i would do is although it sounds cheesy... try to organize a annual billiards day or something similar where local pool halls drastically reduce their rates in order to try to get more families or even just more people into the pool halls playing. This could potentially inspire more dads to bring their sons in to show them how to play. The halls can consider it an investment if done on a usually slow day. The bar and food stands make the money still AND the seeds been planted and hopefully people will come back. This can be done on a smaller scale weekly as long as the pool halls are dedicated to marketing it. This might even be something that Leagues could put up the advertising money in exchange for having league handouts, league messages broadcast over the PA systems or just having posters up.

As people have said, getting more and more younger people to play will help but how do you do that?... 1 way might be to organize more junior leagues, maybe in the boys / girls clubs organizations if that already isnt in exsistance. Another way is to promote pool as a sport that can bring fathers and sons, mothers and daughters and vice versa closer together as it gives them something they can do together to bond.

Everything takes marketing money for the advertisements BUT I would argue that if done correctly a lot of this money can come from billiard supply company, stick companies, table companies, leagues... because everything will be mutually beneficial to all of the above. The more father and sons start playing, the more then are likely to purchase a stick or possibly even a table. All it would take in my opnion is commitment and someone who can effectively work out the deals.

In closing i think 9 ball is a great game that takes a ton of skill BUT i think the average TV viewer would understand all the skill involved and would rather just see more action. keep 9 ball games for those who love straight up skill games and give the rest of us 8ball to watch. Also I tried extremely hard to stay away from saying that we need more girls like jennifer beretta playing but that wouldnt hurt either :) There is a lot that can be done, it just requires a well thought out plan and a commitment to grow the sport.

-Lou
 
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