How to Increase Pool's Television Ratings

[Jude Rosenstock]

You'll see it when they air the WPBA event from Alpine, CA! Kelly Fisher essentially broke and ran 7 or 8 racks in a row! Although this spanned two different people. She played lights out. Had they been playing winner breaks she could have very well run out one or both of the sets.

As impressive a feat that may be, it's still not a package. The great problem with alternating breaks is that there are no continuous runs so there are no packages. Kelly Fisher did great and by no means should this equate to lesser play because it's not but since it's not continuous, many people (even herself) may not have noticed.

 

[bsmutz]

If you look at most sports (the most popular ones, anyway) there are a series of games played to determine who the best is statistically (most wins). Then there are a series of playoffs and, finally, a playoff between the final two winners. Why doesn't pool follow this formula? What I see in the WPBA is a bunch of seemingly unrelated tournaments and they are much more organized than the men. Yes, you can keep track of who is #1 if you try pretty hard, but it is not very apparent to the casual observer on any given day. The Mosconi Cup is a great example of what used to draw millions of fans from this country, but they knew the names of the players competing because there were only two. Now, the players are selected by a team captain, the fans have no say or vested interest in who is chosen. There's no live coverage so that fans can keep track of who is winning or watch them play. There is little or no gambling on the outcome (as opposed to yesteryear). There has to be a top dog. People will love him or hate him, but there can be only one. Then there will be the challengers that will have their fans and haters fighting to knock off #1. Who will bring home the trophy this year? We need this kind of competition to establish a fan base. Use statistics from the year's worth of events leading up to the national championship to determine who gets on the team to take on Europe and Asia. Look at how many people try to get on American Idol that can't sing worth a lick. Have qualifiers with minimal ($20)entry fees so that Joe Anyone can try to upset the country's top dog. Make money from the bottom up with wannabes footing the bill. We're too scattered. There's the BCA, the ACS, the UPA, the WPBA, etc. The Viking Tour, the Pechauer Tour, the Florida Tour, the Midwest Tour, etc. Let's get on the same page and work towards the same goal. Anyone can see that when you dilute the significance of something, you dilute the whole thing. Look at the CFL and WFL in football, arena football, minor league baseball, etc. Doesn't the major league World Series vastly overshadow say the Little League World Series? It is the overwhelmingly accepted as the genuine article activities where the most money is made and the most attention is paid. Where is that in pool? England surely has it in Snooker.

 

[lukeinva]

I think in between racks they have some HOTTIE racking the balls and then have another hottie walking around the table with a card that says break and run or 9 on the snap! But they have to be really hot chicks!! Also I think they should let the players bet on themselves when playing like aces said dont try to change the sport gambling is a part of pool no matter how hard people try they are never going to be able to take that out. I think you should let players bet whatever they want like if some one is playing they could go bet you $100 I will run this rack or I will make this combo or something like that. You have to make it entertaining for non pool people to watch. Just like any other sports people dont like to watch if they make it more interesting the more people will watch. I like watching hockey because there is generally non stop action but I may think that because I use to play hockey and love the sport. I also use to play baseball but can not stand watching it on TV its to boring! I will just catch the highlights on espn. Just think how boring it would be to watch poker without being able to see the players cards! It would be like watching paint dry. Part of the fun with poker is watching someone getting trapped and betting high when you know they will lose! Pool need to do something like that, that would make it greatly more interesting to people that dont even play!

 

[AceHigh]

I think in between racks they have some HOTTIE racking the balls and then have another hottie walking around the table with a card that says break and run or 9 on the snap! But they have to be really hot chicks!! Also I think they should let the players bet on themselves when playing like aces said dont try to change the sport gambling is a part of pool no matter how hard people try they are never going to be able to take that out. I think you should let players bet whatever they want like if some one is playing they could go bet you $100 I will run this rack or I will make this combo or something like that. You have to make it entertaining for non pool people to watch. Just like any other sports people dont like to watch if they make it more interesting the more people will watch. I like watching hockey because there is generally non stop action but I may think that because I use to play hockey and love the sport. I also use to play baseball but can not stand watching it on TV its to boring! I will just catch the highlights on espn. Just think how boring it would be to watch poker without being able to see the players cards! It would be like watching paint dry. Part of the fun with poker is watching someone getting trapped and betting high when you know they will lose! Pool need to do something like that, that would make it greatly more interesting to people that dont even play!

American people like to watch people suffer. Look at the show Fear Factor. Seeing someone lose a high stakes side bet would be very appealing to the American public. The show Ballbreakers will be big for pool because it appeals to the biggest aspect of pool; gambling. Unfortuanetely it will be on a station that most people don't have.

 

[CaptainJR]

I would like to see an all billiard channel that shows straight pool matches, along with 8 ball, one pocket, and other various games.

So would I, but I think we are trying to be realistic here and an all billiard channel isn't going to happen until it becomes more popular to watch. I was talking about what would help it get more popular. Showing the game everyone plays would do that.

 

[CantEverWin]

My problem with this idea is that it ends up looking more like "reality" tv than a sports event.

And we wouldn't want the rating's of those stupid reality tv show's. When Pool get's American Idol rating's we know the game won't survive...

 

[AceHigh]

So would I, but I think we are trying to be realistic here and an all billiard channel isn't going to happen until it becomes more popular to watch. I was talking about what would help it get more popular. Showing the game everyone plays would do that.

I agree, but you're missing one point. The 8 ball game that the general public plays is much different than the 8 ball game the professionals play. What I mean is that when professionals play the game, they hardly miss.

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

And we wouldn't want the rating's of those stupid reality tv show's. When Pool get's American Idol rating's we know the game won't survive...

Just because it's reality, doesn't suddenly give it American Idol ratings. American Idol is popular because they have these cute people singing and dancing. For whatever reason, I don't see pool coming off quite as cute. Pool is a sport and needs to be treated as such. Trust me, I've seen the variants. I was at the taping of the pilot for No Limit 9-ball. As entertaining as that show might be ('might' is the key word), I wouldn't suddenly tune in because I wanted to watch pool. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong and honestly, I wouldn't condem someone trying a new idea. I'm just saying I probably wouldn't like it.

 

[Egg McDogit]

Give good shots of the players stance, and stroke

That is one thing that bugs the hell outta me. I HATE some of the camera angles/zooms they use. I'd like the presentation a lot more if I could see more of the player and more of the table during shots.

My suggestion for tv friendly pool:
1) make the pockets really tight...or at least as tight as diamond pro cuts...matches are always more exciting to sweat when there's at least some possibility that a player can miss. With big pockets...you're almost shocked when a pro doesn't get out...how many people have watched a tv match and already felt that a rack was anti-climactic by the 2 shot cause the player got in line?

2) pro/celebrity scotch doubles - same idea as #1, the pros try to leave the celebs easy/foolproof shots and the celebs screw it all up. The pros have to constantly make tough shots and try to get back in line - so anyone can miss at any given time. Maybe not even a celeb...just a non-pro player who screws up now and then to make the game less mechanical...

bottom line - out of position, tough shots, possibility of missing = interesting/excitiny

peace
-egg

peace
-egg

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Well, it appears as good as any time to jump in now.

As in the movie Unforgiven, America doesn't even have a queen!!!!!

I talked to a kid in the APA last night who grew up in England. Some of their one on one matches can go on for DAYS!!!!!!!! He said that a game of snooker lasts an hour on the average. Some matches are 17 games. Snooker, as he called it, is like chess on cloth.

Now this is not going to fly in the U.S. Get serious! And 14.1? Get serious again.

Face it, the US doesn't have the class of the English LOL. You are going to have to find another way to popularize pool.

Let's do what we do best. No class, gambling shown on TV (the IRS would love this BTW), syndicated pool. Maybe we could pay for view...I would be willing to.

What the US needs to do is to get the price of pool tables to less that a grand, if this is possible. Kind of like the VCR theory. Back in the 70s the marketing strategy for the VCRs to sell was to hit the magic number of $600 or less. Have other options to pool balls besides Aramith. Bring on Fast Larry's balls made in China.

Then put them on every street corner. Every YMCA. Get down in the mud. Bastardize ourselves. That's America. I love it. The hell with the stuffy English.

Something funny to consider. Fast Larry took a trip to the Middle East and said that one country is putting pool tables indeed on every street corner to give the people something to do while the subcontractors rebuild their country. If you are caught gambling, it is off with your fingers however

Oh hell. I am on vacation now and I saw on ESPN where they are going to show reruns of the Indianapolis 500!!!!!! We need to get the rednecks interested in pool.

By for now.

WW

As cool as we may think we are, we're MUCH CLOSER in culture to England than we'd care to admit. You cannot tell me that Soccer or Rugby is anything resembling stuffy. There's just about no difference between Rugby and American football. In fact, if you want to see stuffy, look no further than golf which is pretty damn popular in these parts.

 

[Williebetmore]

I think in between racks they have some HOTTIE racking the balls and then have another hottie walking around the table with a card that says break and run or 9 on the snap! But they have to be really hot chicks!!

Luke,
Obviously this is an excellent plan; but you have to use the Sardo. In the old Legends of Pocket Billiards series from Atlantic City, they had a hottie in an evening gown, gloves, and heels racking the balls - she was hopeless. The one ball would roll forward an inch or two, and even though the players were trying to be polite, they had to ask for endless re-racks (playing 7, 8, and 9 ball where the break is somewhat important). The rack girl would have to have some minimum level of skill or training (or have to wear an exceedingly skimpy costume so the players wouldn't notice the terrible racks). I noticed that in subsequent seasons the producers had the referee rack the balls.

 

[Williebetmore]

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.

Ace,
How does your wife feel about this proposal???

 

[AceHigh]

Ace,
How does your wife feel about this proposal???

i'm only 20, no need for a wife. but I plan on marrying a rich broad, so if I had a wife, I'm sure she wouldn't care.

 

[lukeinva]

Luke,
Obviously this is an excellent plan; but you have to use the Sardo. In the old Legends of Pocket Billiards series from Atlantic City, they had a hottie in an evening gown, gloves, and heels racking the balls - she was hopeless. The one ball would roll forward an inch or two, and even though the players were trying to be polite, they had to ask for endless re-racks (playing 7, 8, and 9 ball where the break is somewhat important). The rack girl would have to have some minimum level of skill or training (or have to wear an exceedingly skimpy costume so the players wouldn't notice the terrible racks). I noticed that in subsequent seasons the producers had the referee rack the balls.

Of course train her but get a hottie like pam anderson when she was on home improvement and just train her to rack right its not rocket science I think you could train a hot girl to do that. At least it would be eye candy!! There are tons of wannabe actresses out there! Then I guess on the woman tour you could get hot guys to rack the balls for the ladies though I think most of them are gay so they would probably want a hot ass chick to rack instead!!

 

[pete lafond]

I talked to a kid in the APA last night who grew up in England. Some of their one on one matches can go on for DAYS!!!!!!!! He said that a game of snooker lasts an hour on the average. Some matches are 17 games. Snooker, as he called it, is like chess on cloth.

Now this is not going to fly in the U.S. Get serious! And 14.1? Get serious again.

Face it, the US doesn't have the class of the English LOL. You are going to have to find another way to popularize pool.

I have been working with billiard distributors in Europe and they are telling me that 9 ball is growing fast. So we do have class. Let's see how well they are able to get this game popular, there might be some good insight here.

 

[Egg McDogit]

I have been working with billiard distributors in Europe and they are telling me that 9 ball is growing fast. So we do have class. Let's see how well they are able to get this game popular, there might be

Screw it, let's just wait for them to figure it out and copy them

peace
-egg

 

[BigLip]

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

hey, you know what? i would love to see guys reaching in their own pockets side betting on shots/games/sets...

it would also get guys to get upset and things like that...we might could even see basavich choke slam cory deuell....like what happened to pj carlisimo ya know?

 

[DaveK]

i'm only 20, no need for a wife. but I plan on marrying a rich broad, so if I had a wife, I'm sure she wouldn't care.

Flash forward 20 years ....

Ace: " So if I take out the garbage and promise to get milk, can I please go down to the pool hall ? "

RichBroadWife: " You were at the pool hall just last week ! Do you have to go there all the time ? Besides, I spent too much on my hair this afternoon. "

Ace: " We have lots of money, and I won't spend too much, I promise ! "

RichBroadWife: " My daddy worked hard for the money I have, and I don't think he left it to me so that you could blow it on pool ! Now take out that garbage, it's starting to stink up the house. "

Ace: " Yes dear ... "

Be careful there Ace, the accuracy of my predictions are uncanny !

Dave

 

[Williebetmore]

AceHigh,
Pay VERY, VERY close attention to DaveK.

 

[Snapshot9]

Excitement ...

People have to get excited about Pool. Us dedicated Players find excitement
within the game being played, but outsiders want more.

For example, Earl 'The Pearl', love'm or hate'm he is a character, watch his
1 foot skip with hands on hips, and he's damn good.
Kid Delicious - Another character people are curious about, fun personality,
new 'Fats' for the game, and did you see him choke match 8 ball on ESPN?
Danny Harriman has a style and auro that is fun to watch.
Other players need to bring it on a little without getting too out of hand.

Women need someone else than the top 3 make to the final door. I am
getting so tired of seeing Snooker stances when Pool is being played .. Allison or Karen's butts don't look that good ...

Do you hear that English guy narrating the Mosconi Cup?

Youth programs have to be established. I would like to see billiards offered
in Jr and Sr High as a competitive sport, or at least a youth program working
with the schools. You want a good example of the influence a good youth
program can have, look at Tulsa .... wow ... The kids down there are really
good ... and they are winning scholarship money for college.

Build the stands up more, higher, like a mini bowl. Spotlight more on players,
give bios, have interviews with family and friends on players.

ONE thing you all can do, and I have done it. Go to www.espn.com, and
submit a comment to their TV section telling them that you want more
billiards on their programming, and maybe some snooker matches.

I liked the skins competition, and I absolutely love to watch the
Mosconi Cup. The Scotch Doubles was a good addition this year.