I find Predator PBS events to be considerably better product for fans than WNT events

L

Lowell

Active member
For the record, I am not a Predator fanboy (I think their cues are generally not great looking and are overpriced). But after watching a lot of pro pool over the last few months, I find the Predator events to be a clear winner over WNT.

Some advantages:

-Free on youtube
-Usually have mens, women's, and mixed events at the same time
-Uses traditional ball colors
-Uses a non-template rack (makes the racks more exciting IMO)
-The set format is interesting
-The shootout is fun. And a good way to decide very close games, because it's purely a test of potting under intense pressure without factors like lucky rolls deciding the match

I bought a subscription to Matchroom to watch the WNT events, and I was disappointed that they don't even let you watch on demand until it's been a day. I live in the US, so I can't really watch the Euro events live, and by the time they're on demand they're old news.

While this is not the case for Predator events on Youtube, where you can start from the beginning at any time.
 
Lowell said:
For the record, I am not a Predator fanboy (I think their cues are generally not great looking and are overpriced). But after watching a lot of pro pool over the last few months, I find the Predator events to be a clear winner over WNT.

Some advantages:

-Free on youtube
-Usually have mens, women's, and mixed events at the same time
-Uses traditional ball colors
-Uses a non-template rack (makes the racks more exciting IMO)
-The set format is interesting
-The shootout is fun. And a good way to decide very close games, because it's purely a test of potting under intense pressure without factors like lucky rolls deciding the match

I bought a subscription to Matchroom to watch the WNT events, and I was disappointed that they don't even let you watch on demand until it's been a day. I live in the US, so I can't really watch the Euro events live, and by the time they're on demand they're old news.

While this is not the case for Predator events on Youtube, where you can start from the beginning at any time.
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Other than the ridiculous shootout they are good events. Glad they are bringing it back here to JAX in December, although bummed they moved the Women's World Championship.
 
To each his own but I disagree with most of that and I love predator products lol
The balls don’t bother me I find it a nice change.
The professionalism of the broadcast is 100x better than predator.
I like the set format but the shoot out is silly.
As far as being free on you tube it’s $10 a month.. seriously. $10 to support pool a little is nothing if you love the game.
I do wish they would have a womens tournament also.
Luck plays a part in every sporting event you watch. Rarely do you see really good amateur players luck in balls it really rarely happen in the pro’s. How you handle good and bad rolls mentally is a big part of the game just like golf and most other games for that matter.
 
They are wonderfully produced and great to watch.
There shouldn’t be a race between them regarding who is better, they co exist together, one is 9ball, the other is 10ball and 8ball. Just need someone to pick up Straight Pool…
They do need to work together on scheduling the events so non should overlap.
 
trob said:
To each his own but I disagree with most of that and I love predator products lol
The balls don’t bother me I find it a nice change.
The professionalism of the broadcast is 100x better than predator.
I like the set format but the shoot out is silly.
As far as being free on you tube it’s $10 a month.. seriously. $10 to support pool a little is nothing if you love the game.
I do wish they would have a womens tournament also.
Luck plays a part in every sporting event you watch. Rarely do you see really good amateur players luck in balls it really rarely happen in the pro’s. How you handle good and bad rolls mentally is a big part of the game just like golf and most other games for that matter.
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I find the camerawork of the Predator events to actually be even better.

And I don't mind paying $10 but it is an inferior product from a viewing standpoint.
 
skor said:
They are wonderfully produced and great to watch.
There shouldn’t be a race between them regarding who is better, they co exist together, one is 9ball, the other is 10ball and 8ball. Just need someone to pick up Straight Pool…
They do need to work together on scheduling the events so non should overlap.
Click to expand...

Is Predator legally barred from doing men's 9 ball events?
 
Lowell said:
I find the camerawork of the Predator events to actually be even better.

And I don't mind paying $10 but it is an inferior product from a viewing standpoint.
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Inferior.. you can now watch every tv table at the same time lol I wouldn’t say thats inferior but ok lol
 
trob said:
Inferior.. you can now watch every tv table at the same time lol I wouldn’t say thats inferior but ok lol
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Like I mentioned, you can only watch it live or a day behind. Anyone who works standard hours in the US can't watch the European events until they're a day old.
 
Lowell said:
I wonder if they could do a high stakes 9 ball event but name it something other than a World championship.
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They could, but better for them to do a World 8 Ball or World 10 Ball.

The World Championship label carries a lot of interest for fans and sponsors

I am interested why Predator don't call their country events the "World Cup". Is the World Cup a protected event by Matchroom?
 
skogstokig said:
except for the ads. youtube has really ramped up that, used to never be any on a livestream
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True. I haven't seen an ad on YT in years, but I buy their music service and think that's bundled in. But the viewing platform is incredibly refined on all platforms. Maybe WNT TV will be there in a decade.
 
loggerhead12 said:
True. I haven't seen an ad on YT in years, but I buy their music service and think that's bundled in. But the viewing platform is incredibly refined on all platforms. Maybe WNT TV will be there in a decade.
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yea, i think that's the same thing as youtube premium. i get monetizing and youtube ads but in livestreamed sport you miss some of the live sport when the ad comes on. premium might be worth it for me
 
Lowell said:
For the record, I am not a Predator fanboy (I think their cues are generally not great looking and are overpriced). But after watching a lot of pro pool over the last few months, I find the Predator events to be a clear winner over WNT.

Some advantages: -Free on youtube
Click to expand...
"Free" is great, but it's also a big reason why pool is poor sport. Free is only an excellent business strategy if you draw enough eyeballs to entice advertisers. Predator streams get plenty of views, but few if any advertisers. A subscription to MR is cheap. I'd pay a Predator subscription, too.
Lowell said:
-Usually have mens, women's, and mixed events at the same time
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Good stuff. Yet Predator will never make pro pool any bigger than it is unless it finds a way to monetize these events. That's what Matchroom is trying to do -- something never successful before in the history of pro pool.

MR's commercial venture will fail if it expands too quickly into the women's game or other areas of pool. It's been tough enough trying to grow the WNT and raise prize funds.
Lowell said:
-Uses traditional ball colors
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Not relevant to me. Most important thing to me is if I can distinguish the balls easily on TV. I can't do that with traditional colors.
Lowell said:
-Uses a non-template rack (makes the racks more exciting IMO)
Click to expand...
Don't like the inconsistency of racks. What you call exciting I call unfair, when a ref racks the balls improperly for a critical game.
Lowell said:
-The set format is interesting
Click to expand...
I don't mind that Predator does it differently, but I prefer longer races in big WNT events.
Lowell said:
-The shootout is fun. And a good way to decide very close games, because it's purely a test of potting under intense pressure without factors like lucky rolls deciding the match
Click to expand...
Not a fan. Reminds me of penalty kicks in soccer. But it is more fair if that is the goal. Perhaps it's a better way to attract more general fans, too.
Lowell said:
I bought a subscription to Matchroom to watch the WNT events, and I was disappointed that they don't even let you watch on demand until it's been a day. I live in the US, so I can't really watch the Euro events live, and by the time they're on demand they're old news.
Click to expand...
This is a big failure to me. WNT.TV has improved a lot, but not having steams available immediately is a huge miss.
 
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