IPT broadcasting of tournaments

[Cameron Smith]

I recently read the article on the IPT web site Pool Shooting for the Stars, and I found it fairly interesting. Although I am slightly concerned after reading it. Im not concerned that the IPT will ruin pool as I liken the idea to bombing Afghanistan, theres not a whole lot to destroy. Rather I wonder about the possibility of the televised events to find any success. In the article Trudeau mentioned the King of the Hill would be aired throughout January which is great, but he said that entire matches would not be shown, rather they wish to focus on the suspense and drama of the tournament. This sounds like a very interesting idea, and since I can get the full matches in DVD format at hopefully Walmart (hope hope hope) I am in one way satiated. However I can not stop likening the Trudeau's broadcasting idea to the boxing reality show that aire earlier this year called the Contender. It was a perfectly good show, if you like boxing, but it failed to be picked up for another season because it did not draw viewers. Essentially it only appealed to boxing fans, and even then fans were not quite happy with the highlight format of the show. Granted this show had a different format using typical reality show gimicks, such as teams and challenges, its still a sports show.

The Ipt show seems to be very similar, highlights of matches with a reality aspect thrown in. I fear that by presenting Pool as a reality show rather than simply a sport it may not appeal to anyone but pool fans. However it depends on how it is marketed I guess. If you put the IPT on thursday nights at 9:00 on CBS after Survivor I doubt it will do to well, because you would be pandering to the wrong audience. You want to appeal to the sports fan, not the reality fan and that was what the problem with contender was. A similar show to the Contender, the Ultimate Fighter, is shown on Spike Tv and it is going into its 3rd season. The reason they pander to fight fans. Furthermore its on the right station.

I dont really know if theres a point to this thread, I dont think Ive proved anything. Im just rambling, but Im just curious to see what anyone else thinks in regards to the format of the televising. Of course i ask you to limit your opinions to whether or not this product can succeed in this format, and not state you don't like the format because you want to see full matches.

P.S. Im not a IPT nay sayer, I think if done properly this could work out splendidly. Im just an IPT sayer if you will.

Regards

 

[jjinfla]

It certainly will be a challenge.

I wonder why accu-stats never tried to get their tapes into the rental stores?

On Direct TV they have been playing a lot of the old time matches. These would be nice to be able to rent too.

 

[Cameron Smith]

what channel are these matches played on? ESPN Classic?
Ive never seen any pool matches from before 2000, it would be great to see some of the old masters play.

Regards

 

[jjinfla]

what channel are these matches played on? ESPN Classic?
Ive never seen any pool matches from before 2000, it would be great to see some of the old masters play.

Regards

I am told that Direct TV carries them on ESPN Classic.

 

[bobroberts]

I recently read the article on the IPT web site Pool Shooting for the Stars, and I found it fairly interesting. Although I am slightly concerned after reading it. Im not concerned that the IPT will ruin pool as I liken the idea to bombing Afghanistan, theres not a whole lot to destroy. Rather I wonder about the possibility of the televised events to find any success. In the article Trudeau mentioned the King of the Hill would be aired throughout January which is great, but he said that entire matches would not be shown, rather they wish to focus on the suspense and drama of the tournament. This sounds like a very interesting idea, and since I can get the full matches in DVD format at hopefully Walmart (hope hope hope) I am in one way satiated. However I can not stop likening the Trudeau's broadcasting idea to the boxing reality show that aire earlier this year called the Contender. It was a perfectly good show, if you like boxing, but it failed to be picked up for another season because it did not draw viewers. Essentially it only appealed to boxing fans, and even then fans were not quite happy with the highlight format of the show. Granted this show had a different format using typical reality show gimicks, such as teams and challenges, its still a sports show.

The Ipt show seems to be very similar, highlights of matches with a reality aspect thrown in. I fear that by presenting Pool as a reality show rather than simply a sport it may not appeal to anyone but pool fans. However it depends on how it is marketed I guess. If you put the IPT on thursday nights at 9:00 on CBS after Survivor I doubt it will do to well, because you would be pandering to the wrong audience. You want to appeal to the sports fan, not the reality fan and that was what the problem with contender was. A similar show to the Contender, the Ultimate Fighter, is shown on Spike Tv and it is going into its 3rd season. The reason they pander to fight fans. Furthermore its on the right station.

I dont really know if theres a point to this thread, I dont think Ive proved anything. Im just rambling, but Im just curious to see what anyone else thinks in regards to the format of the televising. Of course i ask you to limit your opinions to whether or not this product can succeed in this format, and not state you don't like the format because you want to see full matches.

P.S. Im not a IPT nay sayer, I think if done properly this could work out splendidly. Im just an IPT sayer if you will.

Regards

I disagree with you about the contender.They even had a rematch fight.They wouldn't have brought it back if it did not make money.I also heard that they will be doing a whole new show again next season.Besides the IPT is going to be part reality part pool and part poker.It would be good if it makes it but if not,no sweat off my back.

 

[Cameron Smith]

Actually I hope im wrong about the contender because I loved that show. Im a big boxing fan. By the way Bernard Hopkins was robbed. But my only point was that I feel that it might be a mistake to air the IPT on 9:00 right after a show like survivior. But I don't really expect that to be the case. I have faith that the people working for trudeau know more about marketing than a guy with philosophy and history degrees.

Regards

 

[bobroberts]

Actually I hope im wrong about the contender because I loved that show. Im a big boxing fan. By the way Bernard Hopkins was robbed. But my only point was that I feel that it might be a mistake to air the IPT on 9:00 right after a show like survivior. But I don't really expect that to be the case. I have faith that the people working for trudeau know more about marketing than a guy with philosophy and history degrees.

Regards

the Hopkins Taylor fight was pretty close.i could see it called either way.Im a big boxing fan also.
i know with T.V. new shows like to be aired after a show that has high demographics.This way you already have an attentive audience and it makes it easier to get people to watch.
I cant think of a way to get pool on regular T.V. without some kind of a gimmick.I just dont believe the general public will watch it just for the sport.I do thinkl they can carve out a good niche market if they can get some exciting matches.just today I watched Bustamante play Fong pang Chao for winner take all $50K, it was really exciting 1 game to determine the winner after they each won a set.

 

[rackmsuckr]

I wonder why accu-stats never tried to get their tapes into the rental stores?
QUOTE]

I think it takes resources Accustats does not have to get their tapes into Blockbuster, etc.

 

[Cameron Smith]

the Hopkins Taylor fight was pretty close.i could see it called either way.Im a big boxing fan also.

I agree with you about the second match. But the first fight, in the second half Hopkins brutalized Taylor. Thats probably why Taylor kept on clinching.

I think your right about the niche market. With high production values and lots of money on the line Trudeau will certainly gain more sports fans. I believe the money issue is a huge part of the equation. There was a comedian, i cant remember his name but he was talking about bowling. He said "ive never watched a sport before where the players were playing for less money than I currently had in my wallet". Im certainly excited about this maybe in 2 or 3 years we will see 4 hr programs on ESPN or TSN (for us Canadians). That would be cool.

Regards

 

[Cameron Smith]

I wonder why accu-stats never tried to get their tapes into the rental stores?
QUOTE]

I think it takes resources Accustats does not have to get their tapes into Blockbuster, etc.

Your right. I dont know how blockbuster works but I used to work for a small video rental chain, and I did some of the ordering. For Accustats to get into the video stores they would have to sell their product to a company like Video One which supplies these stores. Then everyone they supply would have to be interested enough to order them. So they have to convince two companies to carry their products. But I would expect, though I could be wrong, the prices would far more expensive going through chain stores than on the internet. But I dont know what Accustats prices are based on.

Regards