Live Stream Pricing Models

[Hungarian]

Curious to hear your opinions on this subject and I'd love to hear some feedback from some of the streamers.

In the past I've watched a ton of action matches on TAR, PATV and others. But like many of you, most of the time I'm not interested in sweating a 20 plus hour pool match on the internet. The pricing model that I liked the most was when Pat / Accu-Stats streamed the US Open and other events where they gave you options to purchase half days; either early day or evening. Back then it was roughly $5.95 IIRC. I thought that was a great way to offer pool streaming.

Most streamers today only offer the full package price. Some offer memberships but no thank you. A few offer the full package price, multi day mini packages and higher priced single day options. But most streamers do not lower the price to buy the event on day two or day three. So if you want to watch the final day it's the full package price with most streamers. I think they think the continuous loop is such an amazing perk that it justifies the full package price on day 2 or day 3. But for the same reason above I'm not interested in 20 hour pool sweats.

I'd like to see the Accu-Stat model return. Let me buy a half day when I feel like watching.

Respectfully,
Hungarian

 

[iusedtoberich]

That's usually what I would do also. Buy the matches at the US Open or DCC I was interested in watching, and had the time to watch, for $5.

A lot of marque matches are on YouTube live now for free, that it really takes a lot to justify a ppv stream these days. JCIN mentioned that many years back, and said that would become a reason for him to get out.

 

[skogstokig]

same, accustats DCC and intl open are the ones worth buying for me. i'm in another time zone and can't always stay up late so their ondemand site is great. i buy the occasional 1p match stream from other streamers but they are few and far between. regional events and barbox pool, forget about it. on the whole PPV feels outdated compared to both youtube and subscription services

 

[klikr]

A ppv model would be quite attractive. Like 50 cents a match or so. 3 bucks for 10 maybe.
I hate that they all want you to sign up for this or that amount of time, cross financing all the rest of the sh*t that I'm not interested in...

 

[Goldy]

A ppv model would be quite attractive. Like 50 cents a match or so. 3 bucks for 10 maybe.
I hate that they all want you to sign up for this or that amount of time, cross financing all the rest of the sh*t that I'm not interested in...

We have instituted much of those ideas at Digital Pool formerly On Site Pool Network, which now facilitate the PPV for Accu-Stats Video Productions and many other streaming enthusiasts. We also have effectively developed a permanent system for pool rooms to attach the Digital Pool Tournament Direction software with All Table Streaming capabilities, bundled with cameras, spectator monitors, and scoring tablets at each table. When coupled with a dedicated streamer on 1 table, the All Table Streaming component soars viewership and excitement being able to follow favorite players all the way through the tournament or event, plus have the ability to watch any match again on your own time schedules. This has proved a huge success where the event/tournament is in another part of the world and the viewer is 12 hours behind.

You can see our progress directly by simply viewing the past tournament brackets for the 2021 and 2022 International Open, held annually in Norfolk, VA, formerly the U.S. Open Championship. Please visit https://digitalpool.com/events/intl for a comprehensive look back at these two past events. Even more exciting, if you purchase the 2023 Int'l Open PPV for $59.95 now until Oct 29th at midnight, you get access to every single match from the 2021 and 2022 Int'l Open, and also matches from the 2022 and 2023 Derby City Classic. Unedited of course. And many that have yet to be released to the Accu-Stats YouTube Channel, or AZ Billiards Roku Channel Billiard TV.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me zach@digitalpool.com

 

[klikr]

Hi Zach,
first of all, I really like what you are doing at Digital Pool. The model you are mentioning is not ppv, though, it's the exact opposite, rather like pay per week or so. There may be folks who would go with that, but I can't (and won't) afford 60 bucks, just to watch two or three matches.

 

[Goldy]

Hi Zach,
first of all, I really like what you are doing at Digital Pool. The model you are mentioning is not ppv, though, it's the exact opposite, rather like pay per week or so. There may be folks who would go with that, but I can't (and won't) afford 60 bucks, just to watch two or three matches.

Then you will have to wait for that footage to eventually leak out to YouTube and Roku, or other delivery mechanisms. We do offer a $14.95 day pass for the Accu-Stats Production Events at start of event. The $59.95 is for all 6 days + 30 days of on-demand. It goes to $79.95 the day of. OCT 30th.

 

[Hungarian]

Then you will have to wait for that footage to eventually leak out to YouTube and Roku, or other delivery mechanisms. We do offer a $14.95 day pass for the Accu-Stats Production Events at start of event. The $59.95 is for all 6 days + 30 days of on-demand. It goes to $79.95 the day of. OCT 30th.

Yeah, and Pat used to do half days for $5.95. That’s the entire point of this thread. I don’t have time to watch pool 10 hours per day and I don’t want to be a member. You should ask Pat how successful the half day was.

 

[Goldy]

Yeah, and Pat used to do half days for $5.95. That’s the entire point of this thread. I don’t have time to watch pool 10 hours per day and I don’t want to be a member. You should ask Pat how successful the half day was.

The Evening/Night sessions were a necessity when it was required to run the replay loop over the old delivery methods. For 3 years now, Accu-Stats offers Instant On-Demand of all streamed matches. For instance, if you bought a day pass for $14.95, you have access for 24 hours to the entire On-Demand Library, all matches that were streamed up until that day, including everything streaming LIVE. We have streamlined the process to provide the live broadcast and instant availability to them via the On-Demand Library. We are unable to set passes for less than 24 hours in the new system. Excitingly, for $19.95, 30 days of access to the entire Accu-Stats Video Library since 2021 is available after each live session, which currently is only 2 times per year. Int'l Open and Derby City Classic. For $12.95 a month you can access the Accu-Stats Vimeo Library which is all content from 2012 to 2019

 

[Hungarian]

The Evening/Night sessions were a necessity when it was required to run the replay loop over the old delivery methods. For 3 years now, Accu-Stats offers Instant On-Demand of all streamed matches. For instance, if you bought a day pass for $14.95, you have access for 24 hours to the entire On-Demand Library, all matches that were streamed up until that day, including everything streaming LIVE. We have streamlined the process to provide the live broadcast and instant availability to them via the On-Demand Library. We are unable to set passes for less than 24 hours in the new system. Excitingly, for $19.95, 30 days of access to the entire Accu-Stats Video Library since 2021 is available after each live session, which currently is only 2 times per year. Int'l Open and Derby City Classic. For $12.95 a month you can access the Accu-Stats Vimeo Library which is all content from 2012 to 2019

Why was it required to run the loop? You know how many times I've watched loops? Exactly zero. Y'all act like that some massive selling point.

You are not listening. I don't have time to sit in front of the computer for 24 hours to watch the entire on demand library.

I like $5.95 for 3 of 4 hours at a time.

 

[Goldy]

Why was it required to run the loop? You know how many times I've watched loops? Exactly zero. Y'all act like that some massive selling point.

You are not listening. I don't have time to sit in front of the computer for 24 hours to watch the entire on demand library.

I like $5.95 for 3 of 4 hours at a time.

Just not a big demand for it. We've had record sales since switching to this new model, worldwide. Guess you'll just have to wait for the matches to hit YouTube.

 

[Hungarian]

Guess you'll just have to wait for the matches to hit YouTube.

Sounds like something you would say. LOL

You still don't get it. There are more billiard enthusiasts that would buy day time and evening sessions then you think. Productive people don't have time to sit around and watch pool 24/7/365. And there are many who don't want to be a member or order the entire event or even the entire day. Now go ahead and respond with some snide comment instead of taking feedback in a positive way. SMH

 

[ctyhntr]

I used to stream pool as a labor of love and to support my local pool scene.

Piracy is an issue. I have people pass off my work as their own. They would crop, and it would be of lower quality but people will still watch it.

My idea to address this was to offer a low quality stream for free (240/480 which is perfectly viewable on a smart phone), and a higher quality 1080p at the paid tier. The paid tier pricing could come with support, as the market is bars, venues and individual intending to show or watch on large screens.

 

[Goldy]

I used to stream pool as a labor of love and to support my local pool scene.

Piracy is an issue. I have people pass off my work as their own. They would crop, and it would be of lower quality but people will still watch it.

My idea to address this was to offer a low quality stream for free (240/480 which is perfectly viewable on a smart phone), and a higher quality 1080p at the paid tier. The paid tier pricing could come with support, as the market is bars, venues and individual intending to show or watch on large screens.

This is in our Hybrid PPV model, offering the 240p version for free, and holding a video pass would upgrade to the highest quality of the source.

 

[Goldy]

Sounds like something you would say. LOL

You still don't get it. There are more billiard enthusiasts that would buy day time and evening sessions then you think. Productive people don't have time to sit around and watch pool 24/7/365. And there are many who don't want to be a member or order the entire event or even the entire day. Now go ahead and respond with some snide comment instead of taking feedback in a positive way. SMH

I've taken your suggestion as constructive, but the numbers on the other end conclusively do not relate what you are suggesting. We have 15 years experience doing this. We know what works, and what doesn't. With the evolving technologies where anyone can stream directly from phones, tablets, and specialty cameras requires yet another combative strategy. The #1 preferred method is FREE. With what we have built for our industry, we can now satisfy both FREE and PPV models from the same event. It is called Hybrid PPV.

There is no need for half days anymore. There is no need for replay loops. Unfortunately, the Hybrid PPV is available to productions, however Accu-Stats still requires 100% PPV of their Live Broadcasts to pay for the production and staff. YouTube is used to satisfy the FREE availability, however much later. We are bottling the instant gratification, and selling it. That is the whole point of PPV.