Something good to say about the IPT.

[macguy]

There is no doubt that introduction they run at the beginning of each broadcast is very good. There is no way if it was being run on other networks it would not get people to watch. Whether they stay is neither here or there you got them to try your product that is what you hope to do. Can anyone with a rational mind tell me why it is not being run on every network? Movies spend as much and sometimes more on advertising as they spent making the movie. They have a product they are trying to sell and keeping it secret. It is possible they could get picked up by a more main stream network, it is as if they don't even care if they get an audience. This all makes no sense.

I am totally serious please don't just attack me. Don't all you supporters see this as being as curious as I do, no advertising or promotion what so ever? How do they think it is going to be a success like this? There is only one answer and it has to be money, I can't think of anything else. Maybe give away less and spend more promoting it if money is the issue. I doubt the players would care if it meant the assurance of the success of the tour.

 

[Keith Buck]

Do networks usually allow commercials for shows on other networks? Hopefully they will do some advertising during OLN's ratings getters like the Tour de France(I'm assuming that is some of their highest rated programming).

 

[jjinfla]

Why isn't it being run on other networks?

Are baseball games or football games run on all the networks?

networks pay the baseball and football organizations for the rights to run them. Perhaps OLN has paid IPT to run the segments.

Jake

 

[Cameron Smith]

Television channels don't advertise for other networks. But I'm sure if that is what you are asking. I don't think the IPT could get a better network than OLN, I am sure that if they could have signed with ABC or CBS they would have.

Either that or it is, as you suggested, a money deal.

Eithey way this is a good start. I am still sticking with my theory that this show is a glorified advertisment for the tour. I hope it is working.

 

[macguy]

Why isn't it being run on other networks?

Are baseball games or football games run on all the networks?

networks pay the baseball and football organizations for the rights to run them. Perhaps OLN has paid IPT to run the segments.

Jake

Are you kidding, I am talking about advertising. Oprah buys time on every channel to promote her show. That AMC special Broken Trail that is on now has been promoter all over the dial. Robert Duvall has been on every talk show including Bill O'Reilly on Fox news promoting the AMC special. They aren't spending a nickel to promote the IPT , what are they broke or something, or have they invented some kind of mystical advertising methods no one knows about. Don't be so silly with such blind comments, if you really cared about the IPT as much as you do disagreeing with me you would be asking the same questions.

 

[Colin Colenso]

A few points come to mind:

1. Movies and TV series / sports content are VERY different type of beasts. While movies invest considerable amounts into marketing, in the case of television shows their marketing is carried out mostly by the network that purchases them.

2.Most TV shows take a few years to develop in popularity. Very few are overnight sensations.

3. Smaller networks usually offer more money, better broadcast times, more promotion etc for good content. By this stragtegy some small networks have become major players.

Poker started off with a small profile on the Travel Channel or something as I recall. Pool has to establish itself through getting good ratings where it is shown. That is the best marketing it could get.

 

[macguy]

Television channels don't advertise for other networks. But I'm sure if that is what you are asking. I don't think the IPT could get a better network than OLN, I am sure that if they could have signed with ABC or CBS they would have.

Either that or it is, as you suggested, a money deal.

Eithey way this is a good start. I am still sticking with my theory that this show is a glorified advertisment for the tour. I hope it is working.

That hasn't been the case in like 25 years where you could not mention another network. Shows like Jay Leno and Letterman have people on there all the time promoting shows and specials on other networks. Shows like Monk and the 4400 spend a fortune promoting the USA network on every channels.

 

[macguy]

A few points come to mind:

1. Movies and TV series / sports content are VERY different type of beasts. While movies invest considerable amounts into marketing, in the case of television shows their marketing is carried out mostly by the network that purchases them.

2.Most TV shows take a few years to develop in popularity. Very few are overnight sensations.

3. Smaller networks usually offer more money, better broadcast times, more promotion etc for good content. By this stragtegy some small networks have become major players.

Poker started off with a small profile on the Travel Channel or something as I recall. Pool has to establish itself through getting good ratings where it is shown. That is the best marketing it could get.

You can't get good ratings if no one knows you exist. You will be gone before anyone knew you were ever there.

 

[Cameron Smith]

That hasn't been the case in like 25 years where you could not mention another network. Shows like Jay Leno and Letterman have people on there all the time promoting shows and specials on other networks. Shows like Monk and the 4400 spend a fortune promoting the USA network on every channels.

Only if the channels are affiliated or owned by a larger corporation. I certainly don't see TSN shows being advertised on Rogers Sportsnet, or ESPN advertised on Fox.

 

[Colin Colenso]

You can't get good ratings if no one knows you exist. You will be gone before anyone knew you were ever there.

Have a look at the history of shows such as Seinfeld, Simpsons, Friends, Poker.

They built up popularity over time as they honed their craft / content.

It's usually after shows like this have proven themselves audience winners that the expanded marketing takes place. This can be driven either by the networks seeking to maximize advertising revenues or by advertising sponsors themselves looking to maximize / leverage their association to the content.

There is a speech that KT gave at the player's meeting where he discussed this and expected that it could take 2-3 years for the TV side to develop to its potential.

From what I know of the business, (of which I am on the periphery) there is nothing unusual about the IPT strategy so far. In fact, I think the OLN and Eurosport deals are signs of good progress.

Rumours of a 60 mill purchase of part or all of the IPT may prove that some other wise business people agree.

 

[macguy]

Only if the channels are affiliated or owned by a larger corporation. I certainly don't see TSN shows being advertised on Rogers Sportsnet, or ESPN advertised on Fox.

That's funny you say that because I was just flipping around and I saw ad's for HBO on several channels, I saw an ad on ABC for The Closer that is on TNT, as well as an ad for a series on FX channel 44 on a channel 25 and I was just flipping for about ten minutes because nothing was on.

 

[jjinfla]

I guess you people do not watch the commercials. Off to the fridge for a cold one I suppose.

Of course networks run the commercials for other shows. It happens all the time. They don't do it for free, they get paid to run them.

As one well known radio talk show host is apt to say. I am not the important one here. My job is to keep you all listening in between the commercials and not changing stations. The commercials are the important part of the show.

Since I am not a millionaire I would not presume to tell a millionaire how to make money. Let alone a billionaire.

I heard Buffett was going to donate some money to pool but all the complainers scared him away.

Hey, for all we know KT and Buffet know that the end of the world is near and they want to spend their money the way they see fit.

Works for me.

 

[macguy]

Have a look at the history of shows such as Seinfeld, Simpsons, Friends, Poker.

They built up popularity over time as they honed their craft / content.

It's usually after shows like this have proven themselves audience winners that the expanded marketing takes place. This can be driven either by the networks seeking to maximize advertising revenues or by advertising sponsors themselves looking to maximize / leverage their association to the content.

There is a speech that KT gave at the player's meeting where he discussed this and expected that it could take 2-3 years for the TV side to develop to its potential.

From what I know of the business, (of which I am on the periphery) there is nothing unusual about the IPT strategy so far. In fact, I think the OLN and Eurosport deals are signs of good progress.

Rumours of a 60 mill purchase of part or all of the IPT may prove that some other wise business people agree.

Your right, I believe Seinfeld was done as four show packages several times and was on the verge of being dropped at any time. Some of the biggest shows ever started out on shakey ground. The Dick Van Dyke show if not for Sheldon leonard just wanting to keep it on was history. But they were cheap shows with unknown talent and the producers take shots to see what sticks, however hundreds of shows that may have had potential disappear maybe because they don't get the right promotion, or are give a chance with different time slots whatever, the money people decide to put their money elsewhere and let it die.

For something like the IPT the idea is to take chance out of the equation as much as possible, do what ever it takes and spend with ever it cost to assure you have a winning product. Word of mouth can't work here, they are on a time line and how long should the players wait, some will be gone the end of this year and may never realize a thing from the venture. To the best of my knowledge, there aren't even DVD's for sale yet beyond the two over priced single matches.

They should, at the very least be offering for sale of the DVD's for the matches from the round of play they are showing. I.E., "If you would like to purchase DVD's of all the rounds from tonight telecast in their entirety go to our web site at----- for a complete list of the great players and matches you can now own for your own collection, and enjoy watching and learning from over and over".

It's just as a guess, but I think the reason they are not offering the DVD for sale is they have hundreds of hours of matches. They probably feel they can't sell them unless they are done complete with real commentary. Since this has to be done in real time it is probably a daunting task to try to make every match available.

I would find a way around that somehow and get them out there. Promote them as "See the matches exactly as they happened live, just like being there in person, you won't miss a stroke". Just do a small introduction to the match at the begining of the DVD but that is it and start selling them now.

I know you are not going to say it, but you are a smart man and you must be having questions of your own at this point about how things are being done. The idea of just trust us only goes so far before you have to say, "Wait a minute, I'm no expert but,,,".

 

[Cameron Smith]

That's funny you say that because I was just flipping around and I saw ad's for HBO on several channels, I saw an ad on ABC for The Closer that is on TNT, as well as an ad for a series on FX channel 44 on a channel 25 and I was just flipping for about ten minutes because nothing was on.

Really? I guess its a little bit different in the states then up here.

 

[Colin Colenso]

Your right, I believe Seinfeld was done as four show packages several times and was on the verge of being dropped at any time. Some of the biggest shows ever started out on shakey ground. The Dick Van Dyke show if not for Sheldon leonard just wanting to keep it on was history. But they were cheap shows with unknown talent and the producers take shots to see what sticks, however hundreds of shows that may have had potential disappear maybe because they don't get the right promotion, or are give a chance with different time slots whatever, the money people decide to put their money elsewhere and let it die.

For something like the IPT the idea is to take chance out of the equation as much as possible, do what ever it takes and spend with ever it cost to assure you have a winning product. Word of mouth can't work here, they are on a time line and how long should the players wait, some will be gone the end of this year and may never realize a thing from the venture. To the best of my knowledge, there aren't even DVD's for sale yet beyond the two over priced single matches.

They should, at the very least be offering for sale of the DVD's for the matches from the round of play they are showing. I.E., "If you would like to purchase DVD's of all the rounds from tonight telecast in their entirety go to our web site at----- for a complete list of the great players and matches you can now own for your own collection, and enjoy watching and learning from over and over".

It's just as a guess, but I think the reason they are not offering the DVD for sale is they have hundreds of hours of matches. They probably feel they can't sell them unless they are done complete with real commentary. Since this has to be done in real time it is probably a daunting task to try to make every match available.

I would find a way around that somehow and get them out there. Promote them as "See the matches exactly as they happened live, just like being there in person, you won't miss a stroke". Just do a small introduction to the match at the begining of the DVD but that is it and start selling them now.

I know you are not going to say it, but you are a smart man and you must be having questions of your own at this point about how things are being done. The idea of just trust us only goes so far before you have to say, "Wait a minute, I'm no expert but,,,".

While some might have expected that the IPT would be able to clinch huge mass media deals and huge DVD distribution early on, from the little I know, that would be an extremely ambitious task in a short time for a relatively niche market product.

Is it on track? What would industry pros think of the strategy or level of success? I don't know. All I know is a few case studies that start slow and build up, and others types of content such as movies, some series and big sporting events that come in with big market backing.

I do know World Snooker was pretty happy to secure a long term broadcasting deal with Eurosport and that helped bring in new sponsors I believe, so I think that was a big breakthrough for the IPT. As for OLN and US exposure, perhaps that's not up to expectations, but perhaps it will provide a platform for future development. We might even see Asia and Europe as the main development markets for a while. The US is a notoriously hard nut to crack.

We'll have to wait and see the ratings and other developments. I'm optimistic, but not panglossian. The streets aren't paved in gold, they are still being built. There is always room for improvement and better ways to do things.

 

[macguy]

While some might have expected that the IPT would be able to clinch huge mass media deals and huge DVD distribution early on, from the little I know, that would be an extremely ambitious task in a short time for a relatively niche market product.

Is it on track? What would industry pros think of the strategy or level of success? I don't know. All I know is a few case studies that start slow and build up, and others types of content such as movies, some series and big sporting events that come in with big market backing.

I do know World Snooker was pretty happy to secure a long term broadcasting deal with Eurosport and that helped bring in new sponsors I believe, so I think that was a big breakthrough for the IPT. As for OLN and US exposure, perhaps that's not up to expectations, but perhaps it will provide a platform for future development. We might even see Asia and Europe as the main development markets for a while. The US is a notoriously hard nut to crack.

We'll have to wait and see the ratings and other developments. I'm optimistic, but not panglossian. The streets aren't paved in gold, they are still being built. There is always room for improvement and better ways to do things.

I haven't been to Europe in a few years but the last time I was there I was being told that pool was taking the place of snooker and many rooms were removing snooker tables for pool tables. I remember coming back one time and I was standing outside the pool room talking with Mizerak about my trip. His comments were that in a few years all the best players will be from other countries and not the US. He felt the real market for the sport would be over seas. I think this is coming true and the IPT if they continue may move completely from the US in a short time. They are already showing signs. The future of pro pool is probably not in the U.S.