"Stream" of thoughts

[garczar]

Let me apologize up front if this comes off as a rant. Since DCC has started there has been a constant stream of people whining about price,video-quality, no. of tables shown,etc. Do these people not realize that if it weren't for Accu-stats, RayHansen, UpstateAl,XPC, POV and others that there would be ZERO pool to watch as it happens. Unless some major sea-change takes place pool will NEVER be seen anyplace other than on-line. If you think you can improve it then go buy the equipment, secure the bandwidth, get sponsors and all the other ingredients that make up a quality stream. Ok, I'm done, rant concluded. All the above is just my opinion, nothing more.

 

[Sloppy Pockets]

If it wasn't for the automakers we'd all be riding horses. Should I start my own car factory just because I'm not satisfied with the way they're building the car I'm about to pay for with my own hard-earned money?

 

[Corwyn_8]

Unless some major sea-change takes place pool will NEVER be seen anyplace other than on-line.

As a general rule, I don't watch anything other than on-line. Businesses that want to take advantage of my viewing need to take that into consideration. Nor is "as it's happening" particularly valuable to me.

Thank you kindly.

 

[slide13]

Hm, not me...I streamed the Bigfoot on Friday night and was really happy with it. Stream was good and I loved being able to buy just the evening session for under $6. Got hours of pool to watch for that price and thought it was perfect.

I love that Accu Stats splits the coverage up because I'm working during the weekdays so buying a full day stream is half wasted on me. I think $6 for an evening session is hitting that sweet spot where I I'm happy to pay it and feel like I get a good deal for my money. So kudos to Accu Stats for me!

 

[garczar]

I can see that side of it but let's stay with the car analogy, if you had a problem with the way your car was made would you not contact the maker directly? If online viewers have issues with a stream why not go straight to the source(Accu-stats,RayH, etc.)? Again, just an opinion, just like yours.

 

[CreeDo]

Taking the car analogy further, I don't think car manufacturers make major changes based on private service calls or emails or letters from individual owners.

I think they look at complaints that have been made publicly, maybe in multiple magazine reviews or maybe in a large forum. That tells them where they're falling short.
And that tells them what issues are causing the most uproar even if they
may not agree they're the most serious issues.

As far as pool streams, there are certain ****ups that happen repeatedly,
that just don't need to happen. It's frustrating and they deserve to hear it.

For example, starting the stream late with no explanation, just a black screen.

You'll see the player practicing and the stream is working fine for 20 minutes
before the official start time. At 11:59, this feed cuts off, without explanation.
"OK, they gotta reset something, but it should return in the next minute or two."

But no, it takes 20 minutes and then someone comes on and says "Player X is on his way,
and then we'll start the match" or "we're a little behind because Player Y is finishing another match."

This is 100% avoidable, and it's simple.
• Don't cut off or reset the stream at all, at least people know their internet and feed are ok.
• Have an announcer jump in at exactly 12:00 and say "we're looking at a 30 minute delay because..." And have them repeat this every few minutes for people just tuning in.
• Put text up on the screen if you can't spare an announcer.

If the hotel/casino's internet dies, fine, nobody can help that.
But a lot of the problems don't fall in that category.

 

[Cameron Smith]

I think the quality of the video and often the production is more than sufficient for the purpose.

I do however believe the cost can get out of hand sometimes. Not long ago I went through all the live PPV streaming events from last year I would have wanted to watch had I the time. The cost would have added up to about $1010 CAD (damned Canadian dollar). This includes tournaments, challenge matches and I calculated based on the assumption that I would buy the early bird full access packages. I know that probably sounds silly, but I think if streamers were to make large profits they would need a lot of people buying and watching regularly, and not just a few events a year.

All of the PPV streamers create excellent content IMO, and I would happily buy/rent on demand videos from them. But unfortunately there are so many PPV events throughout the year that I think the market is over saturated. And when an event is charging $18 a day during the workweek, they are bound to lose viewers.

I don't know what the answer is, since I don't know what their expenses and profit margins are.

 

[Bugz]

I enjoyed the stream. Mr. DiLiberto and Mr. Wilson were fun to listen too. I really enjoyed arguing with them about what they think the next shot should be and what I thought. Sucks it was a one way argument

Bought all four days of Bigfoot. My only complaint would be the cyclops balls. I hated them when I first saw them at BCA two years ago. I still hate them now. Why must we re-invent the wheel. Broadcasting my surface to my 60", it was impossible to tell the difference between the 3 and 5. You really had to look hard to see which was the 6 and which was the 7 too.

 

[Corwyn_8]

...it was impossible to tell the difference between the 3 and 5. You really had to look hard to see which was the 6 and which was the 7 too.

This seems to be a perennial problem. I was watching the McCready-Reyes match from '88(?) and Miserak miscalled a shot because he couldn't distinguish the balls from the broadcast booth. Can we make another Billiard Ball Prize to find a set of ball which can be distinguished on TV? Anyone want to put up $140k?

Thank you kindly.

 

[garczar]

Taking the car analogy further, I don't think car manufacturers make major changes based on private service calls or emails or letters from individual owners.

I think they look at complaints that have been made publicly, maybe in multiple magazine reviews or maybe in a large forum. That tells them where they're falling short.
And that tells them what issues are causing the most uproar even if they
may not agree they're the most serious issues.

As far as pool streams, there are certain ****ups that happen repeatedly,
that just don't need to happen. It's frustrating and they deserve to hear it.

For example, starting the stream late with no explanation, just a black screen.

You'll see the player practicing and the stream is working fine for 20 minutes
before the official start time. At 11:59, this feed cuts off, without explanation.
"OK, they gotta reset something, but it should return in the next minute or two."

But no, it takes 20 minutes and then someone comes on and says "Player X is on his way,
and then we'll start the match" or "we're a little behind because Player Y is finishing another match."

This is 100% avoidable, and it's simple.
• Don't cut off or reset the stream at all, at least people know their internet and feed are ok.
• Have an announcer jump in at exactly 12:00 and say "we're looking at a 30 minute delay because..." And have them repeat this every few minutes for people just tuning in.
• Put text up on the screen if you can't spare an announcer.

If the hotel/casino's internet dies, fine, nobody can help that.
But a lot of the problems don't fall in that category.

One of the reasons that Lexus has such a loyal customer base is exactly what you mentioned. When they re-designed the LS430 a few years ago, Toyota sent engineers,from Japan, to go sit in owner's living rooms and ask them what they did and didn't like about their current Lexus. Direct responses from your customer base do happen and do work. Can you see ANY Big3 carmaker doing this? I agree with many of your ideas. Let them know. They're here on AZ and easy to pm them.

 

[Z-Nole]

I bought the 48 hour action pass this weekend and the morning session from Accustats to see the one pocket today. Where else can you get all kinds of action games and superb one pocket for really just a few bucks?? I just don't get why people are *****ing so much. But if that's what they do for fun- have at it. Go balls out with it.