Suggestions to help the IPT

[cuetique]

Jim, I appreciate your point, but I don't think billiards will survive long in the poker model. It might get a limited run as a reality-TV type event, but I don't think TV poker will be enduring as a "sport". Billiards could actually be a spectator sport, and its most compelling draw won't be how much money the players make, but the game itself. NFL, pro tennis, NBA, baseball, PGA -- all have top paid athletes, but it is the fans' appreciation of the intricacies and motions of the sport that make them enduring. Sure, they make ungodly sums as a matter of course, and player salaries are discussed among fans at gross length -- but player salary isn't the lead card in compelling fans to watch. If "Pool is Now a Sport", it should follow the model of enduring sports franchises -- not the fad of TV poker, IMO.

 

[islandboz]

I agree with your reasoning. but here is a question..what was the "revelation" that made poker such a hit? It has a "s-e-e-dy" history as well. Now every man,woman, child (and their pets) are watching poker, and the prize money is starting to look like great heavy weight boxing bouts. What did it for poker?


islandboz

 

[Da Poet]

I agree with your reasoning. but here is a question..what was the "revelation" that made poker such a hit? It has a "s-e-e-dy" history as well. Now every man,woman, child (and their pets) are watching poker, and the prize money is starting to look like great heavy weight boxing bouts. What did it for poker?


islandboz

The "hole" camera.

 

[Da Poet]

I've been checking out this thread and I have to disagree with a couple things.

I don't understand the aversion to high payouts as a means to attract an audience. At the very least, what is the harm?

The unspoken aims of the IPT as I see it, is to forment gambling on pool. This, I believe, is why the payouts are high and a "membership" was established to help keep players from being bought off. Lowering prize money may be an attractive short term option, but all you need is a rumor that a major event was thrown and everything that is going on right now will seem like a picnic.

 

[friendofpool]

I heard a rumor that the pros aren't admitting that they haven't been paid because they were told by the IPT that they would never get paid if they complained. The pros' first natural cure is to admit that they haven't been paid for their tacit endorsement of this con game. Once the pros start admitting that they have been conned and not been paid, the sport will advance and get past Trudeau.
The players' indifference to this situation is simply astounding. Would they let the dirtbag who failed to pay them a couple of gs after losing a game walk out of the local poolhall? What is going on? Everyone knows what is going on but they are embarrassed to admit that they have been conned by one of the best. When is the last time that you gave 2 thousand dollars to someone and not asked any questions?

 

[islandboz]

I've been checking out this thread and I have to disagree with a couple things.

I don't understand the aversion to high payouts as a means to attract an audience. At the very least, what is the harm?

The unspoken aims of the IPT as I see it, is to forment gambling on pool. This, I believe, is why the payouts are high and a "membership" was established to help keep players from being bought off. Lowering prize money may be an attractive short term option, but all you need is a rumor that a major event was thrown and everything that is going on right now will seem like a picnic.

Yes. I can see where stepping back on purse prizes at this point, may not go over that well (taste and tease effect). However, it may become a question of salvaging; Do you postpone (or end the tour) based on inabilities to pay the large promised prizes? Or, do you continue with lower tournament purses, until (hopefully) lucrative sponsorships monies become available. I truly, believed that the IPT has by far got a lot of "things" right, and decisions to extend the life of the tour should be priority.

islandboz

 

[Da Poet]

Yes. I can see where stepping back on purse prizes at this point, may not go over that well (taste and tease effect). However, it may become a question of salvaging; Do you postpone (or end the tour) based on inabilities to pay the large promised prizes? Or, do you continue with lower tournament purses, until (hopefully) lucrative sponsorships monies become available. I truly, believed that the IPT has by far got a lot of "things" right, and decisions to extend the life of the tour should be priority.

islandboz

I think at best, that is what I think we are seeing already. At worst, well... Honestly, as much as I wanted to see everyone here in Chicago, you had three major tournaments happening within a four week time frame. I'm no expert, but that looks like total overkill to me. There is currently zero demand for live pool on television and one or two tournaments would more than satisfy any possible TV agreements for taped programs. I say keep the prizes big, but spread out the tournaments if you need to save money. Basically the same thing as what some are saying, just in a different way.

Maybe the overseas market is different, I don't know. One of the cool things about the IPT as a viewable program is that it can be watched all over the world without really needing any translation or additional production. I think we have to remember that KT has a great degree of experience using video to sell products and knows exactly how much things should cost, how to get things on the air etc. I have always felt that pool on TV was a waste of time, but if anyone could make it happen, it would be someone with a television background like KT. I'm not saying I like him, I don't, but that doesn't mean we need to write off every single thing the guy tries to do. Just most of them.