US Open on ESPN!

[9 Ball Girl]

This is from AZ's front page:

2007 US Open Receives ESPN Offer

First of all I would like to wish everyone a very happy and healthy New Year.

I’ve been fortunate to have been given the opportunity to have ESPN back in the building for the 2007, 2008, and 2009 U.S. Open 9 Ball Championships. All of these events will include Sunday final day action, the winners bracket match, semi-finals, and finals. They will be one hour shows plus reruns.

Needless to say, I’m very excited to have been given this offer. That’s the good news.

I have until February 1st, 2007 to give Allen Hopkins and Matt Braun my answer. The only way for me to recoup is via sponsorship packages, commercials and banners.

So therefore, I’m sending this release out today hoping the phone rings from potential sponsors, inside and outside the billiard industry. My direct office line is 757-499-8958.

Thank you,
Barry Behrman

 

[VIProfessor]

Yeah, I noticed! That's great news for the sport! Hopefully it will lead to greater sponsorship money, particularly from outside entities. I wonder how the production will be done. Would that mean that BCn would no longer be carrying the event, or that they will carry all but the last rounds? At least we'll have some U.S. Open matches without Jim Wych in the booth (What a break-off! )

What would be nice is if for once, we could have the type of commentary that we had on Accu-Stats with Grady and another professional player. I really believe that the combination of knowledgeable commentary along with colorful anecdotes (but not too colorful, we know how they can get! ) and insider stories would be engaging to the general audience just as they are to us. They could always say that Mitch came down with laryngitis that week or something.

 

[Keith Buck]

Is it just me or does it just sound like they are selling him the time slots?

Doesn't the WPBA buy their times and then sell advertising to pay for it?

The added exposure on ESPN is probably better than the pay-per-view for pool as a whole either way.

 

[Nostroke]

Is it just me or does it just sound like they are selling him the time slots?

Doesn't the WPBA buy their times and then sell advertising to pay for it?

The added exposure on ESPN is probably better than the pay-per-view for pool as a whole either way.

I think they give him the time slots but then he has to pay the for the Production costs. He is looking for sponors to foot that bill. That's the WPBA formula which some say pool is stuck with now.

 

[supergreenman]

I think they give him the time slots but then he has to pay the for the Production costs. He is looking for sponors to foot that bill. That's the WPBA formula which some say pool is stuck with now.

This boggles my mind. Networks get into bidding wars to cover other sports, I think it's time they at least covered it for free. I am so tired of watching poker on the sports channel(actually flipping past doesn't really count as watching)

 

[DaveK]

This boggles my mind. Networks get into bidding wars to cover other sports, I think it's time they at least covered it for free. I am so tired of watching poker on the sports channel(actually flipping past doesn't really count as watching)

Say WHAT ? One night last week I watched some of the Philipine Open (?) and was about to go to bed after, but they followed that with a US Open match (Kim Davenport vs. Dave Hemmah) ! Maybe I just stay up later than you

All in all the announcement / solicitation is a good thing imo.

Dave

 

[Nostroke]

This boggles my mind. Networks get into bidding wars to cover other sports, I think it's time they at least covered it for free. I am so tired of watching poker on the sports channel(actually flipping past doesn't really count as watching)

I would guess that poker is on a slide. A friend of mine made over 100K a year playing the last 2 years but nevertheless he is now sick of it and is trying to find something else. At any rate, it is not at it's height. I dont watch hardly at all anymore. Some of the players who were somewhat interesting to me in the beginning-now i cant stand looking at them or listening to them.

But as far as pool, ESPN is used to not paying for standard pool tournaments and pool is on a slide now too IMHO. The 'Big Time' is NOT right around the corner. Big time sponsors are NOT on the verge of getting involved even if the players dress real nice!

I wonder though if they pay for 'Trick Shot Crapgic' and The Allen Hopkins/Matt Braun shows. Somehow i think Allen gets the cash.

 

[Hierovision]

I think it will definitely help with the upward motion of pool in the US. Barry knows how to promote and organize so I'm glad this is in his hands; I have faith. It won't be smoke and mirrors and you know the players will get their $

 

[supergreenman]

Say WHAT ? One night last week I watched some of the Philipine Open (?) and was about to go to bed after, but they followed that with a US Open match (Kim Davenport vs. Dave Hemmah) ! Maybe I just stay up later than you

All in all the announcement / solicitation is a good thing imo.

Dave

I was just checking the listings this morning, it looks like a good week for pool on tv. My point was, that tournament promoters are being taken advantage of by the television industry. Pool is very marketable programing and they (Sports net, ESPN et al) should be paying to show it, not the other way round.