What happened to pool on TV?

9BallPaul

9BallPaul

Banned
I haven't seen a match in weeks, men or women. I'm a COMCAST customer living in metro Denver, but aside from a couple early morning men's matches last month -- on at 4a as I ducked into the commode -- I haven't been able to get a thing.

I don't do the accustats stuff and only occassionally look at pool on YouTube, so TV is my best exposure to top players. Even speed pool is tough to find, and that's a game that has appeal to non pool players who can so easily understand the rules. Better than that, there's little need in speed pool to identify the balls on the table, which can't be done without high-def.

And try to find a HDTV pool match, though they do exist. In three years I've come across exactly zero. I can get poker in high-def, but not pool.

Why?
 
Worminator said:
Lack of sponsorship...
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The HONEST TRUTH!
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My DVR has been recording stuff off of ESPN classic lately. I am not sure why you are not getting that. Sometimes frequency goes up and down, but I have still had a few episodes each week lately.
 
Mosconi cup Friday 2-3 pm on CSN. 4/18/09 Speed pool from 3-5 on espn2.
There hasnt been much on lately it sucks. (comcast cable)
 
Pool is one of the most popular sports in America, its played in bars, community centers, homes, retirement centers, arcades, bowling alleys, student unions, youth centers, basically everywhere yet it lacks sponsors and has had real problems with organization over the years.
 
Pool on tv

Im from pa. With dish network, everything that is on is just on espn classics , and it's nothing newer anyhow all fom early to mid 2000's , is all newer matches just being sold on dvd's ? Not for tv broadcast ?
 
But it's got sex appeal!

Geez, there's a new superstar on the horizon who could make Jennifer look smalltime. Blonde Austrian women who shoot like God should be pure TV gold. And yet ... nothing.

Where is Budweiser, Coors, Miller etc? Do it in high def so we can see the balls and you'd have a cult audience that could easily grow. If I had to guess, I'd say not enough kids in the target audience -- 18 to 34 -- play pool. They're all welded to joy sticks.

Call your beer companies, compadres.
 
Its the same reason why pool doesn't have big payouts. Its the same reason pool hasn't appealed to the masses yet. Its the same reason why pool has not been successful in the U.S the way other sports have.

We have been going round and round about this for years on this forum. There isn't enough money in pool to justify the expense of promoting it on television, or anywhere else. We are in a catch 22. We need sponsorship to get money. We need to make money to get sponsorship. Which comes first?

Nobody has come up with a solution yet (or maybe somebody has, but didn't have the means to apply it).
 
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s0lidz said:
Its the same reason why pool doesn't have big payouts. Its the same reason pool hasn't appealed to the masses yet. Its the same reason why pool has not been successful in the U.S the way other sports have.

We have been going round and round about this for years on this forum. There isn't enough money in pool to justify the expense of promoting it on television, or anywhere else. We are in a catch 22. We need sponsorship to get money. We need to make money to get sponsorship. Which comes first?

Nobody has come up with a solution yet (or maybe somebody has, but didn't have the means to apply it).
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I don't doubt you for a second. I've been around this forum for a few turns myself. But there was a time in this country when a match between Greenleaf and Mosconi drew 30k fans in Chicago, on the same day the Bears played before a few thousand. On many levels, pool is still understood.

But it doesn't come across on TV. Bring in Norman Chad from poker commentary, add a dash of Earthquake, and give us more Jennifer Baretta and, especially, Jasmine. As said peviously, she's TV gold.

Allen Hopkins was a worthy champion but a dud as a commentator. Ewa is the most glamorous female player of all, and her commentary is sterling. Pair her with Norman Chad, mike the players and let the fur fly.
 
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You can find pool on ESPN Classic almost every day during the week. As for the more recent stuff? WPBA and Billiards International have contracts with ESPN, so their televised stuff gets on the air typically 4-6 weeks after shooting. The men don't really have a domestic tour, so you're not going to see them on TV anytime soon.

As for Jasmin, she does in fact boost ratings by quite a bit. The problem is that she's inconsistent, so there's no guarantee that she'll make it to the TV round (see her performance this past weekend as an example). Its not like golf and Tiger Woods where you can basically count on him making the cut. The ratings for the SD Classic should be decent with Jeanette Lee and Ga Young Kim playing in all three matches, but they won't be as strong as when Jasmin makes the TV rounds.

As for title sponsors, it doesn't have to be beer or billiards companies. Look at the PBA as an example to follow. Last year they had Denny's as their title sponsor, this year they have Lumber Liquidators. It can be done, you just have to have the right person making those sponsor presentations.
 
I would rather not watch pool on espn. The over head view and pocket cams are stupid. I want the camera right behind the shooter to see the stroke and approach, foot placement, etc.
 
When the Credit Score of those watching Pool equal the Credit Scores watching WWE, Golf, NBA etc. Pool will get sponsorship IMHO.
 
ATM said:
I would rather not watch pool on espn. The over head view and pocket cams are stupid. I want the camera right behind the shooter to see the stroke and approach, foot placement, etc.
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And just as important: Don't change the camera angle during the the time the shot is transpiring.
 
I dont think comcast carries ESPNC. Thats why I switched to FIOS. ESPNC has billiards almost everyday.
 
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