What happened to pool on TV?

The hell with TV. Streaming is way better for watching. Work on getting sponsership for that. I think it's a joke that the beer and booze companies don't sponser pool in the US. If someone would publish the brands that say no to sponsering pool, yet make mosy of the players and fans...just don't buy that brand of whatever. Johnnyt
 
March's listings

Date Day Time Episode Taped Network

Mar 3
Tuesday 11:00 AM 2001 BCA Open 9-Ball Championship: Finals (Men) May 13 ESPN Classic

Mar 4
Wednesday 11:00 AM 2001 Int'l Challenge of Champions:Semifinal #1 Jul 12 ESPN Classic

Mar 5
Thursday 11:00 AM 2001 Int'l Challenge of Champions:Semifinal #2 Jul 12 ESPN Classic

Mar 6
Friday 11:00 AM 2001 Int'l Challenge of Champions: Finals Jul 12 ESPN Classic

Mar 8
Sunday 2:30 PM 2008 International Speed Pool Challenge: Finals Oct 1 ESPN Classic

Mar 9
Monday 11:00 AM 2001 Trick Shot Magic Oct 12 ESPN Classic

Mar 10
Tuesday 11:00 AM 2001 Trick Shot Magic Oct 12 ESPN Classic

Mar 11
Wednesday 11:00 AM 2001 Trick Shot Magic Oct 12 ESPN Classic

Mar 12
Thursday 11:00 AM 2001 Sudden Death 7-Ball Oct 12 ESPN Classic

Mar 13
Friday 11:00 AM 2001 Sudden Death 7-Ball Oct 12 ESPN Classic

Mar 16
Monday 11:00 AM 2001 Sudden Death 7-Ball Oct 12 ESPN Classic

Mar 17
Tuesday 6:00 PM 2007 Men's Trick Shot Magic Billiards: Finals Oct 4 ESPN Classic

Mar 17
Tuesday 5:00 PM 2007 Men's Trick Shot Magic: Semifinal #2 Oct 4 ESPN Classic

Mar 17
Tuesday 4:00 PM 2007 Men's Trick Shot Magic: Semifinal #1 Oct 4 ESPN Classic

Mar 17
Tuesday 3:00 PM 2006 Men's Trick Shot Magic: Finals Oct 5 ESPN Classic

Mar 17
Tuesday 2:00 PM 2006 Men's Trick Shot Magic: Semifinal #2 Oct 5 ESPN Classic

Mar 17
Tuesday 1:00 PM 2006 Men's Trick Shot Magic: Semifinal #1 Oct 5 ESPN Classic

Mar 17
Tuesday 11:00 AM 2001 Wheel Chair Billiards Sep 27 ESPN Classic

Mar 18
Wednesday 11:00 AM 2001 Women's Tournament of Champions: Semifinal #1 Jan 18 ESPN Classic

Mar 19
Thursday 6:00 PM 2005 NWPA Scotch Doubles Championship: Finals Oct 9 ESPN Classic

Mar 19
Thursday 5:00 PM 2005 NWPA National Wheelchair Championship: Finals Oct 9 ESPN Classic

Mar 19
Thursday 4:30 PM 2007 3-Cushion Billiards Challenge May 16 ESPN Classic

Mar 19
Thursday 4:00 PM 2007 3-Cushion Billiards Challenge May 16 ESPN Classic

Mar 19
Thursday 3:00 PM 2007 World Summit of Pool: Finals Jun 16 ESPN Classic

Mar 19
Thursday 2:00 PM 2007 World Summit of Pool: Semifinal #2 Jun 16 ESPN Classic

Mar 21
Saturday 6:00 PM Generationpool.com Women's 9-Ball Championship: Finals Jun 8 ESPN Classic

Mar 21
Saturday 5:00 PM Generationpool.com Women's 9-Ball Championship: Semifinal #2 Jun 8 ESPN Classic

Mar 21
Saturday 4:00 PM Generationpool.com Women's 9-Ball Championship: Semifinal #1 Jun 8 ESPN Classic

Mar 21
Saturday 3:00 PM Generationpool.com Men's Championship: Finals Jun 8 ESPN Classic

Mar 21
Saturday 2:00 PM Generationpool.com Men's Championship: Semifinal #2 Jun 8 ESPN Classic

Mar 21
Saturday 1:00 PM Generationpool.com Men's Championship: Semifinal #1 Jun 8 ESPN Classic

Mar 23
Monday 11:00 AM 2002 BCA Open 9-Ball Championship: Mens Semifinals May 18 ESPN Classic

Mar 24
Tuesday 11:00 AM 2002 BCA Open 9-Ball Championship: Womens Semifinals May 18 ESPN Classic

Mar 25
Wednesday 11:00 AM 2002 BCA Open 9-Ball Championship: Womens Finals May 18 ESPN Classic

Mar 26
Thursday 11:00 AM 2002 BCA Open 9-Ball Championship: Mens Finals May 18 ESPN Classic

Mar 27
Friday 11:00 AM 2002 International Challenge of Champions: Semifinal #1 Aug 15 ESPN Classic

Mar 30
Monday 11:00 AM 2002 International Challenge of Champions: Semifinal #2 Aug 15 ESPN Classic

Mar 31
Tuesday 11:00 AM 2002 International Challenge of Champions: Finals Aug 15 ESPN Classic
 
April and May listings

2002 Sudden Death 7-Ball 2-Apr 11:00 AM ESPNC
2002 Trick Shot Magic 8-Apr 10:00 AM ESPNC
2002 Tournament of Champions 14-Apr 11:00 AM ESPNC
2002 Tournament of Champions 15-Apr 11:00 AM ESPNC
2008 International Speed Pool Challenge 18-Apr 3:00 PM ESPN2
2008 International Speed Pool Challenge 18-Apr 4:00 PM ESPN2
2003 Mosconi Cup 27-Apr 11:00 AM ESPNC
2003 Mosconi Cup 28-Apr 11:00 AM ESPNC
2003 Mosconi Cup 29-Apr 11:00 AM ESPNC
2003 Mosconi Cup 30-Apr 11:00 AM ESPNC
2009 San Diego Classic 3-May 1:00 PM ESPN
2009 San Diego Classic 3-May 2:00 PM ESPN
2009 San Diego Classic 3-May 3:00 PM ESPN
2008 World Cup of Trick Shots 4-May 8:00 PM ESPN2
2008 World Cup of Trick Shots 4-May 9:00 PM ESPN2
2008 World Cup of Trick Shots 4-May 10:00 PM ESPN2
2007 World Cup of Trick Shots 4-May 11:00 PM ESPN2
2007 World Cup of Trick Shots 4-May 11:30 PM ESPN2
2008 Trick Shot Magic 9-May 4:00 PM ESPN2
2008 Trick Shot Magic 9-May 5:00 PM ESPN2
2008 Trick Shot Magic 9-May 6:00 PM ESPN2
WPBA Championship 10-May 4:00 PM ESPN
WPBA Championship 10-May 5:00 PM ESPN
2008 Tournament of Champions 11-May 8:00 PM ESPN2
2008 Tournament of Champions 11-May 9:00 PM ESPN2
2008 Tournament of Champions 11-May 10:00 PM ESPN2
2007 Tournament of Champions 11-May 11:00 PM ESPN2
2007 Tournament of Champions 11-May 11:30 PM ESPN2
 
Thanks but I already know "Charmed" is on from ... lol j.k Thanks.
 
ATM said:
Thanks but I already know "Charmed" is on from ... lol j.k Thanks.
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is there an Alyssa Milano Tivo setting?? :p

<<<been drooling over her since the first season of Who's the Boss (but that's OK, since we're the same age :D ).
 
Dismal ratings. Pool is not a popular TV sport--never has been. It would probably be bumped off Fox Sports and ESPN altogether if another two-bit professional arena football league started.
 
OBX said:
Dismal ratings. Pool is not a popular TV sport--never has been. It would probably be bumped off Fox Sports and ESPN altogether if another two-bit professional arena football league started.
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There is no way that EPSN is ever going to kick pool off of their network. Keep in mind that they get all the WPBA programming for free. WPBA swaps the programming for ads which they can then turn around and sell.

Think about it from ESPN's perspective. They get programming that will pull them a guaranteed .3 to .5 on the first run and then they can throw it on Classic to rerun whenever they need filler.

For those of you who think this number is low, consider the fact that MLS pulls a .2 on average and this is programming that ESPN did have to pay for. By comparison, PBA typically pulls about a .8 and the WSOP pulls around a 1.4 (which is why ESPN is thinking about doing live programming for WSOP).
 
I have Concast and there is a lot of pool. It may depend on what level of subscription you have. Do a seach for pool, billiards and also look at ESPNclassic. The problem is there is a of repeats. Also look at some of the forums, they will list times of pool being shown.
 
What they show on TV. is all based on ratings. They get their information from the Neilson ratings. I used to be one of the households they monitored. I watched all the matches I could to help boost their ratings. Unfortunately it runs for a period of five years then your done. Another bad point is, they only monitor households with certain demographics. They never get a true number of the people that actually watch pool on television. Sixty people could be watching a match at an Elks hall and the sponsors would never know it. Call, or even better, petition your local cable company. Tell them you want to broadcast more pool.
 
Internet streaming is the future billiards. From what I have been told ESPN demands a lot and has total ownership of the content wit little reward fir those putting on the tournaments. Streaming can be done with lower costs and with less set up. As the technology gets better and more affordable you will see more and more tournaments and matches streamed LIVE, which is the other positive. That is why I encourage everyone to support these efforts, even if its not your first choice. Give these companies the market base they need in order to make a real run at success and expansion.
 
You are correct that ESPN owns all the content, but it is a very decent tradeoff. The WPBA is a known entity due in large part to the amount of national coverage it gets on ESPN and its sister stations. The men's tour on the other hand... oh wait, there isn't a men's tour anymore. Ask any casual fan to name a female pool player and they'll come up with Jeanette Lee and possibly Ewa or Allison. Ask them to name a top men's player and they'll look at you like you're insane.

I do like streaming and I think that it has a future and yes, it is good for pool and we should all support it, but it is not a substitute for the coverage that pro pool gets on ESPN. Seriously, what's a good turnout for a streamed event? 500 people? 1,000 people? The average rating that the WPBA pulls on ESPN equates to 458,000 households. Seems to me that ESPN > Streaming and will be for quite some time.
 
poolsnark said:
There is no way that EPSN is ever going to kick pool off of their network. Keep in mind that they get all the WPBA programming for free. WPBA swaps the programming for ads which they can then turn around and sell.

Think about it from ESPN's perspective. They get programming that will pull them a guaranteed .3 to .5 on the first run and then they can throw it on Classic to rerun whenever they need filler.

For those of you who think this number is low, consider the fact that MLS pulls a .2 on average and this is programming that ESPN did have to pay for. By comparison, PBA typically pulls about a .8 and the WSOP pulls around a 1.4 (which is why ESPN is thinking about doing live programming for WSOP).
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They mainly just use it for cheap daytime filler. Look at the listings. Most of the matches are from 1999-2004. At least Fox Sports ran the last Mosconi Cup (depressing) but you need a DVR if you don't want to take off from work or stay up 'til the wee hours of the night. ESPN will be showing a couple of matches from the recent San Diego Classic on a Sunday afternoon in early May.

Please don't compare pool's TV ratings to those of MLS--I can't think of any legitimate sport so ignored and unpopular in the US! Twice or three times the ratings of MLS means pool's ratings still suck big time.
 
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The point of comparing MLS and WPBA was simply that ESPN pays for the MLS contract (thanks Posh and Becks) and they get the WPBA stuff in swaps. That being said, you do have to keep in mind that pool is a pretty niche sport. Its not powerlifting niche, but without a drastic change to how pool is shot for TV, its always going to pull around a 0.4 (except when Jasmin plays of course).
 
tigerseye said:
I wonder if they have more pool on T.V. in Europe?
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well, not sure about the mainland, but BBC has EXCELLENT coverage of snooker in the UK.

I watch championships a few months ago, they even had a cool computer layout of the table that rotated down so you could see exactly how much of a window or ball the shooter could see!
 
poolsnark said:
The point of comparing MLS and WPBA was simply that ESPN pays for the MLS contract (thanks Posh and Becks) and they get the WPBA stuff in swaps. That being said, you do have to keep in mind that pool is a pretty niche sport. Its not powerlifting niche, but without a drastic change to how pool is shot for TV, its always going to pull around a 0.4 (except when Jasmin plays of course).
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I'll certainly tune in if Jasmin is playing!
 
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