Okay, i think the TV discussion has gone far enough now really hasn't it? theres already countless threads on this?
can we get back onto the topic of possible directions the industry mergers will take us?
A Wind of Change
- Thread starter Robbo
- Start date
can we get back onto the topic of possible directions the industry mergers will take us?
I never suggested that the paintball industry was a monopoly, I suggested that it was monopolistic, large number of firms, all with roughly the same market share, products differentiated. also a monopoly only has to have the whole market share, it doesn't have to be a big firm to do it if the markets small. i do not think that all the firms are one company and that goes back to me suggesting the industry was monopolistic not a monopoly. on the marker market, you may be right, however you cannot say that the Ion has not impacted the high end market, look at what it has done to second hand prices if nothing else. the Ion has forced prices down across the market, top end markers used to sell for £1000 + now the majority seems to be in the sub £800 area.
monopoly huh - well that depends on which definition you use.
the government definition is 25% of the market owned by one company - the uk will not allow british company's to own more than this share
the real definition however is of course the whole/ vast majority of the market owned by one company
the government definition is 25% of the market owned by one company - the uk will not allow british company's to own more than this share
the real definition however is of course the whole/ vast majority of the market owned by one company
Yeah, thats just for regulatory reasons though, and anyway, as axess just said, we're talking about monopolistic competition, not an actual monopoly, though I would still maintain its more like an oligopoly.
Either way, I think theres only a fairly limited place for economic rhetoric here, I was simply trying to say that just because firms are merging does not necessarily point to an increase in prices across the board - no firm has full monopolistic power.
Has the bubble burst on the pro tourny supair scene?
Big companies have been investing a lot of money in that scene, only to se the return on that investment falling. The failure of the main contenders NXL, NPPL and PSP to pull together and get better organised hasn't helped matters either, and a lot of teams dropping out.
I've watched supair - it makes far better spectator sport than woodsball, but the supair scene never really got the media/TV coverage anticipated. The recent "cheating" epeidemic hasn't helped the game's image as a TV friendly pro-sport either. I'll always remain a woodsball player (too slow for anything else) but have lost the head to toe camo look that goes with it.
As for big companies merging - it could be good for the sport up to a point, but as the level of competition decreases prices could start to creep up.
Big companies have been investing a lot of money in that scene, only to se the return on that investment falling. The failure of the main contenders NXL, NPPL and PSP to pull together and get better organised hasn't helped matters either, and a lot of teams dropping out.
I've watched supair - it makes far better spectator sport than woodsball, but the supair scene never really got the media/TV coverage anticipated. The recent "cheating" epeidemic hasn't helped the game's image as a TV friendly pro-sport either. I'll always remain a woodsball player (too slow for anything else) but have lost the head to toe camo look that goes with it.
As for big companies merging - it could be good for the sport up to a point, but as the level of competition decreases prices could start to creep up.
On the issue of smaller firms being able to compete with the larger firms in the developing market; I think there is definately the opportunity for such firms to do well. Just look at Markus' new company Tanked, through clever marketing and creativity Tanked is carving itself a deep niche in the market.
i never said that scenario and tv was the right way to go for the sport, just the way it may head, in terms of the companies trying to bring people into the sport via the medium of tv.
the companies have to cater for where the players. as i already stated the biggest number of players are those in the scenario/woodsball realms rather than in sup'air.
so as a comapny what would you choose? tap the majority market thats already there? or spend heavily to try and develop the minority market? you need to think about how long term an investment company (which lets not forget is what most of these larger merged companies are run by) is aiming for. the point is to make your money short term and get out, reinvest somewhere else, and do the same again. are these companies really going to spend the years it would take to build up the sup'air base to make it the majority image for paintball?
they should. but will they...........
the companies have to cater for where the players. as i already stated the biggest number of players are those in the scenario/woodsball realms rather than in sup'air.
so as a comapny what would you choose? tap the majority market thats already there? or spend heavily to try and develop the minority market? you need to think about how long term an investment company (which lets not forget is what most of these larger merged companies are run by) is aiming for. the point is to make your money short term and get out, reinvest somewhere else, and do the same again. are these companies really going to spend the years it would take to build up the sup'air base to make it the majority image for paintball?
they should. but will they...........
T
TendringLOEB
Guest
i can jst see us lot gettin raped by the big corporations prices already goin up for paint, wot will be next markers?is there not two ways in which it could be played in simple terms of pricing to the end user?
1. prices rise, since one company controlls a number of others, and thusly, they are no longer in competition and can charge what he/she/they wish, as they control a large selection of things that ARE in demand...new little companies emerge and offer things cheaper, and either just about keep their heads above water, get bought out by larger companies to silence them, or drown...
2. prices drop, since these mega-companies can offer many differing ranges, and thusly are guaranteed a sale from every customer, since theyre bound to find what theyre looking for. they maybe even pretend they dont own the sub-companies, and pit them against each other almost... or stagger the ranges of products produced to give wider range of pricing variety and image, such as dye/proto but on a larger scale combining previously un-connected companies.
obviously the latter would be nicer for end users and traders... but we all know there are a number of greedy people out there
my take... and i may have missed the point... but i figured id concentrate on one point of it