TV or not TV....that is the question

[PaintballChannel]

Yes, I would like to see paintball get on TV as well, but I just dont want to see it turned into something that could be equated to an episode of Jerry Springer...

Paintball on TV? Yes. At the cost of setting the sport back 5-10 years? No.

I mean, what if DCP came along and said "We want everyone to wear camo's and play in the woods like a real war, and we want to make a reality show based on that, with all the 'warlike' agression - like Survivor with paintball guns". You have to remember that the average american still sees paintball as a "war-like" sport.

I'm not say that it WILL happen that way, but, you never know. And, personally, I dont want to see it go in that direction.

 

[Red_Merkin]

We want everyone to wear camo's and play in the woods like a real war, and we want to make a reality show based on that, with all the 'warlike' agression - like Survivor with paintball guns".

If they wanted that then they wouldn't have paid a fat wad of cash for the NXL.

They're probably just going to emphasisie personalities that are already there, up the production values, and promote certain teams as good or bad, so the masses will identify with them.

Think about it, if they wanted to totally **** it up, would they have bought the NXL? Better than that, would Richmond have sold out his league if he thought they were going to butcher it?

 

[shamu]

Originally posted by PaintballChannel
I mean the "wrestling" that we see on TV, ie. the WWE, NWF, etc.

Exactly my concern - people know what they see on TV, not the truth behind it.

As far as the promotion of it - maybe DCP leaves the game aspects alone and decides to 'juice up' the promotional aspects of it... manufactured personalities, fake grudges (or played up grudges), appearance requirements (every team has to have at least one model-quality player to appeal to the ladies, regardless of his paintball skills?). Let's hope the NXL doesn't turn into the next XFL

I'm not against TV coverage per se, just against *******izing the sport soley for publicity. Sure, TV brings a lot of potential for exposure.... the question is what kind of exposure are we going to get? cool new extreme sport or the next roller derby???

 

[paintpimp]

survivor with paintball has already happened, and already failed.
A few years ago, on UPN I believe.

As I've said before I believe the current form of xball fits 1 hour US programming perfectly. Say NXL (PLP) game of the week style, airing a taped game from the prior weekend, or event if it is run side by side with PSPs. If games are held weekly like US football, the opening few minutes can show quick edited highlights of non-televised games. If matches are held side by side with PSP again, then the opening minutes can have prepared segments on players, team profiles, paintball history, yada yada yada, or simply analysis by the hosts.

1 hour American programming has a little under 40 minutes of content per hour. NXL games run 40 minutes + timeouts, and clock stoppages within 5 minutes of course. Commercials fit easily into the 2 minutes between games, it's actually a little more commecial time than most live sporting events get. 1 NXL match using the current rules and game setup and typical american style TV stuff works well. Add in the new overhead cable cams we're seeing in US Football, basketball and other major sports plus the usual track mounted and platform mounted cams and you have something very entertaining to the masses.

As for the WWE(F) comments, if this route is taken it will more likely resemble the latest version of Roller Derby which was aired a few years ago. Just like the current NXL and Spike TV's Slamball, teams represented cities where they didn't live, yet all the matches were taped in one location.

 

[PaintballChannel]

Like I said, that was a "what if?" scenario. I didnt say it was going to happen.

And, I've had the unfortunate pleasure of working in the film and television industry for about ten years and can tell you that producers are only interested in one thing, ratings. Ratings = Money. They don't care what it takes to get those ratings (which is evident of the shows that have been on television the past few years). From what I've seen in the film and TV industry you can't trust any producer. If you thought backstabbing was bad in paintball, you need to spend a year in the LA Film and TV industry.

I know DCP does quality shows, but again...from experience...I really don't trust them. I'd have to see what their plans are before I make a real judgement.

And, yes, Manhunt (the UPN show) failed. It failed for many reasons. 1) It created an uproar within paintball and was boycotted, 2) They re-shot sequences to change the turnout of the show, and 3) There was too much bad press about it. Not to mention, they were piled with lawsuits before the first show even hit the air.

What I'm saying is that the industry shouldnt take the first deal that comes along just because it will get paintball on TV. It needs to be looked at carefully.

 

[Baca Loco]

Jeeez

Originally posted by Nick Brockdorff
You guys are concerned with something that will not transpire, unless the people at DCP are completely without brains -

You have seen American TV, right, Nick?

 

[shamu]

Jeeez

Originally posted by Nick Brockdorff
This discussion is totally immaterial !

OBVIOUSLY it will not be orchestrated games like the WWF - why then buy the NXL, rather than just get some muppets off the local field with good looks ?

I wasn't referring to the staged nature of WWE in my comparison. I was referring to the 'hyped up' nature of the presentation - flashy, loud, usually tasteless, etc.

If the earlier comment about some players being forced out because they're not 'presentable' enough is true, we could be in serious trouble - paintballers aren't the handsomest buncha guys, are we? Guess that's why we gravitate towards a sport that lets us wear full face masks

 

[TJ Lambini]

Nick's other 'hobby' involves wearing a gimpmask, so Pball's a relatively sociable outlet for him...

 

[stongle]

Re: Jeeez

Originally posted by shamu
paintballers aren't the handsomest buncha guys, are we? Guess that's why we gravitate towards a sport that lets us wear full face masks

Speak for your self mate. I Could've been a model.............for Mothercare, Gap Kids, Early Learning Center etc

ANd before anyone thinks to flame I don't pay VAT on clothes so ner ner ne ner ner.

 

[chrisfx811]

i don't know about the aesthetics of professional athletes in europe. but there is a large majority of scary-looking professionals in american pro sports now.
hockey: gimme a break, most of these guys are missing teeth and have noses shaped like a winding, mountain road.
football: the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers get on tv. but they still got plenty of 300+ lb lineman and 98 lb, 5ft place kickers playin as well.
baseball: randy johnson, darryl strawberry, pete rose... etc. these guys are definitely not america's golden boys.

in my opinion, a sport whose competitors wear masks will not need an entire squad of gap models. (who like those androgynous guys anyway?)
each team just needs it's star quarterbacks, home-run hitters, goal scorers, whatever. still plenty of room for the grunts of the sport.

a better question will be:
will there be an age requirement to play professional paintball? adults only?

in terms of packaging for tv...
when the avp (pro volleyball) was up and coming they had a few live events on tv, but for the most part, they were taped, edited, and televised after the events were over.