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

[PaintballChannel]

Originally posted by chrisfx811
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.

I dont see any live paintball happening. A lot of the stuff you see on the sports channels is taped and ediited. Not a lot of it is live.

What bothers me is guys cutting logs have their own show, but paintball? Nope.

Perhaps someone just needs to come out with a network that can include paintball, like the "Xtreme Sports Network" or something. I mean, there's 5 shopping channels, 20 ESPN channels, and even a beer channel...why not an extreme sports network?

 

[Furby]

OLN has aired the World Cup before...perhaps DCP/PSP, NPPL/Pure Promotions would approach them with their concept(s)...assuming they haven't already, that is.

As I've said before, this'll be a wait and see sort of thing...

 

[paintpimp]

the national spelling bee, and magic the gathering tourneys have also aired on ESPN numerous times. Ladies billiards, sporting dogs, and poker are a staple there now. Until a short time ago ESPN was it for nationwide sports channels and at the time they had a very bad taste for the sport as we remember.

If Fox Sports net or ESPN2 aren't interested, Spike TV's Slamball slot immediately after WWE Raw on Mondays during the so called Slamball off season would be perfect in terms of ratings and target demographics for sponsors. It's also re-aired during the week a few times as well. They're a growing network with a lot of money coming in from wrestling like USA was before their WWE contract expired, and they are targeted as a Male oriented network in the critical demo most advertisers are looking at, and most extreme sports fall into.

 

[raehl]

Current NXL format fits about 2 hours of US TV, assuming you're broadcasting the game in its entirety, and I don't count it as the sport being on TV until you do.

As far as I know, the support from the various NXL parties is unanimous. If all of those guys agree that they're not getting screwed over, I'd say the chances that they're getting screwed over are pretty slim.


- Chris

 

[JTHM]

Your all fools, commenting this way or that...what if...what might.
Fer Chist sakes people, we're talking about PaintBall!

NPPL got it first, in snip-its on FOX, (their Extreme show), now they lined up the Gravity Games, and the DCP deal wtih X-Ball, who is really gonna win in this whole deal? Not you , me or the next Joe Blow who comes along. Why? because we have no real reffing staff.
Until we have solid independent certified Staff that can follow the rules in place as they are written and then enforce them, then maybe we'll get the respect this sport deserves.

I've been though the riggers of Baseball certification, they actually have standards and practices, one very special aspect is that no one "F"'s with an Reff, you do....then you're gone!

Until we get with the program, then we're destined to be nothing more than a fringe happening.

Until you folks reconize this fact, then quible all you want......

 

[raehl]

Chicken and Egg problem.

Do you need good reffing to get the payoff from TV, or do you need the payoff from TV to pay for good reffing?


- Chris

 

[Furby]

It could be argued that WDP's backing of the PRO Refs was a step in the right direction. JTHM has a point with regards to an established, independant reffing cadre being needed to legitimize the sport.

However, Chris makes a good point as well. Will the PRO refs prove themselves in the long run (my guess is yes) and be something that the promoters can show to the TV/Movie/Outside Sponsor people as a legitimizing factor...that we're not a bunch of yahoo's running around in the woods shooting each other to live out Rambo fantasies? Sad to say, the great unwashed out there in the hinterlands still see the sport as it was back the 80's for the most part.

Now there's the possibility of DCP televising the NXL in some fashion, whether it be a WWE/F testoserone drama, or televised matches from start to finish with competent hosting/commentary from people who know what they're talking about, to something in between. I'm willing to bet that at some point reffing will get a closer look from someone involved. Yes, it's a fundamental issue that needs to be looked at. Yes, it's something that can directly affect the perceived legitimacy of the sport. Does it affect the TV deals floating about right now? I say no. Before the flames begin, let me explain that statement.

Let's assume that the sport will be televised in a form that very closely resembles how it is now...don't you think that the PRO ref's fees would be included the production costs? Sad to say, I don't know if it's PRO refs covering NXL competition now, but let's assume that it is, or the PSP's equivalent of it.

Now, if it goes the other end of the possible spectrum and it turns into a Soap Opera type of production, then reffing won't matter quite so much, since aesthetically pleasing players acting out whatever their roles are won't necessarily be influenced by refs. With the hint of a possible aesthetic standard being bounced around by one of Robbo's sources, it seems that thus far the sausage drama is the route they're taking. Then again, it may have been a trial balloon floated just to see what sort of reaction it'd get. At this point it's hard to say what precisely is going on in DCP's minds.

My guess is that the games' presentation will be similar to the NPPL Super 7 video productions, with highlights of particularly important games with the highest profile teams playing, and the refs will be paid professionals of one sort or another. But, that's only a guess.