- Joined
- Feb 2, 2019
- Country
-
ISU figure skating streams might be switched to pay-per-view platform
- Thread starter CrazyKittenLady
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2021
Well this sucks, JGP was a great tool to introduce and get more people into watching figure skating by putting it behind a paywall as well is killing the only way to expand this sport.
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2019
- Country
-
The ISU will do themselves and the sport of figure skating a great disservice if they really go ahead with this plan. 
I read the title and thought they'd do something silly like charge people $20 to watch a tournament.
But this idea doesn't seem too bad, it's still free, you just have to help them promote it a little by sharing links.
I put the ISU events on as something I watch while doing other things. It's been great, I've become familiar with some skaters I would otherwise not know of. If it wasn't free and on anything other than Youtube I just wouldn't watch. I would make no effort to watch. So that's one less viewer and fan they have by making it slightly difficult to watch. I can watch the best women on Earth from September to March for free on Youtube every event, so there's no real reason to pay for ISU events.
The ISU seems to be in some kind of death spiral at the moment and need money, help with promotion, probably out of ideas and trying something different hoping it works. Hopefully they can turn it around, but they seem actively working against the sport and athletes at every turn.
Worlds will get huge crowds because it's Japan, but outside of that it's looking dire for them.
But this idea doesn't seem too bad, it's still free, you just have to help them promote it a little by sharing links.
I put the ISU events on as something I watch while doing other things. It's been great, I've become familiar with some skaters I would otherwise not know of. If it wasn't free and on anything other than Youtube I just wouldn't watch. I would make no effort to watch. So that's one less viewer and fan they have by making it slightly difficult to watch. I can watch the best women on Earth from September to March for free on Youtube every event, so there's no real reason to pay for ISU events.
The ISU seems to be in some kind of death spiral at the moment and need money, help with promotion, probably out of ideas and trying something different hoping it works. Hopefully they can turn it around, but they seem actively working against the sport and athletes at every turn.
Worlds will get huge crowds because it's Japan, but outside of that it's looking dire for them.
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
- Country
-
Well, perhaps in its current problematic incarnation, the organization needs to go kaput, in order for something better and more beneficial for skaters and fans to be created, out of the ashes.
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2015
- Country
-
Well... if this happens, I am definitely not paying for it. Right now, I watch everything I can on CBC streaming... which is often the same stream the ISU broadcasts on youtube or elsewhere. Canadians pay a lot of taxes for CBC to provide such content. I ain't paying twice 
PS I will let GSers know if things remain available on CBC without a paywall... you will just need a VPN. ( I am not too hopeful though)
PS I will let GSers know if things remain available on CBC without a paywall... you will just need a VPN. ( I am not too hopeful though)
I just looked it seems that most of the junior events that they are planning to put up are speed skating not figure skating at this point. It would stink if the JGP was put behind pay wall because it is one of the last figure skating events that NBC does not control. I wonder if this taking place because so many people in the United States got sick of dealing with NBC terrible coverage that people just got VPN's to watch the Grand Prix Events. If I have to pay anybody for coverage though I would rather pay the ISU than line NBC pockets. The one thing with registering is that they are going to be able see what country someone is from and I am afraid that the ISU will not allow people from the United States to register for the coverage. I knew that NBC and ISU was going to react about the VPN issue that was going on. This may be the way to do it. I am going to take a wait and see approach because it could very good because we could finally not deal with NBC too much or really bad if they bar people from United States from registering. The first big clue should be when they announce information about how to watch the first ISU junior grand prix event if they mention Peacock then the option of going on the ISU website will be gone because they will not allow American fans to register. I really am starting to hate NBC. Their horrible coverage is driving me nuts. If I want to watch more that the Sunday recap show. I basically have to get in wee hours of the morning to see it, thank goodness I have a very flexible job that basically starts in the afternoon. Even with that I basically missed NHK because it was in the middle of the night. No replays of anything till Nationals, and that was a great improvement over what was going on before, I hoping that they will have some replays because it is going to be Japan and do not want to stay up all night and function on a few hours of sleep. I may do it for the men but nothing else because I can only take a couple days off in a week to keep my job. I hope that I am wrong but I said that NBC was going to try to get rid of VPN issue and they may have found a way now.
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2014
- Country
-
If this move is designed to generate more revenue, why wouldn't the ISU allow US people to register? More viewers = more revenue, right? If the ISU bars us Yanks from registering, it seems to me that they'd be cutting off their nose to spite their face.
Re: NBC and Peacock, I'm as disgusted as you are!
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2022
Is it a bad idea? Isn't a lot of sports Pay per view or stream nowadays? It does list it as free. I am not sure what that means digital. Free to sign up only or free to watch. I don't understand the recast credits application. It sound and reads simple enough. Phone and subscribe/ join. The once join watch what u want. The only issue is what Recast ISu post for availability. Right now the bulk is speed skating very little figure skating. The only figure skating mentioned is the synchronized.
Well the NBC contract is most likely one of the biggest funding sources for the ISU, though I think they could make just as much doing it themselves, so if NBC wants the VPN issue solved by not allowing Americans to register for the coverage the ISU may feel have no choice to do so, even if they lose some money from it. It skinks but that's the things are right now. I really would like figure skating to get their own federation because it seems that if speed skating is given coverage who cares what happens to figure skating coverage even though probably 80-90 percent of the revenue comes from figure skating. Separating speed skating from figure skating is long over due. It may not solve all the problems but it would good start.
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2018
- Country
-
Though the thing is, with VPN and private browsing, couldn't you register as being elsewhere and they wouldn't know? This is of course a two-edged blade as if most folk do it, it will look to TPTB that figure skating is even less popular in the US than it is.
I made the sacrifice and went over to read their Q&A, it seems to me (gussied up in corporate/media babblespeak) to be free to register, but you'll pay to watch and then have credits taken off the payment if you watch ads, sign up other people etc. I guess this is all another 'money talks and screw the fans' thing, which we've seen over and over throughout different sports/fandoms/entertainment (tv being a good example, from free to air, to cable, to paid streaming). But usually the sport/fandom/entertainment starts this process from a position of strength and popularity... I honestly can't see how they think this will make the sport grow.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2018
- Country
-
Popularity and government funding. Not exactly a secret.
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
I can't imagine what good this would bring to FS of all sports. The harder they make it to stumble upon, the fewer new fans they'll be getting. If they go after fans' uploaded Youtube videos to make people watch their paid ones... The fanfests might as well get rid of the video links in OP for performances. And pay per view? How would that even work? I'm the type of fan who doesn't binge watch or cherrypick skaters, but watches all of, say, EC women's SP or JGP men's FS, on about 5 separate evenings when I have time. Do they expect one to pay more because of that style of watching? Bad, bad idea, I'd just give up and watch something else instead, especially for events where I don't have my biggest favorites. And I'm not even a casual fan that will likely lose interest even faster, and move on to something else.
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2004
Live streaming on "Recast" . Why do us old people get confused....? Hope this doesnt go into effect for awhile. I will have someone smart like Minz or Mfarone or Doris explain this to me...
1. Peacock due to ? will not broadcast replays
2. Using a VPN, we can see replays or live.
3. Now ISU is heading for "Recast" to plug a hole. Or gain revenue.
I would love to know the numbers on how many people are watching figure skating on Peacock, and the ISU channel and the ISU channel via VPN.
I have no issues with the ISU getting my money for content. I just wonder if this is the correct path. Everybody say, "Freeeeeezzzeeee"
Ideally, there would be one figure skating channel we write one check to and we see Korean nats, Japanese Nats, Worlds, etc.
I also think Internet should be considered a utility and I believe in the tooth fairy.....sigh......
1. Peacock due to ? will not broadcast replays
2. Using a VPN, we can see replays or live.
3. Now ISU is heading for "Recast" to plug a hole. Or gain revenue.
I would love to know the numbers on how many people are watching figure skating on Peacock, and the ISU channel and the ISU channel via VPN.
I have no issues with the ISU getting my money for content. I just wonder if this is the correct path. Everybody say, "Freeeeeezzzeeee"
Ideally, there would be one figure skating channel we write one check to and we see Korean nats, Japanese Nats, Worlds, etc.
I also think Internet should be considered a utility and I believe in the tooth fairy.....sigh......
Good god, I've read a summary of their credits system and it's literally like having a drunk friend explain board game rules to you. I'll have it all figured out by the first GP in October. If you want to charge for it, just charge for it, but don't make me have to take notes in order to figure out how I can pay for a sport literally nobody will watch anyway because it will lose all of its audience.
Is it still on Eurosport? I opened my Eurosport Player only to realize it no longer exists.
Is it still on Eurosport? I opened my Eurosport Player only to realize it no longer exists.
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2004
What you said. I dont even really understand pay per view. People tell me you pay to watch a movie and you can watch it over a number of days. I dont even know what that means. Can you watch and rewatch? If I want to see worlds, will I pay one fee for live and on demand? Can I rewatch? Are we talking a dollar or 20 dollars? Will they exclude VPN people by making you supply and address they can check?
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2018
- Country
-
{I just deleted a whole mess of words because I went over to the recast site and I think it's completely different from what I thought. Roughly speaking it does appear you can rewatch but all the different sports do it differently so I have NO idea and will probably wait for the clips of my favourites to pop up somewhere}
Cost is anyone's guess at this stage. Given they are starting with juniors events which don't get high traction online (well, neither do many of the seniors but that's beside the point) I would assume they will start low and then see how and when they can bump it up. But this is the ISU and they are not very bright. Personally, I like to think that when they realise the whole idea is tanking - if it does, which is likely - they will have a rethink.
Last edited: