New Format scheduled for 2010 U.S. Championships

[gsrossano]

It is not clear to me this really will be better for the TV audience -- where better means there will be more skater shown and more hours broadcast. Has that info been released?

If they end up showing the same number of skaters and simply split the same number of broadcast hours over two weekends this is no benefit to the TV audience or the finances of USFSA. But if they do show more skaters and increase the total hours that would be a good thing for the TV audience and for increasing USFSA advertising revenue. So until we know the broadcast schedule it's hard to say if this is a good thing or not for viewers.

 

[Tonichelle]

Comments on Ratings?

Joe

NBC feels that skating will work better on teh weekends, and they're trying to appease the masses with live coverage. The only way they can do that without bumping their primetime shows off the air, is to have the USFSA change the format for the competition.

Whether or not that will boost ratings, who knows, I think in theory FOR TV it's a great idea. It will hopefully get more exposure for US figure skating.

For the FANs, it's a stupid idea.

They're no doubt just doing this as a one time thing, for now. If it proves successful then I could easily see NBC doing this at least every four years...

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

This is a welcome news for me and for the people like me who don't have a plan to go to the Nationals. We were talking about live coverage on TV. Now we will have live coverage on TV like other popular sports.

You are aware that the live TV from NBC will be Skate America and the US Nats. Not the whole of SA or the whole of US Nats. However, the 2009 Worlds will be in America, and we'll see how much they cover. I believe NBC has no intention of setting up competitions abroad after the Olys.

Joe

NBC feels that skating will work better on teh weekends, and they're trying to appease the masses with live coverage. The only way they can do that without bumping their primetime shows off the air, is to have the USFSA change the format for the competition.

Whether or not that will boost ratings, who knows, I think in theory FOR TV it's a great idea. It will hopefully get more exposure for US figure skating.

For the FANs, it's a stupid idea.

They're no doubt just doing this as a one time thing, for now. If it proves successful then I could easily see NBC doing this at least every four years...

If you mean the Olympics (every 4 years) NBC has done the Olys many times. They have in the past got super sponsors. With the decrease in figure skating, I think taking on the SA and US Nats is to keep the interest up in this segment of the Olys. The two weekend schedule is a very iffy thing for people to show up at the Stadium. I don't think NBC wants to show empty stands, but TV may work.

Joe

 

[Tonichelle]

there's never been full coverage of any figure skating event... I don't know why everyone complains about it now, when it was never something to expect....

we get more than a couple of decades ago, maybe not as much coverage per season as in the 90s, but between ESPN/ABC/DISNEY and NBC we get a good deal.

If you mean the Olympics (every 4 years) NBC has done the Olys many times.

I'm well aware of NBC having done the Olympics before. I was merely saying that I could see this format of two weekends for the senior events happening every Olympic season if NBC continues to keep contract with the IOC to show the Games on their network. I don't see them having as much interest to put live skating on Primetime on the 'off seasons'.

Olympic Games are way more marketable than a World Championship for one particular sport. They pull in way more ratings for something that happens once every 4 years and celebrates sport in general, not really one sport over another.

 

[jennylovskt]

To me, the last group showing on TV will be good enough. The rest, I will rely on the internet and all of you.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

As I said before, some fans are only fans of one discipline and at least 5 Ladies will be shown on TV. Maybe 6. That just doesn't do it for all fans.

ESPN/ABC/DISNEY That's all one company. Do you really think it will remain active in the skating business? They do well without it.

Joe

 

[Alsace]

Well two events would happen over one weekend (men and pairs) and then the other two events would happen the next weekend. Skaters from the first weekend wouldn't have to stick around for the second weekend, and skaters for the second weekend wouldnt have to get there the same time the first weekend skaters do.

so it's not going to be any longer for the athletes, I would assume.

Unless, of course, the medal winners have to stay around for the second weekend for the championship gala, which Hersh does not mention. That would really mess with an Olympic skater's training, unless USFSA rents another rink for a week for the men and pairs to train. Hey, with NBC footing the bill, who knows?

 

[Winnipeg]

Don't they all have to stay for the gala (at least the medallists).

It wouldn't be so BAD IF THE LOCATION FOR THE EVENT WAS A PLACE WHERE THERE WERE OTHER ACTIVITIES TO MAKE VACATINO OUT OF IT:

sorry for the caps but how about

Fort Meyers
Hawaii:yes:
Palm Springs
Arizona
or ski locale?? Aspen, Vail, New England,

 

[visaliakid]

I just love seeing many getting their knickers in a twist over this! I plan to wait to see what more becomes public on this before calling any of it stupid, lame, rediculous, or fill in your own favorite negative!

The one thing I do know is that by doing this, NBC is attempting to bring casual fans back to viewing the sport of figure skating. Filling the seats at the event/s is the responsibility of U.S. Figure Skating along with the local organizing committee of the host city. If proper marketing is put in place by both those entities, seats can and should be filled.

Both NBC and USFS recognize they need TV viewers to keep the sport viable on U.S. TV. At least they appear to be making an effort to capture the attention of viewers by offering more skating LIVE in prime time. That in my book should be applauded, not called names!

Networks never have and never will program figure skating for we hardcore peons, but to capture the general viewers. Get used to it, it's reality, folks!

 

[Tonichelle]

ESPN/ABC/DISNEY That's all one company

Joe

No kidding. That's why I listed them the way I did. I'm a little familiar with TV networks, considering I'm studying so that I can work in that field at the moment.

anyway, do I think they'll keep contract. Maybe not, I dunno. I could see ESPN wanting to keep some of it... but who knows.


Either way - our TV schedules are no worse than what they were in the 80s or even earlier... so I don't see why people get so ticked off. You don't see EVERY skier, snowboarder during a competition or even every football game....


as for the gala, it would not surprise me if they did away with that with this format.

or did an exhibition of champions after they all get back from the olympics in that month before worlds

 

[Mathman]

It's an Olympics qualifying year...It will be quite a batte for the (hopefully) three Men's spots, if, minimally, Weir, Lysacek, Abbott, and Carriere remain healthy, and if Rippon is on the same course as Chan, who, two years ago, didn't have a triple axel.

The question is, if Lysacek/Weir-Weir/Lysacek are perceived as givens, will a battle for bronze bring people in? I'm sure any of us could come up with a great series of lead-ins to generate TV viewership and to sell tickets locally...

That's a super idea. They could push Lysacek versus Weir for the U.S. Championship, while still focusing on the Olympic team (a la Michelle, Tara and Nicole in ladies in 1998), and still stir up the interest in who will grab that third spot.

Ladies is pretty much a slam dunk, and dance will get a great ride.

I could see a simple marketing campaign based around a pep rally to Cheer on Your Olympians!!!!! Give Them a [City X] Send-off to Vancouver!!!!! to bring in locals to the arena.

ASAIK Detroit is the only city that has bid for 2010 Nationals so far. Tanith and Ben are very well known locally. Meryl and Charlie along with the young crew from Ann Arbor FSC could stir up local enthusiasm.

For the ladies, either way would be good for publicity purposes. That is, if one or two ladies separate themselves from the pack and emerge as Olympic medal contenders, that's great. And if it is still a logjam with five or six in contention for the U.S. title and Olympic team, that's all the better.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I just don't think NBC is too concerned about paying customers as they are about TV ratings leading up to Olys.

Joe

 

[R.D.]

the role of NBC is to do what they can to maximize their TV ratings for the event, and ultimately for the Games. It's not their job nor concern to get spectators in the seats from a business standpoint, although I'm sure they don't want an empty arena either.

As mentioned earlier, it's up to the event organizers and the USFS to publicize the event enough to get people to show up. I take it that the reason why so many on the boards are complaining over the change is that they represent the small fraction of attendees who fly in from out-of-state and attend ALL the events.

 

[Tonichelle]

I don't think anyone is saying it's NBC's responsibility to get people in the stands.

The USFSA could have said 'no' to this new format, but they've proven in the last few years (ESPECIALLY this year) that they could care less how the fans feel about their decisions. So I guess tv ratings are more important to them too.

Oh well, I hear Skate Canada is pretty good to the fans... I'll check them out.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Actually, I am one of the many who fly in every year to see figure skating championships, and I have no doubt that 33% of the house will not be wanting additional expenses.

It's easy enough for me to sit at home and watch NBC's version of the Nationals on TV and save quite a bit of money by watching the full Nationals on ESPN360. Watching the last 6 skaters in 2 disciplines live on one weekend and 2 more on the following weekend, is not a big deal for me. Waiting for that showing by NBC, I will have seen all the other groups at Nats on ESPN 360. Moneywise, I will save quite a bit which may be enough to take a side tour from wherever the 2010 Worlds is held. This, of course, is personal and does not apply to everyone. I'm in a no lose situation.

This is a wait and see for NBC to deliver. Their object is to make the Winter Olympics shine with sponsors revenues coming in by the bucket. My hope is that it will increase interest in Figure Skating after the Olys.

Joe

Forgot. I am worried about the GPs except for SA. Hopefully ESPN360 carries them.

 

[Tonichelle]

Nationals won't be on ESPN 360 - that's a rival company of NBC... Ice Network will be the only online source of nationals coverage.

ESPN 360 will only be able to show those competitions that ESPN has a contract for. Which could be nothing after this year.

 

[Mathman]

I just don't think NBC is too concerned about paying customers as they are about TV ratings leading up to Olys.

That is quite true. NBC certainly has a different agenda than USFS. This is something that USFS needs to think hard about before they get too giddy with the wonderfulness of their NBC contract.

As I understand it, NBC is not paying either USFS or the ISU anything for broadcast rights. The only thing USFS gets out of the deal is revenue sharing if a lot of big time sponsors decide to sign on. With the proposed format it will be very difficult for the event to attract any spectators at all, either travellers or locals, during the week.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Several posters see ESPN360 tied to the USFS. Maybe that's true, but I dont believe it has anything to do with the contract that is running out after Worlds 2008.

If anything, I see ESPN tied to the ISU. To get 4CC one had to click on the logo ISU! not the USFS,

Given the number of world wide sports on ESPN360, why would one single out Figure Skating as only American? Rugby anyone?

Methinks, the plans of ESPN360 lye with that branch of ESPN's wide world of sports. If someone can get the full story on this, I and many others would appreciate it.

Joe

 

[Tonichelle]

ESPN360 cannot show any competition that another network has a contract to show... US Nationals, Skate America and 09 Worlds are NBC's... so ESPN 360 will be blacked out for those events. It's not a matter of being a US sport or not, it's about who owns the rights to broadcast the event. Ice Network.com is the USFSA's personal media outlet. They have their own broadcasting terms and that's where you will get to see -hopefully- everything fro Skate America and Nationals - not sure if they will get the go ahead for worlds 09 or not.

whether or not ESPN360 cares to show the other events remains to be seen. I don't think a decision has been made yet.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Nationals won't be on ESPN 360 - that's a rival company of NBC... Ice Network will be the only online source of nationals coverage.

Are you sure ESPN360 showing Rugby, Basketball, soccer, etc., will be a rival network? There are rival networks for the aforementioned sports, too.

Nothing wrong with IceNetwork but I have not read anything about it going international. If it does, I am sure the subscription price will go up.

ESPN 360 will only be able to show those competitions that ESPN has a contract for. Which could be nothing after this year.

That is a possibility, but I would like to see that in writing since ESPN360 has nothing to do with USFS but with the ISU. Can you provide any real news on this. We all have opinions and yours can be correct. Can you show me more concrete data on this?

Joe