How many of you would care...

[R.D.]

...if ESPN just stopped showing skating altogether?

I hear many people on this forum and other forums who live in the U.S. complaining about ESPN's skating coverage this year, and searching for other broadcasts. So, I just want to ask, in the future would you just prefer to search online, and have/let ESPN stop showing skating? If no one wants to watch their coverage, will anyone care if they don't show it AT ALL?

Just a question...some food for thought...

 

[Mathman]

I confess I hardly watched it at all this season. I watched Nationals on ABC and Worlds on CBC.

The Grand Prix? There is nothing staler than watching a two week old rerun of a so-called "competiton" where you already know who won.

So, no, I wouldn't care if they stopped showing it.

Mathman

 

[Peggy]

...if ESPN just stopped showing skating altogether?

I just want to ask, in the future would you just prefer to search online, and have/let ESPN stop showing skating? If no one wants to watch their coverage, will anyone care if they don't show it AT ALL?

...

NO WAY! Thanks for the question-its an important one. Those of us that are lucky enough to get ESPN had better start supporting them before we don't get figure skating at all. I would be very upset if I didn't get any television coverage.
I will probably still search online but it will never replace seeing skating on TV.

I would like it very much if Terry Gannon would be quite during performances and they would bring Dick back but its better than nothing. IMO

 

[PrincessLeppard]

I watch it, but that doesn't mean that I can't complain about the crappy way it's broadcast. Lose the fluff. Show me more skaters. Show the competition in a timely manner. (I usually tune out dance and pairs, which I might watch if it was aired closer to the competition.)

 

[MannyisHOT]

I wouldn't care.... I dont get ESPN but my friends who do get it would be sad/mad!

 

[Blue Bead]

Yes, I would care if ESPN decided to discontinue broadcasting figure skating. Why? Because it would nearly eliminate any opportunities for me to watch any skating. The exception, there, is viewing by video tape, and that is the ultimate in delayed viewing. I don't have the option of using my computer to download video files because I need all my computer's memory for business useage, and I don't have access to streaming video on the internet due to a dial-up connection. The bottom line is I would be suffering without any television coverage of figure skating.

Blue Bead

 

[Doggygirl]

...if ESPN just stopped showing skating altogether?

I hear many people on this forum and other forums who live in the U.S. complaining about ESPN's skating coverage this year, and searching for other broadcasts. So, I just want to ask, in the future would you just prefer to search online, and have/let ESPN stop showing skating? If no one wants to watch their coverage, will anyone care if they don't show it AT ALL?

Just a question...some food for thought...

Good question. I already support ESPN through the cable bill I pay every month. That doesn't mean I have no complaints as a cable customer to the FS coverage ESPN provided. Yes, I will continue to Tivo whatever they offer. No, I do not support their efforts to suppress coverage like www.russiantvonline which gave me the opportunity to watch LIVE coverage, while sacrificing video quality.

As an American consumer who is all about freedom of choice, I will continue to absorb (record!) whatever FS coverage ESPN offers, and also continue to gripe about how the coverage of a sport of my interest could be made better. I will continue to seek alternatives. That should be reality in a free economy based on choices and options.

If there is any sentiment on the part of ESPN that suggests "well, you don't like what we give you so now we won't give you anything" I say BS. ESPN will provide what the free market economy will watch. For profit. And I support that motive as a voting, tax paying, cable paying member of our free economy.

I'd just rather have more options for watching, and I encourage ESPN to figure out a way to get creative, and get in on the financial action of live coverage rather than try to supress that availability through the ISU. If they don't see live internet coverage as a financial opportunity, then let other companies across the globe who DO see the opportunity capitalize on it.

DG

 

[nubka]

Would you care...

I would care a LOT!! I signed up and paid for the Russianvideo whatever thing, and it didn't work...nada, nothing! ESPN isn't perfect by a long shot, but if it hadn't have been for them, I would have had no coverage of Worlds at all...

 

[mpal2]

I would care a lot. If it wasn't on ESPN, I wouldn't get anything. As much as I'm complaining about ESPN, it is still better than ABC which always preempted skating in my area. God forbid some ignorant redneck see a man skating. *GASP* The horror of it all. The sons they are trying to raise in all the ignorant redneck ways might get ideas and turn gay. (No, I'm not being sarcastic here. That was pretty much the attitude).

I seriously need to move.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Having figure skating on TV is the best way the American audience has to see the sport. The problem is in the programming of it.

There are several types of viewers who may or may not watch the sport:

1. Don't like it viewers. Over and out.
2. Viewers who like it for the children in their household
3. Viewers who get caught up it in but would not watch it religiously
4, Viewers who really like the sport and know the contestants, but never know when it is being shown.
5. Hard core fans of figure skating.

Given the above how would you program a contest in order to bring in the most viewers to satisfy the advertisers?

I'm sorry but this is a business question - not a skating question.


Joe

 

[Grgranny]

I would really miss it. I am so thankful for whatever they show. Watching it on the computer is not my way of watching it. I just can't see it all that well with those tiny little pictures. I am really concerned that they will quit showing much at all. As much as I think they don't do it justice with all their bad shots and fluffs, I have to think at least I have that much. Heather's site said there were two stations with different skating but I couldn't find them anywhere. Don't know where she got the info. I have no idea in the world how to program anything. I have no idea how to talk investors into paying for it either. That's the big thing, IMHO, is to get advertisers. And of course, they're pretty much men that have no interest in skating. :banging: :boohoo: :disapp: :frown2:

 

[LegalGirl82]

I would care very much, because the ESPN coverage is the only way a lot of folks can see skating at all. But that doesn't mean they can't make some improvements. They're relatively new at covering this sport and nobody's perfect. They should welcome constructive criticism and make some improvements.

 

[Vash01]

Any TV coverage is better than no coverage at all (I hate watching isolated performances on the internet, using my tiny computer screen).

That said, ESPN's coverage really was POOR quality. They would not dare show that kind of coverage of a golf tournament (any level) or the NFL (regular season game). They will always have some viewers- hard core fans like us that will watch because there is no alternative. However, that is why networks in the USA have gotten away with disrespect for the viewers in this sport.

I know it does not really answer the question. It's a dilemma for the viewer- because of the take it or leave it attitude of the networks. If they stopped showing it altogether it will be an even bigger tragedy. So we have to put up with the likes of Terry Gannon (and a few others that deserve mention).

Vash

 

[childfreegirl]

Yes, I would care if ESPN decided to discontinue broadcasting figure skating. Why? Because it would nearly eliminate any opportunities for me to watch any skating. The exception, there, is viewing by video tape, and that is the ultimate in delayed viewing. I don't have the option of using my computer to download video files because I need all my computer's memory for business useage, and I don't have access to streaming video on the internet due to a dial-up connection. The bottom line is I would be suffering without any television coverage of figure skating.

Blue Bead

Same thing here.

 

[mpal2]

I know it does not really answer the question. It's a dilemma for the viewer- because of the take it or leave it attitude of the networks. If they stopped showing it altogether it will be an even bigger tragedy. So we have to put up with the likes of Terry Gannon (and a few others that deserve mention).

Why do people put down Terry? His job is color commentary and not technical commentary. Yes, we do get too much sometimes but he has mentioned in the past that the producer is yelling in his ear to keep talking. He knows how irritating this can be to viewers but he also has a job to keep. I think the producers should just let Terry be and do his job the way the viewers would like. There's a whole lot worse out there and I would rather keep Terry.

 

[Vash01]

Having figure skating on TV is the best way the American audience has to see the sport. The problem is in the programming of it.

There are several types of viewers who may or may not watch the sport:

1. Don't like it viewers. Over and out.
2. Viewers who like it for the children in their household
3. Viewers who get caught up it in but would not watch it religiously
4, Viewers who really like the sport and know the contestants, but never know when it is being shown.
5. Hard core fans of figure skating.

Given the above how would you program a contest in order to bring in the most viewers to satisfy the advertisers?

I'm sorry but this is a business question - not a skating question.


Joe

Here is the business answer.

When you try to sell a product, you don't present an inferior product to the customer and say if you don't like it, TOUGH! That's what ESPN (and possibly other US networks too) is doing, in this hypothetical thread (and I like speculating on it!) .

Sometimes a business strategy involves CREATING a market where none exists. Here ESPN has an existing market. They have the choice to develop it further, by drawing upon the sure thing- #5, and appealing to #4 and 5. They can also tap into #1 and 2 by finding out what they would like to watch, if they were to watch FS. That would mean expanding the market. Obviously not everyone is going to become a fan of FS. I watch golf only occasionally, and NFL more frequently. An interesting game can catch my attention to watch more of it. A golfer like Tiger Woods can promote the game to nonviewers. A team like the Dallas Cowboys can bring in viewers nationwide, even from those who don't understand the game. It takes marketing to take advantage of key situations and players. Unfortunately using 15 year old Kimmie Meissner to do commentary does not have the same impact. In fact it was a turn off for many of us.

ESPN can make it interesting for the viewer, not by showing fluff pieces on the skaters' lives but by showing the sport and educating the viewer. Quite often a business strategy involves educating a customer and convincing him/her what are the benefits of buying the product or service. Unless ESPN treats FS as serious business deal with the possbility of high ratings and a good deal of money, it will never have long term success.

Vash

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

If that all there is then, why not CBS or NBC take it on? ESPN is doing fine with their Sports as they are. The object of all this is for ABC or ESPN to make money. They did at one time and with the same format they are using.

I think those Sunday afternoon silly competitions were on either CBS or NBC so ABC had nothing to do with cancelling them. The viewers left in droves.

The Cheesfests are not faring well at the box office. We'll see how the rating on the TV go.

CBS or NBC do have their Yamaguchi, Witt, Boitano shows which are not a Sports thing but fans do adore them. There is also an evening of SOI, and I think there will be at least one Pro competition too.

There is plenty of skating on TV, but unfortunately, not enough of the sports kind.

Is it encumbent on ABC (ESPN) to find the solution to the growing disinterest in figure skating? Maybe it's only in America. I wouldln't mind another country coming to the rescue.

Joe

 

[ATW27]

I, too, would miss it very much... ESPN does have miles (and miles...) to go in the improvement department, but it's still better than nothing. I think when we each write in to ESPN (if you have not allready), one of the first things that should be covered near the top is that you appreciate that ESPN is even showing skating in the first place; then let them know that they can do A LOT better, in a polite manner. See, I'm affraid that if peolpe send in messages along the lines of 'ESPN - YOU SUCK!!', them ESPN could turn around and say 'you don't like what we're doing? fine; we don't need to show skating at all, if this is the kind of thanks we get'. Then no more skating on US TV (besides ABC's couple events and NBC's shows). I think the carrot nearly aways works better than the stick. Just MHO.

Andy

 

[Hikaru]

NO WAY! Thanks for the question-its an important one. Those of us that are lucky enough to get ESPN had better start supporting them before we don't get figure skating at all. I would be very upset if I didn't get any television coverage.
I will probably still search online but it will never replace seeing skating on TV.

I would like it very much if Terry Gannon would be quite during performances and they would bring Dick back but its better than nothing. IMO

ITA. ESPN is my ONLY source for figure skating, so I would be crushed, crushed, crushed beyond anything if they stopped altogether showinf FS. I wanted to try the russian tv thing for the worlds but I couldn't because you had to use PayPal and apparently they don't have listed Panama so I can't even create an account. This was my favorite season of skating because I saw the GP for the first time in my live! They have to keep it!!! I agree that although sometimes internet is an option, I prefer TV coverage first.

 

[show 42]

I'm with GrGranny and Vash........any coverage is better than none at all.......complaining doesn't seem to help so I'll just enjoy what I get...........42