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Author Topic: BTM being censored?  (Read 3247 times)

JS

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BTM being censored?
« on: October 17, 2012, 10:16:40 AM »
When I looked at the new digital edition about a week or so ago it had reviews on the Mass Eruption and the 811 C/T.  I went to re-read those reviews and now the names of the balls are blocked out in the index and when you get to the review page it is blank with a "Coming Soon" sign. 

EBI putting pressure on them?  You would think these early reviews would generate lots of interest.

 

Coolerman

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Re: BTM being censored?
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2012, 10:52:36 AM »
JS,my edition is okay.The reviews are right there for me to see.

JS

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Re: BTM being censored?
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2012, 12:06:21 PM »
C-man, just checked and the reviews are available again.  I guess the "ban" was lifted :)

loose5682

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Re: BTM being censored?
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2012, 04:26:42 PM »
No facts here but just speculation...

...the info release for the two new balls was yesterday, the fact that they appeared online with a striking amount of detail to the general public before that date probably didn't sit well with EBI
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should

charlest

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Re: BTM being censored?
« Reply #4 on: October 17, 2012, 07:15:05 PM »
No facts here but just speculation...

...the info release for the two new balls was yesterday, the fact that they appeared online with a striking amount of detail to the general public before that date probably didn't sit well with EBI

So how did they get BTM NOT to publish their reviews before that date??????????
They don't advertise in BTM that I have seen recently.
What pull do you say EBI had over BTM?
"None are so blind as those who will not see."

Urethane Game

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Re: BTM being censored?
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2012, 09:09:21 PM »
I think the "pull" might be a couple of things.  Ebonite may not be advertising currently but they do represent a big chunk of the industry and therefore future advertising dollars.

There might be non disclosure agreement in place in return for receiving test balls and BTM was in effect stealing their thunder in announcing their new product prematurely.

I believe this is what they call a 1st world problem, btw.  Censorship certainly exists in other countries and I don't think any of those folks would feel inconvenienced by getting to read a ball review a few weeks later. 

charlest

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Re: BTM being censored?
« Reply #6 on: October 17, 2012, 10:03:50 PM »
I think the "pull" might be a couple of things.  Ebonite may not be advertising currently but they do represent a big chunk of the industry and therefore future advertising dollars.

There might be non disclosure agreement in place in return for receiving test balls and BTM was in effect stealing their thunder in announcing their new product prematurely.

I believe this is what they call a 1st world problem, btw.  Censorship certainly exists in other countries and I don't think any of those folks would feel inconvenienced by getting to read a ball review a few weeks later. 

But almost all balls' reviews are published before the ball is available to the general public. This was no different, that I can tell. In fact, I think the opposite of what EBI wanted is good for the ball manufacturer: to have a rave review to build up public awareness of a great ball coming. The Persevere is nothing but an Endure at a different color and grit level. The Mass eruption has a GREAT review. I hope Columbia sells a million of them but I doubt it.

It's not a matter of inconvenience. It's a matter of BTM telling their subscribers that these reviews are now available, but some are not because ...
« Last Edit: October 18, 2012, 07:25:45 PM by charlest »
"None are so blind as those who will not see."

BTM Tester

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Re: BTM being censored?
« Reply #7 on: October 18, 2012, 03:07:01 PM »
Hello all,
The reasoning is simple, we goofed. All brands provide us with a product release date, which is date the ball is on the market to the public, as well as an information release date, the date where the ball is announced. We have agreements in place with all brands to keep these ball names/colors/existence out of the public eye. This is done for a number of reasons. Each brand has their own reasons but for the most part it is to
A. Not kill sales of current product by customers waiting for the new ball that in some cases would not be available for months.
B. There are advertising strategies in place based of those information release dates.
There was a miscommunication between our staff and the names were put up early on the website. As a result, we failed to comply with the release dates on the 811c/t and mass eruption. When we were notified (by a reader, not EBI) that the names had been put up on the website early, I had them removed. We would have done the same for 900 Global, Brunswick, Storm or any other brand of balls we receive for review.
Hope this answers any questions.
Eric Martinez
Director of Ball Testing
Bowling This Month Magazine
www.bowlingthismonth.com