Author Topic: PBA goes poker -style for telecasts. (Read 6090 times)

Coolerman · « **on:** August 08, 2011, 05:08:59 AM »

Has anyone read the August 2011 issue of Bowler's Journal?

The PBA telecasts will now best presented in a new way.The PBA

hired 441 Productions to produce the shows.Say goodbye to watching

bowling the way we have for over 60 plus years.It's always been

live or live on tape.Not anymore.Now think of the way the way poker

is presented on TV.It will no be mixed with the occasional golf like,

quick-cut successions of shots.Also,no on site production trucks.Now

the show will be assembled and edited after the event is over.And it

will be given a studio voiceover added.Then packaged for 90 minutes

of air time on ESPN.

Now it's going to be story telling and editorial.It's being aimed at

none bowlers to try to bring in a larger audience.

The first show is Nov.27,2011.And here is the kicker,For us hard-core fans,

three tournaments,are designated for Xtra Frame only.

What's your thoughts?

AlBundy33 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 09, 2011, 03:56:40 AM »

I may have to change my prediction of the PBA being dead within two years, with the boneheaded decisions that they have made, I wouldn't be surprised if they closed up shop in the middle of the season.

The Bowling Pariah wrote on 8/8/2011 9:28 PM:
There are SO many things that need to be said, but instead, I'll just say this:

R.I.P P.B.A.

And, the sooner, the better. It is nothing but a joke anymore, and NOTHING like the game you see at the amatuer level. Why WOULD we want to watch it, afterall, it's not even the same game we are playing.

For years, they've had their "pro edition" bowling balls, and now they've got proprietary lane conditions that you aren't even allowed to use without paying some ignorant fee to use them.

Why would the PBA continue to alienate itself from the very fan base that it needs to survive? The only answer is greed and ignorance.

I feel really bad for the guys who grew up dreaming of making a hit on the PBA tour, but that is life, and we will ALL go right on, even after the PBA is dead and buried, which I don't think is going to take very long.

Edited by The Bowling Pariah on 8/8/2011 at 9:29 PM

"Pretty women make us buy beer, ugly women make us drink beer"

Edited by AlBundy33 on 8/9/2011 at 3:57 AM

Spider Man · « **Reply #17 on:** August 09, 2011, 10:18:36 AM »

more documentary fluff pieces = more water bottle drama.

Linger Longer™

Sunshine n Lollipops · « **Reply #18 on:** August 12, 2011, 08:37:47 PM »

Used to never miss a show. If couldn't clear time to watch show, it was taped. Now I could care less if I miss it or watch it. Not compelling, no excitement, the new bowlers have all the charisma of the new golfers on the PGA, ie. none. Last telecast I saw, I liked. Cheerleaders, vevsulas or whatever the horns are called, electricity in the air. I was in the minority but then again, most of you who bitch about the PBA contradict yourselves constantly regarding the PBA shows and what you want to see. Watching bowling is boring, I'd rather be bowling myself. Won't miss it.

Don't believe in the Uzi, it just went off in my hand. I, I believe in love.

Sunshine n Lollipops · « **Reply #19 on:** August 12, 2011, 08:41:52 PM »

ooops. double post

Don't believe in the Uzi, it just went off in my hand. I, I believe in love.

Edited by Sunshine n Lollipops on 8/12/2011 at 8:40 PM

Polish_Hammer · « **Reply #20 on:** August 15, 2011, 10:00:45 AM »

We need someone like Ross Vegas and Little Reno to bring some excitement and controversity to the sport.

Jorge300 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 16, 2011, 08:01:11 AM »

Sorry, going to hijack this for a minute.

Kid, I love to watch poker on ESPN as well, and also watch some of the other shows as well (Aussie Millions, Poker after Dark, etc). One thing to consider, and the thing that I thinka lot of people forget, is that even though they show two hands back to back....those actual hands could have been minutes or even hours apart. They only cut together the hands that have drama or excitement. You miss the 10 hands in between where everyone folded to the Big Blind, or someone bets and folds after the flop etc. The one I always remember that illustrated this the best was the 2006 HORSE Championship, the heads up battle between Chip Reese and Andy Bloch. It lasted for 45 minutes of TV time.....but in real life it lasted over 7 hours and something like 290 hands. My point being that even in the old format, there was a lot of "fast-tracking" to just the hands that they felt people would want to see.

Now if they bring the same to bowling, I think there will obviously be less fast-tracking because it usually fits close to a 90-min brodcast. But be prepared to miss some of the action just like we have in the past. I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and see what it brings.

kidlost2000 wrote on 8/8/2011 3:01 PM:
The problem I had with the PBA shows recently were the facts they were fast tracking a lot of bowling and had more fluff then substance. Along with format changes every other event.

I loved watching Poker on ESPN til they started going to the newer format. You watch one hand, then get stuck with a whole lot of fluff on a player, and other stuff and have no idea of anything going on. One hand at this table, part of a hand some where else and lots of B.S. in between. Maybe 3-5 hand per 30minutes of air time with all the fluff and commercials.

That lead me to watch Poker after dark. A much better telecast, smaller setting with several top players, lots of card action, and some talk with the actual players during the event when they aren't playing in a hand. Also some edited in talk with players about what was going on during a particular hand while playing. You actually get to watch poker and not hear about everyone elses life story. They actually show them playing cards.

"Get out of bowling what you want because that is all there is."

Jorge300

kidlost2000 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 16, 2011, 08:17:55 AM »

My point in Poker is that

Poker After Dark is 60% cards 35% commercials and 5% of talk or other action.

The WOS of Poker is 40% commercials 50% fluff and 10% of cards.

WOS covers a huge event but barely shows any of it because of the fluff, then two hands of cards, then commercials then more fluff then more commercials. It is almost unwatchable. Now you have niche sport in bowling whos core viewers are bowlers. They are probably mostly males in the demographics and likely have already been lost to watching the PBA because of the past few seasons of random tournaments and format changes.

Now you want to show even less bowling and expect to gain new viewers and return or maintain the ones you had? Against the NFL? Does anyone honestly think that is a good idea?

Maybe less bowling is the answer. ESPN could show NFL game stats and fantasy point updates instead. At least that would get numbers up. Just have bowling be something going on in the background.

"Get out of bowling what you want because that is all there is."

Russell · « **Reply #23 on:** August 16, 2011, 09:50:57 AM »

Yes we should leave it the way it is....I mean it's working so well to help save the sport.

Little known fact: In Russian "Hope" and "Change" translate to "Tax" and "Spend"

completebowler · « **Reply #24 on:** August 16, 2011, 01:49:54 PM »

This would be my perfect telecast.

First- 5 person stepladder should be the format.

Second- I want real analysis. We don't need guys being all hyper in order to make it sound exciting. We don't need dumb nicknames for strings of strikes. Just explain what is going on. Most times keep it simple. Sometimes get more in depth. This is what golf does and it works well. Bowling isn't related to wrestling, poker, MMA or some of the other newer productions we see these days. It is by far most similar to golf and they should be looking at those shows for ideas that work. CATS should be used at every tournament to show off the skill of these guys. Just like the PGA uses the shot tracker to show us ball flight.

Third- Segments coming in from commercial break should be (in no particular order) 1) A knowledgeable driller talking about a few of the balls being used on the show that day and why they match well. Get the ball companies to sponsor this segment. Get them all on board as this is their best advertisement. 2) Know the wood works for me. It shows the patterns and gives examples of how to play them for higher end players and why it is tougher for mid level players. Keep that. 3) Coaches corner. There should be a tip every show that highlights things the pros do that can increase average bowlers skills. Talk about adjustments, ball fit, spare shooting, etc., etc. 4) The old "in the bag segment". Reserve this for the top seed every week and try to get a pre-recorded explanation from them as to how and why they worked throughout the week.

Fourth- Get after the other industry companies and groups for sponsorship money that they currently do not use. Maybe this has been attempted already and failed. I would try again. Kegel, BPAA, IBPSIA, USBC, local distributors at each stop. Maybe even look to the higher volume pro shops that may want their name flashed in a "brought to you by" announcement. I know I would be excited to do so if it was reasonable. Regional/national shops and online sellers would most definetly want in on this I think. I don't understand why all the sponsors are Bayer, LL, Gieco, Pepsi, and Denny's. You might see outside companies during a golf telecast but by far the industry names dominate the commercials and ads. I am grateful for the sponsors that are already there but feel as though it lends to the "boring" feel seeing the same commercials every break, every week. And put a clause in the next contract with ESPN that forces them to air at least 1 minute worth of highlights every Sunday on SC. If I have to see soccer, tennis, college softball and other highlights there is no reason a 1 minute slot can't be carved out for the worlds leading recreational sport.

To me that would be solid. And a good start. Maybe adjust from there with some stuff but I think people want predictability in the format and telelcast. I know I like knowing whats going on when I tune in each week.

Oh, and NEVER, EVER pre-record. That to me as a fan kills it. 90% of the time I stumbled across the results somewhere through the week. Even if I try hard not to. Every other sport I watch is live.

That's all I got.

ALL STAR BOWLING & TROPHY
LANGAN'S ALL STAR LANES
IBPSIA MEMBER
WALLED LAKE MI

Jorge300 · « **Reply #25 on:** August 16, 2011, 03:04:33 PM »

I like what Complete had to say, but I wanted to add this one item:

Not only should we see bowling on SC, but make the NFL crew (and let me say up front I love watching NFL Countdown, love Berman, Jackson and the whole gang), make them announce the upcoming bowling telecast without laughing, giggling and the snarky comments. How can a non-bowling fan take it seriously when you have those guys basically making fun of it right before it comes on?

Jorge300

Edited by Jorge300 on 8/17/2011 at 7:36 AM