We're getting a small group together and everybody will chip in $5-6 for the game. Not optimal, but cheaper than a movie.
If it was the weekend, I would go to a bar. But I'll be at home, so it's a free internet stream for me.
If I can't find a stream I'd rather not watch (just follow live commentary) than to pay a PPV company. Keep in mind guys, the more profit you give them the more it's likely to happen again in the future and for more games.
Does US Soccer have those media rights to this game? How much would the Guatemala Fed require for those online audio rights?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...per-view-only/2012/05/21/gIQAllrWfU_blog.html the market (apparently) dictates where these games end up. but it is a shame that ESPN and NBC weren't interested -- at the asking price, whatever it was -- for this US at Guatemala WCQ. (would part of their business decision have been based on the fact that this match wasn't going to be produced in HD, unless of course some broadcaster paid for the expense of getting an HD set-up/production to Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City?)
I'm not thrilled with it being on PPV, but I know I'd rather watch it than read about it. I'm not going to pay a $25 cover to get into a bar that has it on closed circuit, but I certainly don't mind splitting the cost among friends and turning it into a BBQ/party.
Translation: "Hey, if we didn't 'f' you, someone else would. And they might not use lube!" Thanks for nothin' pinhead. Truth is, they gamed out how much they would get selling that match to ESPN/Fox/other network, traded that off against PPV, and the highest likely revenue generator won.
I'm never going to beat on a guy for trying to make an honest buck. This really falls back on us as a soccer nation. Mexico wouldn't have this problem. If ESPN and NBC thought they had even a chance at turning a profit on the ads, then we wouldn't be in this mess.
That right there is the issue, people can bitch and moan all they want about the Guatemala FA but Traffic was the only company willing to pay for the game, the letters should be directed at ESPN/NBC/FSC if they want.
There's nothing wrong with the US as a soccer nation. There are enough fans in this country to make the game profitable, if the price is reasonable. The only reason it's not reasonable is that a company can extort large sums of money out of some die-hard fans who have no choice, at the expense of better exposure for the game/sport and growth. Soccer could have made a lot more money out of the die hard fans in the '90s if most games, including the world cup, were available on PPV only but in the long run the sport would be stuck where cricket is now in this country. Soccer wouldn't end up getting over $300 mil in rights fee per year out of this market. The world cups sure as hell wouldn't be worth a billion USD today. As a cricket fan I truly despised the PPV model. Over the past 5-6 years I've encouraged many cricket fans in America not to go along with it, in forums, chat rooms, and other platforms. Finally we have the-power-that-be see the light and open up the sport for millions. I'm not naive enough to think I've made any significant difference but I'll take the outcome anyway. If enough soccer fans made a stink about this and could somehow get the ethnic soccer fans (US-based Guatemalan fans in this case) involved I think it's likely that we would see less incidents like this in the future. BTW, I wonder if it's the same Traffic that's heavily involved in NASL.
1. Yes, I am pretty sure is the same Traffic 2. by the artivle below it looks like Media Pro did offer the game to ESPN and NBC but they passed, Traffic was the last alternative. So it went Guatemala FA to MediaPro to Traffic. The American networks (or SUM) could have step in at any time and purchased the rights. They did not.
I'm not really sure why some here think it would be bad if we order the game. These people seem to think a decent demand for it would not be noticed by the networks. Which is odd to say the least. The better this game (or any other US ppv game) does the more likely that ESPN/Fox/whomever will throw some more money at future rights. Put your money where your mouth is. Order the game. I am. I don't want future games on ppv or closed circuit. But in order to help convince the execs that make those decisions, we have to spend money on the product that we want. And I want these games on tv.
Few hundreds could be the difference between a decent and not decent enough..we don't know. Or it could make the PPV companies pay even more next time to extort more money from the diehards and keep moving the line, up and out of cable networks price range, even if they (cable networks) are willing to pay more than now. I've seen this play out in cricket over the last 15 years and hope it will not be replicated in soccer. The best way to see this PPV model die/ fade out is to NOT order (t0 make it less profitable for the company), not order more.
I will continue to order. UFC wants to be on cable. Not PPV. But they have used PPV to get to that point. Order the game and let the ad and tv people know there is a market for their product. If we let them know there is no market, the games won't be shown period.
the games (especially WCQ games of the future) will be shown (somewhere). and FIFA (if they weren't preoccupied with whatever it is they are currently preoccupied) could step in and require CONCACAF -- and every member confederation -- to have media rules in place to require non-PPV options in the home television market for visiting nations during WCQs. that overall seems like a better way for FIFA to manage/promote the sport globally. operationally, I don't know how that would play out in practice, but it shouldn't be too difficult to require the Guatemalan Fed (in this example) to only sell rights to companies that will ensure the matches are carried (in the visiting teams' markets during WCQ) on the same types of distribution outlets that those nations have negotiated for their home WCQs.
Ahh, I would think there is no way they will share PPV viewership #s with any major network. I would also bet they are private so really, how would any network find out by us purchasing it? You make a big stink about it and Media broadcasts to everyone that people do want to see these games and then they are inclined to bid for it.
Alternatively, we could show them that there is a market for these games during the other 15 WCQ, which will be shown on cable.
but each WCQ that the US plays is unique, in some way. the semifinal round (and it's "importance") is different from the Hex, and even games within each round may become "completely irrelevant" once/as teams secure qualification to the next stage. US home WCQ's have already been packaged with other SUM content and sold within the rights packages to Disney and Univision. the road qualifiers are the unique items, with each foreign CONCACAF federation holding the media rights for their home matches (or having already sold them on to some third party that will manage to find a distribution path for those games). There's no guarantee that the US's two other road games in the semifinal round will be shown on standard cable/satellite channels, and there's no guarantee for the road games in the Hex in 2013 (assuming the US gets those games on their match schedule) be shown on standard cable/satellite channels. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...per-view-only/2012/05/21/gIQAllrWfU_blog.html
Exactly right. The Washington Post articles indicates that ESPN and NBC passed on the event, likely due to the fact that the ratings for the match would not have justified their cost in acquiring the rights. This is free market economy 101 folks. If you don't like the fact that it's not on a standard TV channel, then blame ESPN/FOX/NBC. Otherwise, be glad that you even have the option of ordering the match at home on PPV. If cost is an issue, invite some friends over and split the $29.95. Help expose the game to others and maybe next time, a standard cable channel will actually purchase the rights.