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You are saying to do which of these?
A.) Cut the races down to one moto per class so the four-plus hours shows fit the two-hour window that most networks have on a sport this size? Soccer plays two 45-minute halves and is over in about two hours. So is basketball. Football is less than three now. Don't watch NASCAR so I have no idea how long they last... And how many classes do they show at once?
B.) Cut the races down to one class so you can see both "halves" on one U.S. network, albeit with no intermission to rest for the riders or work on their bikes? Or cut the motos down to 20 minutes, though when I once mentioned dropping the "plus two laps" Rupert and Jody and friends wanted to burn me at the stake. Or at least what was left of me of me after we moved the races to Saturday.
C.) Forget live TV and make it easier for you guys by cutting a five-hour day down to a manageable two-hour edit and show it a few days later, albeit with less series and team and rider sponsors because no one will take us seriously without live TV? That would certainly cost less for MX Sports and Alli but the teams would suffer a steep loss in sponsors...
D.) Go PPV online, which means losing the live network package due to their current restrictions, and just charge the hardcore fans who would pay but limit our growth by getting off free TV? (Not sure how that is working for the GPs or Canadian races here, but worth a look. It does work for the NFL but they are slightly bigger.)
E.) Quit showing the first motos all together because splitting it on multiple networks is too complicated and bothersome in this day or media overload?
F.) Quit worrying about mainstream TV all together and go commercial-free Internet, which means "no commercials" to pay for the production so we just augment it by cutting corners elsewhere, like the purse?
G.) Just keep moving forward through this rough stuff and keep growing the audience like we are and proving to the networks that we deserve live all day and that our sport can and will work on TV because it's the coolest and most exciting Motorsport in the world, and the best athletes deserve a national TV audience? And work even harder next year to get better coverage in England, Canada and Australia, as well as the all-live-here goal that everyone seemed to share a short time ago?
Seriously. For every great idea to make this easier to watch, there are practical challenges and real costs involved. Right now MX Sports and All Sports feel good about outdoor motocross here in America, as it seems to be going in the right direction. But maybe I am too close to the actual situation to see the easy way forward...Anyone who has a real plan, with real experience with the U.S networks, please feel free to tell me what cuts we can make to get this down to one channel so we can be as big and live as we were in 2008 and before... Because I am not giving up.
DC@mxsports.com
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For example, according to the TV sched on RacerX,
Hangtown and Freestone showed 1st motos of both 250/450 on Fuel and 2nd motos of 250/450 on NBCSN.
ThunderValley was the same, but split the 2nd motos by 7 hours.
HighPoint went back to back-to-back 2nd motos on NBCSN
But for Budds, the 2nd 250 moto was on Fuel. I missed it because I just figured it'd be right after the 450 moto on NBCSN. I'm still looking for the torrent.
So my vote for what to do is create a more consistent schedule. Otherwise you're going to miss casual fans - hell even a core fan like me is missing it.
On a positive note, I think the shows are really good, when I get a chance to watch them.
I don't see how offering PPV over the net would hurt the networks that show it live on TV now. If people had a choice between watching for free live on their TV where they're at, and paying to watch live over the net, I don't see why they would chose to pay to watch on the net. This is about people not having access to the second motos because it is simply not possible for them to do so. These channels are not available to everyone no matter what they do or who their local TV providers are - period. And there is a whole world of us out here.
It would seem from here that doing PPV over the net (even if PPV was just for the second motos) would not require much more investment, would not hurt the live TV networks and their investment, and would broaden your market to world wide levels - I suggest adding Rup to your network contract negotiating team for next season.
All very frustrating to the fans of the sport - and perhaps to yourself as well.
Thank you ns503, well said!
It looks like people demand coverage live, and want the races in a place they can find it.
The biggest question is whether NBC is actually paying MX Sports for the broadcast? The series deserves to make money, but if it is still forced to buy time, moving away from Speed channel seems like a questionable choice. Speed's entire Saturday lineup is paid programming. A timeslot for the whole thing could be bought for the right price.
If you want to take lessons from the NFL, NASCAR, etc., they will tell you that the key to their success was making the races accessible to their fans - having the events at the same times in the same places each week.
But you, DC or I don't get to decide that, the networks do. I don't think anyone has ever accused the networks of grasping how to exploit the internet, and apparently they have issues with dual mediums for live. I don't know what they are. I don't even know if they are legitimate issues or just the paralysis of people working at the networks who haven't figured this out yet.
Just like the networks, sponsors themselves get to decide which medium matters to them. We vetted the ppv internet thing here a few weeks ago with respect to the GP's, and Xavier ~ who ought to have at least some real sense of this ~ offered that the number of people getting the GP paid webcast is in the low thousands worldwide. Not low hundred thousands, or low ten thousands, but low thousands. That doesn't do a thing for teams trying to sell exposure to sponsors. Meaningful sponsors who keep the teams on the tracks are not even going to sniff at PPV. To suggest abandoning a live TV initiative for PPV is suicide.
I doubt there was a better day for exposure for US motocross than having a live race on NBC as a lead in to the US Open. That's a freaking huge leap. That matters to sponsors. You don't have a sport to watch without them. It's shame that it's not a perfect world yet, but for the most part it seems like people are working within the right priorities ~ sponsors and domestic fans first ~ to grow things as best can be done at this point.
The people who act surprised about having to buy TV time are truly clueless about how small and economically fragile this sports is. To mention this sport in the same breath as LaCrosse in terms of popularity is absurd. We are smaller than spelling bees, cheerleading, youth soccer and host of other things that millions more people and their kids are invested in.
Sunday, I woke up and took the family to Church and breakfast. Threw some meat on the smoker, grabbed a beer, and sat on the couch and watched 4 hours of Budd's Creek coverage. I watched that 4 hours of coverage in less than 3 hours because the magic button on the remote makes the commercials go away. The pork and yardbirds turned out perfect, washed down with a couple of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale's.
The last thing that crossed my mind when I sat down on the computer this morning was to start bitching about the TV coverage. I didn't even mind Jamie Bestwick, probably because his seemingly out-of-left-field notes and observations reminded me of the play-by-play guy in the movie "Best In Show." The current TV package may not be the best thing for pulling in new viewers, but I sure as heck enjoy the live (to me) Sunday afternoon coverage.
Saturday morning, went golfing, then home to change for a wedding/reception until about 9pm. Then I went home and watched the races until midnight!
Sunday, more golfing, a nice long(16 miles)(for me) bike ride with my wife, then just hanging out with the family!
I've got way to many other things going on to spend 4 hours in the middle of the day watching TV. If you take my DVR away, then I'll bitch!
Pit Row
Saturday,
June 16
1 - 2 p.m. *Red Bull Signature Series: Nike Lowers Pro Trestles, Calif.
2 - 3 p.m. *AMA Motocross
3 - 4 p.m. *Live from the U.S. Open San Francisco, Calif. Bob Costas, Rich Lerner, Kelly Tilghman, Brandel Chamblee, Frank Nobilo, Steve Sands, Tim Rosaforte, Johnny Miller, Dan Hicks and Jimmy Roberts
4 - 10 p.m. *U.S. Open Championship
That is pretty bad ass to lead into something major like the US Open. Just saying. That being said, I would love nothing more then to have 4 hours of live coverage on one channel.
From the sounds of your reply your TV package restricts you from showing a full live broadcast online whether it's ad supported or PPV. I can only surmise from that that the network must be paying for the broadcast rights.
Fair enough. That's your agreement. You need to honour it. From the looks of AlliSports wiki page, they claim to be "operators" of the AMA Motocross Nationals "with" MXSports, so maybe there's a deeper connection there than previously thought.
Nobody here has suggested any of the draconian measures you've thrown out. Nobody wants a single moto format, nor do we want to see shorter motos or a move away from live broadcasting. Shit, I even like the announcers you've got.
All we're asking for is a way to access the broadcast from outside the US. Whether it's free or paid for, we just want our MXTV.
You asked which of your options we would choose and frankly, the way you've worded the choices, you haven't really offered up any viable options. Although the last one is all we're asking for. Except, you state that "we keep moving forward" when in fact this year has been a step back for your viewers outside the US.
If you look at the responses in this thread you can see that the people experiencing the most frustration are those like myself who have become used to watching the entire event live in the past (if it was a live broadcast). I never once complained when I had to watch the first moto online and then move to the living room and watch the second motos on speed. While not ideal, it was a workable solution that still brought your product into my home and broadcast it live for the entire event for many of the races. This option is no longer available to me. It's also obvious that it's no longer available to others as well.
If I were located in the US and could access the channels you broadcast on I can assure you I'd be a happy camper. If I could still tune into the second motos either live or same day tape delayed as in the past on speed, I'd be a happy camper. The problem is I can't. I have zero complaints about your domestic broadcast, except for the fact that I cannot access it.
If AMA National Motocross is (and I believe it is) the premier professional motocross series in the world, then why has the broadcast taken a decidedly domestic only turn in the way it's being broadcast? I see the US nationals as something larger than a domesticated national championship and I can only imagine that you do as well. Yet for viewers outside the US it's no longer viewable as a live event where it has been in the past. Hence our frustration.
If your choice is to expand domestic viewership at the exclusion of the rest of the world, then that's your choice. I have said my piece and vented my frustrations and even tried to offer some possible options for contemplation. Not one of which has anything to do with changing the way you currently broadcast within the US or the way in which the sport is organized.
I also have a choice. I can choose to watch the first moto online and then try and hibernate until I can "steal" a copy of the rest of the NBCSports and FuelTV broadcasts to watch. Or I can just choose to find another way to occupy my time. Then I can get my fill of motocross on TV when the supercross season starts. After all, many of the top pros in recent years have decided to forgo the nationals altogether in favour of supercross only deals. Maybe they're onto something. It's the easier route isn't it? My attempts to find a workable solution to view your programming live in it's entirety have been fruitless. Maybe it's time to take the easier way out as well.
I hope you find a solution to this problem, because the way the broadcasts are structured now, it's forcing me into some decisions I would rather avoid. After all, most people will opt for the easy way out. Will I stay as much a fan of your series without access to a full live broadcast like in the past? Who knows? That's the risk you run. In the past I couldn't wait for the supercross series to finish and for the races to head outdoors. Four motos between two classes and a ton of broadcast time. What wasn't to love? Oddly enough, I'm now finding myself increasingly excited about the start of the supercross season. Funny how that works huh?
I am looking into a full PPV for international viewers In 2013, it's just not as easy as just saying, "I want my PPV MXTV..." we do care deeply about the international market, as the best riders in the world all look to America for an opportunity to race, and we owe it to their fans back at home to try to broadcast there. But Canada is not an easy television landscape to navigate...
And Alli Sports is our commercial partners in the series, and they work the TV aspects. They are owned by the same company that owns NBC. We are very pleased to work with them and know that NBC Sports Network will grow quickly, especially following the Olympics this summer.
What I don't get is the people that want us to just show the races later.... Because we do show them later, like two days later, free on www.allispors.com. We just also show them live too.
As for looking ahead to SX, I am too. I am also looking forward to the rest of the nationals.
DC
MX Sports
this is my only bitch to the whole thing. I have no problem with the tv package. I have a problem with not being able to get 4 moto's online. If next year you came at us with a tv schedule (live or delayed) but yet you had online pay per view for live. this would be a big win win.
face it. online is where its at, where the future will be. these cable networks are gonna be hind ass kissing in about 10 years when everyone is walking aroun dwatching tv on their tablets/phones and viewing everything sync'd thru their computer. netflix is putting a hurt to them already.
Keep up the good work of promoting the Nationals. Making the annual 12 hr drive to Red Bud in a couple weeks for the best weekend in MX. With luck, I can catch Red Bud and the 2013 Southern National next year. Maybe even head up to The Ranch and watch RC play like he did at Mill Creek weekend before last.
i feel you, DC and MXsports does a great job and hope you keep it up. just find it odd that "we" as a sport arent learning from others and do what they did/do to increase the popularity of "their" sport . UFC and MMA in general is another major player needed to be looked at. as a buisness not as a sport.
I appreciate the reply and understand that Canada's a tough place to broadcast to, especially American content.
If the Portuguese feed for Fuel TV wasn't so laggy and buggy on JustinTV I'd probably be half fluent in Portuguese by now and wouldn't have missed a second of air time. Of course, neither you or your partners would see any income or ratings from that, so a better solution is beneficial for all involved.
I hope you're successful in your efforts and look forward to being able to watch the whole thing again in the future.
a large portion of American fans can watch on. Perhaps us "babies" want the sport to REALLY, REALLY grow so that
we can be on a more prominent channel, more folks can dig it and, perhaps, some money will trickle down to the
privateers.... I'm fortunate, I happened to be home on Saturday afternoon and have those channels and was able to flip
around - and I dug every minute of it. Not everybody has that access, Just because we whine, bitch and complain about an
inconsistent, fragmented and confusing series of telecast productions, does not make us " babies". Maybe we want
better for our sport - and the future of our sport - and care enough to voice our opinions. I might remind you that some of
us " babies" are grown men and women that have achieved things in our lives. I'd also like you to remind us of
your company's name, it's products, so we can continue our support. Us ' babies" purchase things when we're not
crying, you know?
I know Davey and company would like to have a better TV package, I hope nobody here is suggesting otherwise, limiting
the viewership does nothing for DC, MXSports or anybody involved with this wonderful, filthy pastime of ours - yet we'll
continue to gripe until we're all satisfied.... And NO, i have no answers on how to go about doing that and NO, I've got
no business negotiating TV rights or anything, for that matter, I can't even win when I;m negotiating with the wife over
towel - folding. Like most of you, I deeply love this habit of ours and only want the best for it - and everyone involved.
And hell , yes, I'm in for Red Bud.
So i know of at least 10 people who would be willing to pay to be able to watch these races but there is no way to do so.. More lost $ for the MX Industry, Il have to spend my $ watching the GP's online since thats my only option.
it is good being able to watch the first moto on allisports though.
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