By now you must have heard, right? The NPPL is flirting with TV (again) and the "official" rumors are being leaked to X3 [See Inside Scoop]--and are quickly picked up (and/or confirmed as viable rumors) by the ProPaintball kids. At X3 it's a couple of lines and an exclamation point or two. At ProPaintball it's a bit more than that but it's mostly heat and not light. But over at PBN, next to nothing. One of the iconic venues in tournament paintball matched with the self-proclaimed world wide leader in sports (ESPN)--to bring tournament paintball back to TV, perhaps even as part of a well-established extreme games format--and it's largely a fizzle. What's up with that?
The biggest thing is probably that we've been here done that before. (Deja vu all over again. And again.) Even the Nu Skool is jaded when it comes to paintball and TV. Not all that long ago everybody wanted to believe, rallied around every effort only to be disappointed each and every time. So nobody is buying it this time. Not ignoring the prospect exactly but instead waiting to see what actually happens.
And of course this league (with different owners) has been in the thick of trying to get paintball on TV. And we've heard this before. And nobody believes in the dream anymore. It's failed too many times in the past.
And then there's the rumors themselves. The truth is the current crop of owners (and the league) are viewed skeptically by fair sized chunk of the tourney world. The ones who've been paying attention for more than five minutes. At least they aren't releasing their rumors--as has happened in the past--on sites with a known vested interest. But the rumors are falling flat because of the past, because of the source, because there's not much there there and because of the way the rumors are being constructed. (If part of the idea, or the hope, was excitement generated by the rumors might spur registrations for HB it doesn't look like it's helping. Yet.)
Since I'm out of the loop I can't tell you anymore than I have--expect the events, HB & Vegas, on ESPN3--and that could be wrong though it's what I was told--and yes, there is an X-Games angle at play in this but just what will happen, if anything, we'll have to wait to see together.
Friday, February 11, 2011
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10 comments:
"And we've heard this before. And nobody believes in the dream anymore."
no crap. even if it's on TV, I don't see it actually getting more people to play, or to save the ever "struggling" paint industry. I expect some horrible camera angles and a poor overall perception portrayed. for the whole, what, 3 months it'll be on TV? jaded? oh, yeah.
also, a paintball loser like me can't afford cable, let alone the $50 extra package for ESPN Tres, or whatever (there may not even be a fee, but I've watched as "The Sunday Ticket" went from $99 to I think now $300).
to be completely negative, even paintball players won't see this. unless they are rich/pro. which is pretty much everyone who plays these days.
so maybe a few people will see it.
Sorry, I know positive points of view are passe, but I just thought I'd point out that one of those absolutely terrible, travesties of a paintball TV show is precisely what brought me back to paintball. I don't know if it works on the general public, but even the worst of those programs made me want to play.
well, that is cool. I know I'm being a negative nancy.
I wonder if your attitude would be better if the PSP was in negotiations with ESPN rather than the NPPL?
His attitude would be better if there was a deal, not just "in negotiations", and if TV meant TV and not just a change in webcast portal.
The whole world will be subject to Nicky T's ignorance of paintball? FAIL
If it's online will I watch it? YES
What do you mean, Baca? This is my excited face.
My bad, Don. I thought it was indigestion and decided to let it pass.
Some sports are better in person than on TV. Others are better on TV than in person. With the coverage I've seen so far, paintball has been more of the former. I'd put NFL in the latter category. Baseball is in between, although with the price/availability of Red Sox tickets, TV is my only feasible choice.
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