Rate ESPN's coverage of the classic......

[Bassnajr]

Hey all...

I followed the Classic on-line and on TV (Late night??? Come on!!!) and I wanted to give my opinion and get yours.

I personally feel they did a crappy job. I guess the Classic hasn't risen to the level of interest of enough people. I love mark Zona, but he has his own show. Too much of him Tommy Sanders, and guys who didn't qualify, or didn't make the cut. Not enough fishing...too much talking...IMHO.

PS The folks from right here on our website gave us better photos and video!!!! GOOD JOB.....AGAIN!!!!

I hope ESPN does a better job next year!

bassnajr

[bass wrangler569]

Yeah, It would of been nice to see more fishing and less interviews with guys who didn't qualify for the classic. I wish the would have elaborated more on the winning techniques and patterns that the anglers were fishing.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I didnt watch a single minute of it.  They have disappointed me in the past, so I figured "Why bother?"

Like you said, the guys on here did a great job of keeping us posted and "in the know" with their behind the scene pictures and info.

If there were any other viable options for watching bass fishing on Saturday mornings, they would get the nod over ESPN any day of the week.

Wayne

[JCrzy4Bass]

Ok here's my two cents, and I've been waiting to give it. Almost started my own thread.

Day one was horrible. I think there may have been about 15 minutes of fishing, tops. Get Mike and mike back to football, baseball, and basketball, things they know. Neither one of them knows how to bass fish and doesn't belong covering any of the event. Period. I was very dissapointed seeing as I woke up at 6:30 to hustle over my dad's to have breakfast and watch this. I was also unaware that they were going to cover the same hour and a half twice (back to back) without adding any other new information.

Now, I think I know why day one did suck so bad. You look at the big names Swindle, Reese, Omori, Duckett, etc.. none of them were pulling in fish and sat in the back of the pack. Martens didn't even make noise until the end of the day. So I think the guys they were covering weren't on the fish, therefore didn't get much coverage.

If you look at day two and all the coverage they got on the leaders such as Hartley, Ike, Van Dam, Pace, Evers, etc they got a lot more coverage of on the water stuff. They also had less talking the second day, which was awesome. I was ticked that day 3 didn't get any coverage at all other than the weigh in. However this seemed like a dead day anyway and the hardest of the tourney so we would not have seen much other than Jones tearing em' up.

All in all, dissapointed, but it did have it's moments. I was mas mad that bassmaster cut out once Jones won and we did not get to see the celebration. Anyway... that's just my opinion.

[jrhennecke]

The internet coverage was ok.  The TV coverage though was typical ESPN junk.

[Tin]

1. Keith Alan is a ___________.

2. They acctually allowed that annoying Gmansgarage.com commercial.

3. The time, he Classic weigh-ins used to be televised right afterwards around 6 or 7pm, what is up with this 10pm bs.

I got more enjoyment following the blog and watching the weigh-in online. They also used to show high-lights from the guys day of fishing before he weighed in his catch, didn't see any of that this year.

[ThePvAngler]

I stayed up till the end to watch it, and i thought the coverage was great.

Too bad Bobby Lane didnt win :-/

[Matt Fly]

Maybe ESPN will takes ya'lls opinions and cancel all coverage next year.  I hope not.

So, what did you think of CBS, NBC, FOX, and others coverage of the classic?

I do agree there are things that could have been done differently, but ESPN is the only network covering it.   Thanks on that note, some coverage is better than none.    Specially when fishing isn't in the top ten of ESPN sponsors, their money comes from other big time sports.

I wonder if Glenn might know how many cameras they had in the 25 boats.     Also, if top 6 had cameras only?    And is that why we didn't see the bottom half make a charge?

[chitown]

Would Have Liked to have a roaming camera at Expo Instead of That

Camera that watched people's Backs  Or al them screens with Bla on Them. Oh That  Camera Viewing Marina Boat ramp Bla.

Some one Must have some Idea's How to motivate a Audience.

Have to say they Had good crowds for bad weather. I loved Charlie Hartly  It looked to good to be true.and He made us all aware that He felt that also. Oh I had a   Felt sorry for Camera Men in boat.

OVER ALL ESPN  BASS GOT LOT TO IMPROVE ON. DOING COVERAGE.

Especially at the Classic Level.  

[Bassnajr]

Matt,

Don't think ESPN isn't making millions off of the Elite series etc. If they can give good coverage to  The World Series of Poker, I don't see why they can't do a better job then they did. That having been said, I agree with you that at least they covered it. And I give them props for tackling the logistical nightmare that must be involved with The Classic.

ajr

[jrhennecke]

Maybe ESPN will takes ya'lls opinions and cancel all coverage next year. I hope not.

So, what did you think of CBS, NBC, FOX, and others coverage of the classic?

I do agree there are things that could have been done differently, but ESPN is the only network covering it. Thanks on that note, some coverage is better than none. Specially when fishing isn't in the top ten of ESPN sponsors, their money comes from other big time sports.

I wonder if Glenn might know how many cameras they had in the 25 boats. Also, if top 6 had cameras only? And is that why we didn't see the bottom half make a charge?

Of course the other networks didn't cover the Classic.  ESPN owns BASS which would make other networks reluctant to report on it.  It also shouldn't matter that fishing isn't in the top ten of ESPN sponsors, because if they really wanted to promote their coverage they could have done a lot more.  If they really want to make money on the deal, why don't they sell the right to broadcast the weigh-ins live to the outdoor chanel.  I will admit that the internet coverage was pretty good it's just the other coverage that could have been better.

[ncstatered21]

The internet was decent but the espn was typical interview crap. wanted to see more on the water action. you couldn't get on the water online which was not cool at all either.

[Sam]

Until they have a satellite hook-up with the cameras in the boats we will not be seeing more fishing. Or at least the guys catching fish.

To have another boat with a long-lens camera following each of the 50 boaters and then running the video back to the production trailer to show us the pros catching fish is too costly and time consuming.

I thought the coverage was very interesting.

I thought the weigh-in was as usual, melodramitic and too noisey.

All in all, I enjoyed the broadcasts.

[skunked_again]

i have cabin fever so bad i thought it was great. the only thing id like to see is a little time on baits/lines used.

[Sam]

P.S.

I would have loved to see Bobby Knight go bonkers and break the Carrot Stick over his knee and throw it at the pros and then throw the chairs around and cuss and yell and shove people and then get a box of tackle and throw it around.

Sprinkle in a few cuss words and obscene gestures.

Now that would have been a sensational pep talk.

[jrhennecke]

Until they have a satellite hook-up with the cameras in the boats we will not be seeing more fishing. Or at least the guys catching fish.

To have another boat with a long-lens camera following each of the 50 boaters and then running the video back to the production trailer to show us the pros catching fish is too costly and time consuming.

I thought the coverage was very interesting.

I thought the weigh-in was as usual, melodramitic and too noisey.

All in all, I enjoyed the broadcasts.

You are right about the cameras in the boats.  I think most people are upset about the weigh-in coverage not being live.  I don't think people understand how ESPN can show 22 hours of Poker and Strong Man but can't manage to show the weigh-in live.  All they had to do was provide the same TV coverage as they produced on the internet and a lot of people would have been satisfied.

[rondef]

ESPN made some good money off of the classic, don't think that they didn't. As for coverage, day was pathetic at best the rest of the coverage was good. ESPN could have done a much better job than they did but they wanted people to pay for coverage over the net instead, that much is obvious. You couldn't miss the spot to pay for coverage of the classic. I would hope that they provide better coverage on the rest of the tournaments this year. If they can spend 48 hours covering tennis and hours on poker they ceratinly can and should do a better job covering the classic. Just my .02

[Gatorbassman]

Yeah, It would of been nice to see more fishing and less interviews with guys who didn't qualify for the classic. I wish the would have elaborated more on the winning techniques and patterns that the anglers were fishing.

I'm working on that one. I got pictures of most of the lures that the top six used and found out several of their patterns.

[ba7ss3in]

Have to say it was better than last years but it could have been alot better. It's BSPN they don't know bassfishing and what true anglers want.

[Matt Fly]

You don't see the big sponsor dollars as evident by the commercials aired.  Not like the Super Bowl were they?

You had bigger Basketball games and bigger sports to be aired during the weigh in.

Which one makes more money for ESPN, Bassfishing live weigh-in or college basketball?

No brainer, their were more BB/golf/football/baseball fans in America and prime time spots will be occupied by one of the bigger money makers.

You can say they made money, and thats okay, but look at the commercials that aired.  Pretty much the same ones as early Saturday and Sunday mornings.

   What fortune 500 companies lined up at the door to get some of there spots aired.        

     I love bass fishing, always have, but its not close to being a nascar, college football, basketball,  or any of the pro sports of the big 5.

       Bass fishing isn't even close to what poker has become.

There have been enough BASS bashing threads in the past, and I'd be upset for guys to get free internet live feed for free when other BASS members paid for that service.    Sorry, I paid for my coverage through my membership.    

Maybe alot of guys who said they cancelled their memberships shouldn't have been so quick to act.

I bet some of the same guys who bashed BASS and claim to no longer have affilation with BASS are still watching.

Thats kinda of funny to display convictions against, yet still patronize them by watching their product.    

Got no problems with BASS, again, any coverage was better than none!!!!

       

[Guest muddy]

Geat post Matt! I do not usually follow BASS, but cabin fever and some PM's earlier this month with Glenn had me paying attention. I was hoping he would have the time of his life

Whle we are very absorbed in this sport, from the weekender to the tourny guys, in the scope of what ESPN has to offer the nation I would bet it is the least watched championship event and generates the least amount of revenue I think it was a great idea to get Mike and Mike to cover it, because I am sure some of thier audience, that may have not tunmed in did; RESULT>GENERATE INTEREST. They have been talking about it on their show now for a few months. Probablly was the smartest move to generate a growing fna base ESPN could have done.Growth brings growing pains but at least it shows ESPN sees potential and are willing to try and get the audience to grow.

[Bassnajr]

MattFly...

I agree to some extent. Bass fishing IS the next Nascar IMHO..no doubt about it. Between B.A.S.S. and F.L.W. (Who have a $1,000,000 prize for the Forrest Wood Cup) this sport is already a multi-million dollar entity. I wonder if the Classic was on at a different time of the year (not facing pre-March Madness B-ball etc.) would there have been a difference in coverage? Would warmer weather have made a difference? Did B.A.S.S. put the cameras in the wrong boats hedgeing towards all the "top" guys? There's a million questions we could ask. I just hope they plan better for next year.

bassnajr

[The Duke]

Of course it could be better! Of course, it could have been a ton worse.

I'll just say I'm glad ESPN owns BASS and not Helen Sevier any longer.

[Guest muddy]

Tghere is a lot of money within the industry, as a spectator sport , it is not really a good draw YET, these guys know thier business and they have paid some dollars and they want a return. If interest doesn't grow they will drop it all together. I would bet Arena football at this ime has a bigget TV market share.

[Matt Fly]

Sorry peeps, fishing isn't spectator friendly.

Most all other sports have a defined playing field for spectators to  flock to.  They get gate proceeds, concessions, some charge parking.  What does BASS get from tournaments?    None of the above like other sports.

 Bass fishing don't charge for spectators to launch their boats to watch.  Public lakes!!

Bass don't call off tournaments due to weather which might make some fans stay home.

How do you become a fan when you don't own a boat to go watch?

Figure out how to charge the fans and you'll generate more monies on tour.    Which creates better coverage, and more sponsors.

Again, its not even close to another sport, not golf, not football, not track and field, not even Nascar.

  Think about what revenues are not generated that is guaranteed at other arenas or stadiums.