Analysis: Why PBA TV Coverage in Europe is huge
07/02/09
Call them butter, the PBA is on a roll!
Wondering what I am talking about? Read this article." Do not underestimate the value of an international audience. Here are the highlights I found most important:
Why is this big news?
Well, it immediately raises the international profile of the PBA starting July 9th. With a plethora of new and veteran international talent on the PBA, (Jason Belmonte, Osku Palerma, George Lambert IV, Stuart Williams, Amleto Monaceli, Tae-Hwa Jeong) the International community will recognize the PBA as the premier competitive bowling organization.
It will advise the viewing World, if you want to be the best, you must bowl against the best and the best is right here in the good ol' USA. The only potential downfall…Rob Stone yelling Hambone in 20 different languages! Just kidding Rob. Then again, I'd love to see how the international closed caption interpreters handle Randy Pedersen's Harry Carey impressions.
How will this impact the PBA? I think you'll see more top international stars making their way over here to bowl. I think you'll see International sponsors backing international players (much like BBC and Mika Koivuniemi). Maybe we'll see Paul Moor, Remy Ong, or Peter Ljung. Maybe we'll see Zara Glover from England coming over to battle in the PBA Women's Series?
I think it's possible that Osku and Amleto ink deals with new international sponsors to keep them out on tour for the full season. I think you'll even see International sponsors backing American players. Could you imagine Mike Scroggins sporting an international company emblem on his Gemini Jersey? I can. This opens up a whole new World of sponsorship opportunities for the PBA stars. For the right price, the space on any player's jersey should be for sale.
On a side note: I would also expect Xtra Frame subscriptions to increase and traffic to the PBA website to increase. And the most exciting and thrilling part…I might have an international fan club! Woohoo!
How will this impact international bowling?
What do fans of countries not called the United States of America love more than anything else? Beating Americans. I haven't been to an event overseas, but I've watched numerous Americans take on numerous International players on various websites and one thing was very clear...The crowd wanted the American to lose.
Sure they were polite and applauded the American when he made a good shot, but when the international player made a good shot it got loud. I think I even saw thundersticks! It's not that they don't like Americans, it's that they don't like losing to Americans. Trust me, they would love nothing more than having their top international stars going head to head with our top American stars and doing well. And all of this on the American PBA Tour.
The first time exempt PBA Player Stuart Williams from England faces off against Chris Barnes in a TV Final, expect great ratings on the international telecast. It would be huge. I think you might end up seeing some foreign flags represented on those Gemini Jerseys. I think you'll see international bowling columnists following the tour in much more depth instead of cutting and pasting the story from pba.com. I think if I have to type the word "international" one more time, I'm going to remove that collection of letters from my keyboard.
Why should American viewers or American fans of the PBA care?
Well, it was probably a little over a decade ago that the PBA was in a downward spiral to non-existence. It was bought out. It has been retooled. It has new vision. And now it has a fresh audience. The most important aspect of this TV deal is the exposure. It's like one of those credit card commercials… This one goes a little something like this: Bowling ball? $200.
Entry into PBA Event as non-member? $600.
First Place check? $25,000.
Having my victory broadcast to 116.5 million new households in 20 languages across 59 nations? Priceless.
Andy Morton graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a degree in Journalism and Public Communications. Growing up in the frigid state of Alaska, Andy found himself in the warm confines of the bowling center since the early age of five. He grew up watching the PBA Tour and competing with current PBA Star Sean Rash through much of his youth bowling career. Andy's most prestigious bowling accomplishments include: never using bumpers, competing in numerous Junior National Tournaments and establishing the first Sport Bowling program in his hometown of Anchorage, Alaska in 2007 with his younger brother Doug. He'll be contributing regularly in his own pba.com blog starting this week. To contact Andy, send an email to: amortonak@gmail.com.
PBA News
By Andy Morton: PBA Fan Voice
Call them butter, the PBA is on a roll!Wondering what I am talking about? Read this article." Do not underestimate the value of an international audience. Here are the highlights I found most important:
- More than 116.5 million European households
- 40 PBA Tour events including the 2009-2010 season
- First time for European fans to watch a bowling series in 10 years
- PBA to be aired in 20 languages across 59 nations
- Events from the 08-09 season will air Fridays in prime time on Eurosport 1, the broadcast system's largest and most popular channel. (Equivalent of ESPN, I assume)
Why is this big news?
Well, it immediately raises the international profile of the PBA starting July 9th. With a plethora of new and veteran international talent on the PBA, (Jason Belmonte, Osku Palerma, George Lambert IV, Stuart Williams, Amleto Monaceli, Tae-Hwa Jeong) the International community will recognize the PBA as the premier competitive bowling organization.
It will advise the viewing World, if you want to be the best, you must bowl against the best and the best is right here in the good ol' USA. The only potential downfall…Rob Stone yelling Hambone in 20 different languages! Just kidding Rob. Then again, I'd love to see how the international closed caption interpreters handle Randy Pedersen's Harry Carey impressions.
How will this impact the PBA? I think you'll see more top international stars making their way over here to bowl. I think you'll see International sponsors backing international players (much like BBC and Mika Koivuniemi). Maybe we'll see Paul Moor, Remy Ong, or Peter Ljung. Maybe we'll see Zara Glover from England coming over to battle in the PBA Women's Series?
I think it's possible that Osku and Amleto ink deals with new international sponsors to keep them out on tour for the full season. I think you'll even see International sponsors backing American players. Could you imagine Mike Scroggins sporting an international company emblem on his Gemini Jersey? I can. This opens up a whole new World of sponsorship opportunities for the PBA stars. For the right price, the space on any player's jersey should be for sale.
On a side note: I would also expect Xtra Frame subscriptions to increase and traffic to the PBA website to increase. And the most exciting and thrilling part…I might have an international fan club! Woohoo!
How will this impact international bowling?
What do fans of countries not called the United States of America love more than anything else? Beating Americans. I haven't been to an event overseas, but I've watched numerous Americans take on numerous International players on various websites and one thing was very clear...The crowd wanted the American to lose.
Sure they were polite and applauded the American when he made a good shot, but when the international player made a good shot it got loud. I think I even saw thundersticks! It's not that they don't like Americans, it's that they don't like losing to Americans. Trust me, they would love nothing more than having their top international stars going head to head with our top American stars and doing well. And all of this on the American PBA Tour.
The first time exempt PBA Player Stuart Williams from England faces off against Chris Barnes in a TV Final, expect great ratings on the international telecast. It would be huge. I think you might end up seeing some foreign flags represented on those Gemini Jerseys. I think you'll see international bowling columnists following the tour in much more depth instead of cutting and pasting the story from pba.com. I think if I have to type the word "international" one more time, I'm going to remove that collection of letters from my keyboard.
Why should American viewers or American fans of the PBA care?
Well, it was probably a little over a decade ago that the PBA was in a downward spiral to non-existence. It was bought out. It has been retooled. It has new vision. And now it has a fresh audience. The most important aspect of this TV deal is the exposure. It's like one of those credit card commercials… This one goes a little something like this: Bowling ball? $200.
Entry into PBA Event as non-member? $600.
First Place check? $25,000.
Having my victory broadcast to 116.5 million new households in 20 languages across 59 nations? Priceless.
Â
About the Author
Andy Morton graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a degree in Journalism and Public Communications. Growing up in the frigid state of Alaska, Andy found himself in the warm confines of the bowling center since the early age of five. He grew up watching the PBA Tour and competing with current PBA Star Sean Rash through much of his youth bowling career. Andy's most prestigious bowling accomplishments include: never using bumpers, competing in numerous Junior National Tournaments and establishing the first Sport Bowling program in his hometown of Anchorage, Alaska in 2007 with his younger brother Doug. He'll be contributing regularly in his own pba.com blog starting this week. To contact Andy, send an email to: amortonak@gmail.com.
Â