DH World Cup thread

[Weeksy]

TBH, it's not really a hill to die on but if pragmatism is a currency, then recent history tells us the people getting a raw deal out of the sport are the riders & the fans.

I don't necessarily expect people to agree with me

I'm just giving my opinion, how i see things.

 

[Mabman]

Apparently it's not just DH coverage. Tao Geogheganhart had a rather lengthy Igram posting I saw this morning regarding the uptick in cost of road bike racing coverage in the UK also.

 

[Weeksy]

Apparently it's not just DH coverage. Tao Geogheganhart had a rather lengthy Igram posting I saw this morning regarding the uptick in cost of road bike racing coverage in the UK also.

It's cycling, motorbikes, DH, xc, it'll be skiing as they was on Eurosport too, CX racing, biathlon, sailing, etc etc. this is not DH being singled out, this is anything and everything you'd find on Eurosport.

 

[JP-NZ]

Its an interesting subject, being on the otherside of the world we aren't affected (yet) but if DH was to move onto our pay tv sports channels (Sky NZ) then I would be happier as I already pay $70 NZD a month for it.

But alas, if you only watch DH MTB then paying that much is probably not worth it.

 

[STATO]

Don't forget, Red bull had the option to buy/keep DH, they decided a value and it was lower than WBD. Red bull are not victims here in any way.

I mean, that the answer right?? Why do the public have to pay more to watch it? Because the broadcaster paid the UCI more to have the rights for it, and they have to recover the cost.

Same as why football costs so much too watch, because the bidders for the broadcast rights fight to pay more to own the rights, and to make a profit they have to first cover the cost.

 

[RustyMTB]

Interesting op-ed from Guy Kesteven, who's been around mountain biking since Pontius was a pilot (!) Top & bottom of his view is the suits don't care about anything other than their shareholders & this is doomed to fail anyway because the numbers have never beent there to support it.

£30 to watch the downhill?! Why trying to make big money out of mountain bike coverage always fails - MBR

We’ve all heard about it, watching the World Cup live this year is going to cost a whole lot more money, as mountain biking gets lumped in with football and fighting. It’s dreadful news, but we shouldn’t be surprised, here’s why. First up it’s particularly unsurprising when Warner Brothers...

www.mbr.co.uk

 

[Weeksy]

Can't argue. There's less people prepared to pay/view than needed. But as I said, that's kinda why they need this deal as they're being propped up by the bigger sports. Of course that's not sustainable and eventually WBD will get this in their head. But currently, it's the best of a bad deal.

DH is the ultimate niche sport, that lots go to the events and are crazy passionate, but the other 99.9% of population are barely aware it even exists.

 

[RustyMTB]

If it's being propped up by the mega money football revenue, then the inescapable conclusion is WBD have miscalculated & overpiad for the rights. A supporting observation for that idea is how they're pricing out marginal riders, presumably to attempt to make stars out of the big names in order to draw in casual viewers who can remember Bruni, Seagrave, Vergier, Pierron etc. but less so the Lalys, Meier-Smiths & Braytons of the scene.

However, a different pov is the're gambling the hardcore fans will stump up the fees just to watch the one sport they actually want from the package, which is as cynical as it gets. Looking around the chat boards, I reckon Firesticks are in for a mini sales boom.

 

[Zimmerframe]

Something to tie you over .... for free ...

Fffff...fffff ast ... and mainly in the air ...

 

[RustyMTB]

Halfway through the BK edit this lunchtime. He doesn't say who but someone's had a big slam on one of the jumps. I have wondere what the deal is with contracted DH guys doing these high risk comps ahead of a season. Can't imagine Santa Cruz were happy to lose Jackson for the entire season last year but here he is again!

 

[Weeksy]

Possibly Kaos Seagrave. He nailed one badly.

Edgar Briole is another who seems to have crashed apparently