elricko Posted December 12, 2004 Share Posted December 12, 2004 I am still fighting Rogers Sportsnet re . their ads during EPL matches. My contention to them, is that if, as they say, they have to pay more , in order to show 3 games per week, then put the ads in the third game , leaving the other two the same as last year --ad-free! I also wrote to "WHITE SPOT RESTAURANTS" and "UMBRO", telling those two companies that I would be boycotting their products, and hopefully "true football fans" will do the same, in order to fight the encroaching use of commercials in soccer. I am sure this insidious usage of annoying commercials will almost certainly grow, unless fans fight back. I hope others will join me in this crusade. ( now , I guess I will get all the jokes from the usual clowns!) edit: just removed caps form title as per policy of board Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianSoccerFan Posted December 12, 2004 Share Posted December 12, 2004 Honestly, how is a network supposed to make any scratch doing a broadcast with no commercials for a full 45 minutes.... Name for me another broadcast of any kind on TV or radio that does that or can afford to do that. In Europe pretty much all games are on pay per view for this very reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachesl Posted December 12, 2004 Share Posted December 12, 2004 So, let me get this straight...businesses will be subject to boycotts if they support soccer braodcasts, and not if they support other sports and programs instead. Hm. And this will help us see soccer on television? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elricko Posted December 12, 2004 Author Share Posted December 12, 2004 I assume you have not lived or travelled very much, and I sometimes think I have to give my head a shake. It always amazes me that there are people out there that defend rampant commercialism in the media, I honestly believe it is because you have been raised in ultra-capitalistic N. America. I have lived in a number of countries , including the mother of soccer( England). Every league match can be heard on non-paying, commercial-free radio in England, my Mum oftens listens to that famous club, Gillingham, on a Saturday, loves it when they win--pretty rare this season!! Many other English games are on one of the 5 main TV channels, I shall be in England over Christmas, and will watch some games. In Australia or New Zealand, one can watch, or listen, while enjoying 10 hours of non-stop cricket on commercial free TV and radio. Also all soccer matches there are commercial free on non-paying TV, and once again , radio. Sports are given a priority in many countries, and it is NOT a given that commercials will spoil a soccer match--a la Canada. I watch Champions League games on TSN with no ads, and also Fox do not interrupt their games, though they do have those annoying ads running along the bottom.. Lets start questioning the behaviour of these huge corporations like Rogers, they have an abysmal reputation here in BC, for their negative billing fiasco, and other questionable business practises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elricko Posted December 12, 2004 Author Share Posted December 12, 2004 quote:Originally posted by beachesl So, let me get this straight...businesses will be subject to boycotts if they support soccer braodcasts, and not if they support other sports and programs instead. Hm. And this will help us see soccer on television? They were quite willing last season to show games without commercials, as do TSN and FOX now. It leads me to think that some members of this forum are quite willing to accept the commercials , maybe even think they should be should be increased--amazing!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted December 12, 2004 Share Posted December 12, 2004 They had an acceptable solution before, with the windowing of the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elricko Posted December 12, 2004 Author Share Posted December 12, 2004 I have lived in Canada--"THE WORLD'S SOCCER WASTELAND" for almost 30 years, arrived in Edmonton June 21 st. 1974, slap-bang in the middle of the World Cup--and what soccer was on the radio, TV or press-zilch. I paid approx. $15 to watch the Cup Final at the Kinsmen Fieldhouse, along with a motley few, on a lousy large TV screen. If you phoned Bryan Hall on CJCA about soccer, he was an absolute "pig" with his attitude, so rude. I watched the F.A. Cup Final on CBC once a year with their one minute commercials every 5 minutes. I wrote letter after letter of complaint, they replied, "we try to avoid missing the goals"!!!!!. I did watch my beloved Forest win 2 European Cups in a row, the games were shown on TV 3 weeks later each time I believe!!!! I saw the Edmonton Drillers in every game bar their opener, against Detroit I think. I have lived through such bleak years when there were no English league games shown, but we did start to get the World Cup, I thought at last this damn country is starting to catch up to the rest of the world, and that catching up has continued, but it still has a long way to go. I sometimes hear that idiot Neil McCrae mention "soccer , that sissy sport",I still purchase "The Province" newspaper, with it's slow but steadyly growing soccer coverage, but that catching is continuing. Of course the paper is full,of TV broadcasting errors, but even those clowns are starting to learn. The Men's NT , I have completely given up on, it's bad enough supporting England constantly, but Canada they are an absolute joke , when we went to Swanguard, we might as well have worn black for the funeral of Candadian soccer each time, and boy there were some real "screw-ups" at the gates on some occasions , trying to handle those vast crowds of 6,000, or whatever.Nothing in my "other" countries was perfect, changes are necessary, and Canada is still"getting there" with it's soccer interest, presentation, promotion BUT let's do it correctly and show soccer the way it is meant to be shown, AND the way the rest of the world watch it!!! COMMERCIAL FREE, just for 45 minutes. I shall always think of this country as truly "THE WORLD'S SOCCER WASTELAND" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amacpher Posted December 12, 2004 Share Posted December 12, 2004 quote:Originally posted by elricko I assume you have not lived or travelled very much, and I sometimes think I have to give my head a shake. It always amazes me that there are people out there that defend rampant commercialism in the media, I honestly believe it is because you have been raised in ultra-capitalistic N. America. I have lived in a number of countries , including the mother of soccer( England). Every league match can be heard on non-paying, commercial-free radio in England, my Mum oftens listens to that famous club, Gillingham, on a Saturday, loves it when they win--pretty rare this season!! Many other English games are on one of the 5 main TV channels, I shall be in England over Christmas, and will watch some games. In Australia or New Zealand, one can watch, or listen, while enjoying 10 hours of non-stop cricket on commercial free TV and radio. Also all soccer matches there are commercial free on non-paying TV, and once again , radio. Well, most televised games in Europe are either PPV or on channels that are part of some supreme (ie. expensive) cable package. A channel like Canal+ costs over $25/month (just for that one channel). Is that what you consider free-TV? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highburygooner Posted December 12, 2004 Share Posted December 12, 2004 quote:I assume you have not lived or travelled very much, and I sometimes think I have to give my head a shake. It always amazes me that there are people out there that defend rampant commercialism in the media, I honestly believe it is because you have been raised in ultra-capitalistic N. America. I have lived in a number of countries , including the mother of soccer( England). Every league match can be heard on non-paying, commercial-free radio in England, my Mum oftens listens to that famous club, Gillingham, on a Saturday, loves it when they win--pretty rare this season!! Many other English games are on one of the 5 main TV channels, I shall be in England over Christmas, and will watch some games. In Australia or New Zealand, one can watch, or listen, while enjoying 10 hours of non-stop cricket on commercial free TV and radio. Also all soccer matches there are commercial free on non-paying TV, and once again , radio. quote: well...skysports certainly ain't free. none of the 5 main television channels in england get to show live premiership/league football (although is currently a proposal before the eu to break up sky's monopoly). the bbc gets a choice of f.a. cup matches, itv gets a choice of champions league matches and channel 5 gets the odd uefa cup match....frankly, for actual coverage, i'd rather be able to get sportsnet over here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elricko Posted December 12, 2004 Author Share Posted December 12, 2004 "Beaches", mentioned radio, which is available -commercial free during all games in the UK. If I did not have a high-priced cable package here in Canada, I would see NO soccer EVER. I pay approx. $97 per month to SHAW, which includes the internet and various channels, BUT I STILL have no choice re. annoying ads during matches. My cousin in the UK has Sky 1 and Sky 2, the games are AD-FREE, the coverage is better, longer match presentations, summaries etc, far,far more soccer coverage --mind you ,one could spend the rest of one's life watching soccer.I overslept today, so I am recording the Arsenal v Chelsea game as I write, cost me $14.99 +taxes, I wonder when they will find a way to start putting ads in those PPV games? Why do we with N. American TV have to tolerate more commercials than anywhere in the world, if I did not have cable, I believe I would receive about 4-5 Canadian channels, now there 's a good reason to either commit suicide or migrate (again) !!! Surely NOBODY is going to be upset with that lattar remark , and DEFEND Canadian TV? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted December 12, 2004 Share Posted December 12, 2004 The commercials don't bother me. The games are on tape delay anyway, so you're not missing anything. In other parts of the world they run those little ads in the bottom one-fifth of the screen while the game is in play; I find that much more annoying. What worries me is the precedent this might set for broadcasts of live games. I remember when the CBC used to broadcast games and they would have commercial breaks while the games were going on. Sometimes you would miss a goal or a sending off and they would then have to show a replay. The NCAA has already instituted a TV time-out in the middle of each half of their televised soccer games. You can bet there has been considerable pressure on the MLS to do the same. The European leagues would never consent to those kind of demands from broadcasters. But I could very well see the MLS or A-League caving in if it meant more revenues or if they had to do it to avoid losing the revenues they already have. The main difference between North America and Europe is that there are no other sports that can compete with soccer for audience share over there. Here soccer is pretty low on the totem pole. You're competing for airtime with a lot of other sports and all of them have willingly compromised their games to allow maximum levels of advertising revenues for the broadcasters. That gives the broadcasters a lot more leverage. Ironically, one capitulation to capitalism that pro sports haven't made over here is replacing the team crest on their uniforms with a corporate logo. That's something that's taken for granted in Europe, but if the Toronto Maple Leafs even considered replacing the blue maple leaf crest with a beer company logo you'd see riots as well as the most massive boycott in Canadian history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted December 12, 2004 Share Posted December 12, 2004 The commercials don't bother me. The games are on tape delay anyway, so you're not missing anything. In other parts of the world they run those little ads in the bottom one-fifth of the screen while the game is in play; I find that much more annoying. What worries me is the precedent this might set for broadcasts of live games. I remember when the CBC used to broadcast games and they would have commercial breaks while the games were going on. Sometimes you would miss a goal or a sending off and they would then have to show a replay. The NCAA has already instituted a TV time-out in the middle of each half of their televised soccer games. You can bet there has been considerable pressure on the MLS to do the same. The European leagues would never consent to those kind of demands from broadcasters. But I could very well see the MLS or A-League caving in if it meant more revenues or if they had to do it to avoid losing the revenues they already have. The main difference between North America and Europe is that there are no other sports that can compete with soccer for audience share over there. Here soccer is pretty low on the totem pole. You're competing for airtime with a lot of other sports and all of them have willingly compromised their games to allow maximum levels of advertising revenues for the broadcasters. That gives the broadcasters a lot more leverage. Ironically, one capitulation to capitalism that pro sports haven't made over here is replacing the team crest on their uniforms with a corporate logo. That's something that's taken for granted in Europe, but if the Toronto Maple Leafs even considered replacing the blue maple leaf crest with a beer company logo you'd see riots as well as the most massive boycott in Canadian history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loud Mouth Soup Posted December 12, 2004 Share Posted December 12, 2004 I'm on the no ads side. The excuse of having to pay more is bull. Why buy more when you have to pay more? Why accept having to pay more only to piss off the fans? Split-screens, bottom banners, scoreboard ads up top can all more than make up for it. Come on-this is Sportsnet, more than willing to pay for the Premier League and then smack ads eveyrwhere, but can't find money in their budget to support our Men's Team. I'm sick of the excuses and the way the commercials are killing my enjoyment of the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elricko Posted December 12, 2004 Author Share Posted December 12, 2004 quote:Originally posted by beachesl So, let me get this straight...businesses will be subject to boycotts if they support soccer braodcasts, and not if they support other sports and programs instead. Hm. And this will help us see soccer on television? I am quite prepared to support any soccer sponsors, and we need all the help we can get, but I will not supprt advertisers that allow their ads to be shown during the matches. I fully intend to boycott "WHITE SPOT RESTAURANTS" and "UMBRO" products-and am continuing to write my pesky letters. If you are a real fan you will avoid these companies also, unless they change their policy re. ads Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elricko Posted December 13, 2004 Author Share Posted December 13, 2004 quote:Originally posted by Chet The commercials don't bother me. The games are on tape delay anyway, so you're not missing anything. In other parts of the world they run those little ads in the bottom one-fifth of the screen while the game is in play; I find that much more annoying. What worries me is the precedent this might set for broadcasts of live games. I remember when the CBC used to broadcast games and they would have commercial breaks while the games were going on. Sometimes you would miss a goal or a sending off and they would then have to show a replay. The NCAA has already instituted a TV time-out in the middle of each half of their televised soccer games. You can bet there has been considerable pressure on the MLS to do the same. The European leagues would never consent to those kind of demands from broadcasters. But I could very well see the MLS or A-League caving in if it meant more revenues or if they had to do it to avoid losing the revenues they already have. The main difference between North America and Europe is that there are no other sports that can compete with soccer for audience share over there. Here soccer is pretty low on the totem pole. You're competing for airtime with a lot of other sports and all of them have willingly compromised their games to allow maximum levels of advertising revenues for the broadcasters. That gives the broadcasters a lot more leverage. Ironically, one capitulation to capitalism that pro sports haven't made over here is replacing the team crest on their uniforms with a corporate logo. That's something that's taken for granted in Europe, but if the Toronto Maple Leafs even considered replacing the blue maple leaf crest with a beer company logo you'd see riots as well as the most massive boycott in Canadian history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loud Mouth Soup Posted December 13, 2004 Share Posted December 13, 2004 quote:Ironically, one capitulation to capitalism that pro sports haven't made over here is replacing the team crest on their uniforms with a corporate logo. That's something that's taken for granted in Europe, but if the Toronto Maple Leafs even considered replacing the blue maple leaf crest with a beer company logo you'd see riots as well as the most massive boycott in Canadian history. It's not pro, but it's coming.... The Oshawa Generals have a shirt with the major sponsor on the front. They wore it against Sarnia last week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ref Posted December 13, 2004 Share Posted December 13, 2004 I understand that commercial breaks and ads is a necessity in our capitalistic north america. The majority of ads I find to be stupid or I am simply not interested, specially when you see the same f...ing ad over and over again in a short period of time. Ads at the bottom of the screen don't bother me as much since I can still follow the game. One thing that I miss here in Canada are regular programs with soccer commentary by experienced journalists and soccer people. Both in radio and television. These programs are routine in other soccer countries and help to keep you informed and get knowledgeable opinions about players, teams, coaches, possibilities, etc. Sportsnet commentary by Gerry is not worth my time. Craig is an experienced former player but I wonder if he is somewhat restricted by the net as to what he can really say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elricko Posted December 14, 2004 Author Share Posted December 14, 2004 I find that when Gerry Dobson is commentating , I use the mute button as much as possible, he is sooo bad, I prefer the silence to his inane , and often irrelevant chattering. I recall in a Canadian international match a few years back, he was discussing the "painting of the pitch, to make the grass look greener"--- during the game, when all of a sudden, "Oh, they've scored" . I like Craig Forrest, but I beieve he is told to be non -judgemental, we need a touch of the "Ron Atkinsons" or "Rodney Marshs", to walk the walk, and talk the talk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devioustrevor Posted December 14, 2004 Share Posted December 14, 2004 quote:Originally posted by elricko ...we need a touch of the "Ron Atkinsons" or "Rodney Marshs", to walk the walk, and talk the talk. So perhaps someone like Brian Budd? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loud Mouth Soup Posted December 14, 2004 Share Posted December 14, 2004 quote:So perhaps someone like Brian Budd? Oh dear God...NO! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnwaltca Posted December 16, 2004 Share Posted December 16, 2004 I was disappointed to see the ads during EPL matches, but I'm still very grateful for their coverage. When I first started following the EPL, the only coverage was a 1 hour show on TSN, I think it was called 'Soccer Saturday', and they showed highlights only of matches from across all of Europe (not just EPL). There were only a handful of matches that were available on Satellite, you had to go to the pub to watch. Now we're treated to 3 games (most are LIVE!) most Saturdays, and possibly 1 or 2 more on Sunday, the full 1 hour highlight show Sunday nights, also some weekday matches are normally picked-up too. So I'm actually very GRATEFUL for the games that are shown, and from a business perspective, if running ads during the games is what's needed to support the costs, and make it profitable then I'm fine with that. When I've been over in the UK, the only way you could see any live games was through Sky Sports, not through any of the BBC channels... (and who cares about radio??) and remember that SKY is a UK-based channel, so obviously they're going to have better coverage of a UK-based league!! We are living in CANADA, so I think to expect anything more from Rogers is being unrealistic. I understand from Soccertv.com that Fox Sports World is possibly going to become a 100% soccer channel, this will be an interesting development to follow. Bottom line is with the expansion of digital channels, with the continuing expansion of broadband, Internet, etc, technologies in the future, I'm sure things can only get better. Enjoy what we do have and let's SUPPORT Rogers, Fox, and the advertisers for bringing us the coverage in a non-PPV fashion, sure, give them feedback, let's not nickpick about details of when the ads are played, how big they are, etc, etc... It's much, MUCH better now than it was just a few years ago... John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnwaltca Posted December 16, 2004 Share Posted December 16, 2004 Just remembered a few additional points I wanted to share regarding travelling, and the situations in other counties. I've been fortunate enough to get to do some travelling this year... 1) Cuba - Was in Havana, and at a resort in Varadero during the EUFA Cup Semi-Final, second leg last year in which my beloved Newcastle was playing, think I could see the game? NOT A CHANCE! 2) Switzerland - Was in Zurich & Lucerne in September, no coverage of any live games on any of the channels in the hotels I was staying, managed to watch Sky Sport's Soccer Saturday show, at a pub, which wasn't able to actually show any live footage, just analysts who were watching the matches on screen and commentating on them, had I been in Canada, I'd have been able to watch a live game... 3) US, Myrtle Beach, SC - Was down in Myrtle Beach last month, wanted to watch the EPL League Match, Newcastle v Manchester United, called at least 10 Sports Bars along the 'Grand Strand', no luck, most didn't even know what I was talking about, I did a search on the Setanta web site, there wasn't a subscriber within 100 MILES!!! So to sum it up, yeah, sure it sucks having to sit through a 15-second commercial while wathcing a live game, but TRUST ME, we are better off here than in lots of other places, support the companies and advertisers that make this kind of coverage available!! Cheers! John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loud Mouth Soup Posted December 16, 2004 Share Posted December 16, 2004 john-a couple of things... Cuba? the last thing I'd expect is a major European league on satellite down there. Setanta's web site does not list all subscribers, and half the time, staff at bars really have no idea what channels they subscribe to. I speak from my own and friends' experiences trying to find places or calling to ask what games might be on. The Sky program you described in Swizterland is the standard Sky program in the UK. on the main network. They never show any matches at 3pm on Saturdays. Other than that, you might need Sky1, 2 and 3, Xtra and Premiership Plus. Pubs across the nation do pick up foreign satellite feeds, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amacpher Posted December 16, 2004 Share Posted December 16, 2004 quote:Originally posted by johnwaltca Just remembered a few additional points I wanted to share regarding travelling, and the situations in other counties. I've been fortunate enough to get to do some travelling this year... 3) US, Myrtle Beach, SC - Was down in Myrtle Beach last month, wanted to watch the EPL League Match, Newcastle v Manchester United, called at least 10 Sports Bars along the 'Grand Strand', no luck, most didn't even know what I was talking about, I did a search on the Setanta web site, there wasn't a subscriber within 100 MILES!!! Well, good luck finding a place in Canada showing that Newcastle x Man Utd game. I mean, you're in Toronto, but for most people in Canada the easiest way to see that match would be to drive to the USA and then start looking .... but your point (overall) is still well taken: Listening to complaints about EPL coverage in Canada is pretty amusing. Especially when Canadian coverage of just about every other soccer league or soccer competition on the planet is abysmal or non-existent. Haha... but its so true -- i cna imagine most people would have no clue what you're talking about when you mention a soccer match in S. Carolina. I went to a pub a couple weeks ago to watch Barca x Real Madrid. The line-up outside the pub extended around the corner and down the block all the way to a night-club 200 meters away. Someone walking past the night-club asked who's playing? Ans: "Barcelona - Madrid". Response: "Is that the name of the band?" Clueless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadiankick97 Posted December 17, 2004 Share Posted December 17, 2004 quote:Originally posted by Loud Mouth Soup john-a couple of things... Cuba? the last thing I'd expect is a major European league on satellite down there. They showed two Toronto Maple Leafs' games when I was down there last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.