Think i may have figured out why paintball isn't on TV

[Schnitzel]

well, its been a question here for quite awhile...Why isn't paintball on TV very much? i think i may have come up with a reason. Most people will say that they like to watch sports on TV that feature action or suspense. This is generally true for most TV sports. But when it comes to paintball, there's either recreational or speedball/sup'air. We all know that rec. games haven't done so well on TV, and Speedball is much more suspenseful/action-packed, but it still hasn't taken off. Why?

Well, when was the last time you played speedball and there was a time period that you felt bored? NEVER! It's a big 5 minute adrenaline rush! But when you watch basketball or football played, there will always be short "down" periods, like a timeout, huddle, or simply taking the ball up-court. And for this purpose, i think it usually allows athletes a chance to "cool down", and relax, not letting their emotions run high. And so i think speedball players aren't afforded this chance, and so there's usually a lot of cussing, and/or guns gently hurled into the mud. So of course, people watching this at home will think, "What a rotten sport! They can't even control their tempers! What a bunch of temper-tamtrumed little boys!" *click*

So I think it's this: Speedball is TOO action-packed, and most spectators don't understand why players act the way they do.

my $.o2

[nerobro]

Paintball WAS on TV. And it looked really good. The World Cup was on Espn like 5 years ago. The year after there was a small tournament arranged JUST FOR espn. The field was symetrical, the bunkers were delicate, the camera angles sucked....... And the show was just bad.

You could tell that they stacked the teams. there were the iornmen against the parapalegic turtles... Ameaturs versus pros, and you could see the differences.

The Tippman F/A was demonstrated on the show... not a good thing to advartize when you can't use it in the game.

The Productino company that made the tournaments had to sue ESPN to get air time. I understand that really.... the show sucked. That i'm sure has left a seriously bad taste in espn's mouth... At least they won't be showing paintball, ever.

I've been part of a video production about paintball... even with just a coupple cameras that are ON THE FIELD, you can get great shots, and make things look really good. (we had 3 cameras) What we need is a camera crew to REALLY follow a tournament, and then edit that into a good TV show. Much like watching golf. Or watching F1. You see the important stuff going on.

There's a few problems with that though. who has the cameras available, who has the money for editing time, and who would put it on TV. ESPN isn't going to do it.... *bright idea* Comedy Central Sports...... You've seen how they do battlebots.. Imagnie that treatment for say.. skyball.

[dre1919]

I think the reason paintball isn't on TV is becuase the general public has a big misconception about us. You ask the average person with no knowledge of paintball and they don't even know there's a pro league, have no idea what speedball is, or even fathom the cost of equipment. To them, were a bunch of guys in camo running around the woods playing Rambo. (Not that there's anything wrong with that! ) Anyway, I think the media would have a field day with a sport where we "shoot" each other. I could just see it now...."promotes violence", "glorifies shooting people" or some crap. In reality, ours is one of the safest sports on the planet and doesn't promote violence. It is very exciting and fast paced though, so that could be a problem for commercial breaks! We can only hope one day we'll reach mainstream TV time and people will see our great sport for what it is. Hey, if nothing else, we could always take the time slots afforded soccer!

[Nitroduck]

Um.........

It is on TV , fox sports channel has a weekly show on paintball and tourneys. Its called splatterfactor.

[Havoc_online]

Hmmmm... nice sig pic.....

[dre1919]

gotta update my sig real quick

[TransMan]

dre is exactly right the media is too liberal and think thats any sport that involves guns is horrible it doesnt matter what the rating would be because whatever there were it would be higher than bowling which i saw on ESPN this weekend so thats not a factor its all about the media and politics unless you could find a completly independent station that is willing to broadcast paintball you wont find a whole lot of it on TV anytime soon and FOX is one of the less liberal stations ABC controled Disney is ultra liberal if anyone hasnt noticed yet feel free to flame on any of my ideas

[Patron God of Pirates]

The reason speedball isn't on TV:

It is booring to watch.

Slap the heck out of me if you like, but it is true. Every time I go into a paintball store they are playing some Sup'Air video. The whole time I'm in the store the camera is fixed on the same back player pouring two cases of paint into the same bunker.

Paintballs move two quickly for television (heck we can hardly fallow golf balls). There is no way for a camera to follow a front player around without getting in the way.

The arenas need to be built for television. They need to have cameras mounted on bunkers throughout, and at least two cranes to follow the action up front.

It also needs good editing for instant replays and slow motion tags.

It also needs more legitimate regional teams. At present it is a mercenary sport like motocross. All the marketing potential of pro sports comes from having regional teams with a regional fan base. Then people can start buying Jerseys and players can get Marker contracts.

Until some of that stuff happens, it will just be these guys you don't know vs. those guys you don't know in some tourney you've never heard of. And if the camera work remains the same, the few in players that do watch will just stare and wonder what the heck is going on.

[dre1919]

Originally posted by TransMan
dre is exactly right the media is too liberal and think thats any sport that involves guns is horrible it doesnt matter what the rating would be because whatever there were it would be higher than bowling which i saw on ESPN this weekend so thats not a factor its all about the media and politics unless you could find a completly independent station that is willing to broadcast paintball you wont find a whole lot of it on TV anytime soon and FOX is one of the less liberal stations ABC controled Disney is ultra liberal if anyone hasnt noticed yet feel free to flame on any of my ideas

Thanks man. Yes, the media sucks.

[dre1919]

Yeah, Patron, most of that is very true. The action sequences in "Push" were very well done, but then again, that's a movie production where they have time to edit and alter. TV, even taped, would present a much bigger challenge. I don't think it's impossible or anything, but some skill would have to be involved. I agree, speedball can be boring as hell...maybe they should put music with it like in "Push".

[TransMan]

well in an Arena the could set up cameras like they do for football and basketball and just zoom in on dif players

[Lone Gunman]

Never say paintball is boring! When I was channel surfing I seen the National Spelling Bee on ESPN, for God's sakes a spelling bee! And it wasn't just once, it was on like five freakin times. Now that is boring!

[FrAuStY]

Really they'd only need two boom/crane cameras.. and about 15 sireless lipstick cams. Each player wears a lipstick cam on their mask somewhere so people could see what the player sees. Then the boom cams can get up top and from bird's eye views of people in different bunkers. The refs could wear lipstick cams to get angles from the middle of the field and not be targeted. Then have some stationary cams setup from different angles on bunkers. They'd have to be enclosed in case being hit.. but still.. that would be tight!

[grapejuice12]

A big reason paintball is not tv friendly is spectators don't know what to watch. There is no central ball like hockey, basketball, football where the crowd can follow. Hopefully x-ball will change this.

[FatMan]

There is no reason Paintball can't show very well on TV. BUT - it would take someone willing to invest the money is properly taping, editing, and presenting the material. There needs to be background on the players, file footage of the major stars, slowmo replay of important moves, and during the game commentary by people who know the game,a dn know sports media.

Very hard to get all of that together. Even harder when media execs are liberal and don't want to admit paintball might make a good show.

I think you'd find that most sports TV nuts would be willing to spend an hour on a Sunday afternoon to watch some really well-done play. Whether they enjoy the sport or not.

Think about figure skating. Now I'm sure SOME people actually enjoy watching the competitions. Me, I would MUCH rather watch pro skaters do a program designed to entertain than a bunch of compulsory crap designed for the judges. But there are commentators who describe the moves, talk about the various skaters strengths and weaknesses - and comment on the performance that makes it understandable by almost anyone. We need THAT for paintball!

FatMan