CPTV and UConn WCBB. The future. . .[Merged Thread]

[Husky WBB Fan]

There was an editorial in The New London Day this morning about CPTV going up against 2 other contenders to host WCBB starting next year and the potential downsides if CPTV were not to be selected. Scary to me considering how fan and team knowledgeable and friendly CPTV has been. Yes, there can be some annoying aspects of CPTV, but in the big picture they are relatively minor. How do BYs feel about CPTV and the potential change and should we advocate for a preferred outcome? (I assume we could find an email or mailing address to share our views with UCONN)

 

[Kibitzer]

. . . seems to be in doubt. I invite your attention to Michael DiMauro's column in The Day, reprinted above under the January 11 News thread.

Mike informs readers that there is now competition from two other TV outlets for the rights to broadcast the games of UConn women's basketball next year. He is a strong advocate for CPTV, he makes a persuasive case on their behalf and I, for one, agree with him.

Others may feel differently. Whatever your thoughts, I suggest that the Boneyard is the place -- and this is the time -- to express them. Perhaps we can influence the ultimate decision.

Back to you, Harriet.

 

[Wbbfan1]

I don't live in CT, so I hope the games stay on CPTV.

Who knows how many games I would get to watch if the games were on Fox or SNY. Probably would only get to watch the National Televised games.

One of the advantages of the games being on CPTV is besides us fans that don't live in CT, the player's families and future recruits get to watch all the games if they subscribe to HoopStreams. I suspect most families do subscribe. I don't think SNY or FOX will offer a subscription service since they don't have one now.

 

[Olde Coach]

. . . seems to be in doubt. I invite your attention to Michael DiMauro's column in The Day, reprinted above under the January 11 News thread.

Mike informs readers that there is now competition from two other TV outlets for the rights to broadcast the games of UConn women's basketball next year. He is a strong advocate for CPTV, he makes a persuasive case on their behalf and I, for one, agree with him.

Others may feel differently. Whatever your thoughts, I suggest that the Boneyard is the place -- and this is the time -- to express them. Perhaps we can influence the ultimate decision.

Back to you, Harriet.

Three BIG CHEERS for Mike DeMauro.

And three more BIG CHEERS for CPTV.

Mike is dead on target when he warns that SNY would likely have little feeling and even less knowledge for the history of UCWBB -- and certainly would lack the heart and the love and the caring that CPTV has for the whole UConn Women's Basketball experience.

The MONEY that might be gained with a new provider is NOT worth the LOVE and loyalty that will be lost.

I will write the President and the AD and share my thoughts.

P.S. HOOPSTREAMS is a very big deal for me, and countless other UConn fans who live out of state and often out of country. I greatly appreciate that all the CPTV games are archived, and the Geno Shows, too.

 

[semper]

It would be AWFUL to lose CPTV. For those of us loyal fans who live far away, CPTV is our lifeline. Without it, frankly, you would lose us. We just couldn't keep up, not being able to watch game in game out. Meg and Bob, hey, they are just great, too.

 

[pinotbear]

Does anybody know if it would be possible for CPTV to sell regular advertising, instead of devoting large chunks of time to fund-raising? My only complaint with CPTV is that their fundraising can eat up so much time.

 

[Cafe Poliziano]

I'm all on with CPTV! It would be an absolute disgrace if our publicly funded university's sports teams were taken off the public air waves, I for one don't throw money away on cable or dish services. Give yourself a $1200.00 a year boost to the savings account or vacation budget, stick with CPTV its money in your pocket !!

 

[jdubct]

CPTV has been a loyal supporter/broadcaster of Uconn women's basketball for 16 years. In that time they have helped foster fan interest and program growth. The station has continued to pay high fees despite the drawing off of higher rating games (and higher pledge potential income) to national broadcast organizations. While Uconn may follow the trend to seek higher broadcast fees elsewhere, it seems to me that if CPTV bids close enough to the other competitive bids, they should be chosen based on loyalty. Otherwise, it seems to me that the award of rights would follow the greed trail similar to to conference switching now occurring to maximize football tv broadcast fees.

 

[Olde Coach]

Does anybody know if it would be possible for CPTV to sell regular advertising, instead of devoting large chunks of time to fund-raising? My only complaint with CPTV is that their fundraising can eat up so much time.

The regular advertising won't be any more interesting to watch (or listen to) than the fund raising. Either way I use my mute button.

CPTV covers every minute of play on the court. They restrict the fund raising to time-outs and half-time. More advertisers might impinge on play time.

CPTV already has paid advertisers -- BIGY, Car Dealers, Banks etc. They do not produce enough revenue to cover all the costs.

 

[PacoSwede]

Does anybody know if it would be possible for CPTV to sell regular advertising, instead of devoting large chunks of time to fund-raising? My only complaint with CPTV is that their fundraising can eat up so much time.

Paid advertising would NOT eat up time?

 

[Cafe Poliziano]

Does anybody know if it would be possible for CPTV to sell regular advertising, instead of devoting large chunks of time to fund-raising? My only complaint with CP
TV is that their fundraising can eat up so much time.

Then it would be commercial TV, the whole idea is of public broadcasting is to be commercial free TV with a higher level of programing. Heck on cable and dish you not only have to pay for your TV but then have to sit through 13 minutes per half hour on commercials , thats 26 minutes per hour of viewing watching commercials, talk about devoting large chunks of time... just sayin

 

[pppggg]

Money talks, especially in today's tough economic times. IMO, UCON goes with the best financial deal.

 

[alexrgct]

I don't live in CT, so I hope the games stay on CPTV.

Who knows how many games I would get to watch if the games were on Fox or SNY. Probably would only get to watch the National Televised games.

One of the advantages of the games being on CPTV is besides us fans that don't live in CT, the player's families and future recruits get to watch all the games if they subscribe to HoopStreams. I suspect most families do subscribe. I don't think SNY or FOX will offer a subscription service since they don't have one now.

On the men's side, any games that are distributed via SNY are available on ESPN3 as well. I have to assume there will be some sort of streaming option for out-of-region fans. It's good for the brand and as you indicated, critical for recruiting purposes that families are able to watch their daughters play.

 

[pinotbear]

Paid advertising would NOT eat up time?

that's not what I said: I said that it eats up "so much time". It's a comparative, not an absolute.

I'll be the first to admit, I haven't gotten a stopwatch out and timed things to the second, but my perception is that commercial advertising takes up less time than CPTV's fundraising. That's all I'm talking about, folks. I'm not trashing CPTV (I have donated to them), I'm merely asking if there is a way that less time can be taken from the game - and, yes, O.C., in my now 15 years+ of watching CPTV, there have been instances where they've missed game time while fundraising.

 

[alexrgct]

As far as the general premise of the thread, the question is whether this is a business decision or a moral decision. To me, the right thing to do is to contnue on with a partner that has done everything they can to promote and support the program. They forged a partnership that was unprecedented for a WBB program, stuck through the relative lean years, happily broadcast the worst matchups, and I imagine would be more loathe to drop the program in the future than one of the big boys. If you go with the other guys as a business decision, they might make a pure business decision to dump you if the program ever hits a rough patch.

There's a lot one can bitch about with the begging for pledges, the broadcast, etc., but it's a product that's clearly a labor of love and clearly more than just a pure business relationship. Would I watch on another channel? Of course. But I hope that's not what I end up having to do.

 

[Husky WBB Fan]

I think a key aspect is that CPTV presents a full package for each game - - it is the full experience, both pre-game and the full game live. I worry that with an alternate provider the Geno show is gone and that during a game, there is movement to cut-into other games that might have "higher interest" because they are more competitive. And who knows when the game would be broadcast if a provider had conflicting obligations. Interviews with coaches and players would seem far less important to an alternate provider. And the folksy inside stories of people and UCONN history (although admittedly some of it can be kind of trite, but it is the program...) would disappear and the game broadcast would be no different than any other college game on ESPN or another provider, with the play-by-play and color commentary by whoever was on duty for that night. I think the product and the Husky magic diminish without CPTV. It is THE UCONN family and CPTV is part of the glue that keeps that all together (along with Rich E, John A, the BY, etc.)

 

[Wbbfan1]

Depending on what happens in the elections its possible that Public Broadcasting may be forced to showing paid commercials. There are many in congress who are in favor of reducing the amount of public moneys that are spent to subsidize NPR. The reduction of funds will eventually happen because of the deficit spending and public debt, so CPTV might as well start to solicit more advertisers and see if they can recoup most of the production costs from advertisers. Use the funding appeals to offset any deficits and to help with their other programming that won't be able to draw advertising dollars.

If they go with more advertisers and the funding appeals, they probably can match any offer that FOX or SNY submit. I would think if that happens UConn will stay with CPTV out of loyalty.

 

[Ruffian75]

CPTV has been a god send for many years.

If Fox or SNY are seriously going to bid on the package, I am sure they know it will cost them $1 million a year. The present deal which is up at the end of the season was 4 years for $3.6 million. At some point it should come down to UConn, the beneficiary, bending a little and maybe charging CPTV a little less as a thank you for the revenue they have generated for the program since 1994.

Because of dwindling attendance and CPTV pledges, it is also up to UConn to promote a product that seems to be generating less revenue every year. They do nothing in that respect which in turn does not help their greatest benefactor over the years, CPTV.

To me, it won't matter as long as I can see the games. SNY is part of my regular TV package and does not require purchasing the sports package.

 

[NCorBust]

Mike is dead on target when he warns that SNY would likely have little feeling and even less
P.S. HOOPSTREAMS is a very big deal for me, and countless other UConn fans who live out of state and often out of country. I greatly appreciate that all the CPTV games are archived, and the Geno Shows, too.

Amen!!!!!!!!!!

 

[NCorBust]

Does anybody know if it would be possible for CPTV to sell regular advertising, instead of devoting large chunks of time to fund-raising? My only complaint with CPTV is that their fundraising can eat up so much time.

How does it eat up more time than advertising would? Isn't the time slot approximately the same length? Would halftime be any different in length? Before and after the game it may be longer but I doubt if during the game it would be that much different. Just mute it and multitask until the game is on. As an out of state fan, just seeing game is worth all the fundrising they want to do. I even contribute over and above the subsciption fee so they don't stop transmiting the game over the Internet.

 

[NCorBust]

CPTV has been a loyal supporter/broadcaster of Uconn women's basketball for 16 years. In that time they have helped foster fan interest and program growth. The station has continued to pay high fees despite the drawing off of higher rating games (and higher pledge potential income) to national broadcast organizations. While Uconn may follow the trend to seek higher broadcast fees elsewhere, it seems to me that if CPTV bids close enough to the other competitive bids, they should be chosen based on loyalty. Otherwise, it seems to me that the award of rights would follow the greed trail similar to to conference switching now occurring to maximize football tv broadcast fees.

Then the bid decision had better not be based on "low bid" only. It needs to be based on over all quality of the bid. If it is based on "low bid" only then loyalty won't matter a wit.

 

[jsloanjr]

CPTV has had a very captive market for many years and now UCONN will renegotiate the deal for the best interest for UCONN. UCONN can demand Hoop stream, The Geno Show and all the other shows on WCBB at UCONN with the new carrier...... The cost of HD TV is getting too expensive for CPTV until current rules of PB........Lets see if they can get some relief from the PB folks to allow new revenue from AD $$$$......I wish CPTV the best,

 

[vtcwbuff]

The games will go to the highest bidder the same way that season tickets went to the highest bidder as the team gained in popularity. UConn gave no consideration to loyalty then so why would this be any different. It's all about the money.

I don't understand thse that complain about fundraising on CPTV - you're not forced to watch and you have lots of options. Read a book, have a conversation, change the channel, DVR and fast forward . Just remember what else is lost if CPTV doesn't cover the games. No more post game interviews, Geno shows, reruns, specials, senior night coverage etc.

 

[pinotbear]

How does it eat up more time than advertising would? Isn't the time slot approximately the same length? Would halftime be any different in length? Before and after the game it may be longer but I doubt if during the game it would be that much different. Just mute it and multitask until the game is on. As an out of state fan, just seeing game is worth all the fundrising they want to do. I even contribute over and above the subsciption fee so they don't stop transmiting the game over the Internet.

Certainly the game time perameters(sp?) are the same. At halftime on non-CPTV broadcasts, you get some game-related commentary: it may be banal, but, to me, it beats an entire halftime devoted to fundraising. And, you're assuming that the fundraising ends promptly during halftime and time-outs. My recollection says, usually, but not always.

Again, folks, I'm not trying to turn this into a trash-CPTV screed. I've watched 'em for years, I've donated, I happen to like Megan C. commentary. I'm just asking if there's a way to sell ads, or generate revenue, so that ..going back to my original comment, not "so much time" is devoted to fundraising. And, not to shatter anybody's faith, but altruism isn't CPTV's sole motivation here. Yes, they pay a lot of money for these broadcast rights. They do it because, historically, it more than paid for itself. Broadcasting UConn Women's basketball has been a profitable venture for them.

 

[oneresult]

SNY is on DirecTv at NO CHARGE.. so no hoop streams needed.. USA coverage,not 100% sure but I think in HD..