What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

Flosports deal with new WCHA a disaster for fans

Re: Flosports deal with new WCHA a disaster for fans

chickod said:
I can understand both opinions. But I have to say, as one who remembers sitting in my dorm room huddled next to a transistor radio trying to hear the broadcast of the NCAA tournament (which was like trying to tune in a radio station from Finland), I have to take the view that being able to see the game is better than nothing. Yes, the production could be better. What's REALLY annoying is the schools that just take the scoreboard feed, and what's even worse is how the production literally ends about 1.5 seconds after the clock goes to zero. But it's still better than not being able to watch the game at all.
Click to expand...

Then the price should reflect that. You didn't have to pay for that ****ty radio broadcast.
 
Re: Flosports deal with new WCHA a disaster for fans

bigblue_dl said:
That is why I added the "that don't know what they're doing". If a program can have a student broadcast team, and still put out a professional looking product, more power to them. But it should not be an excuse for a ****ty product. People are paying for that product, and those paying customers, at $30 per month, are paying for a professional product.
Click to expand...
I get you, but you missed the part where I said everybody else's broadcast is pretty amateurish. It's not as enjoyable watching UNO's hack broadcast, but I get that it's built into the price as the NCHC is getting the streaming service off the ground.

Also, what's the alternative? It's unreasonable to assume that all of the schools will improve (or in some cases create from scratch) elite broadcast journalism schools for the sake of the hockey team's video needs. Therefore, you'd have to expect the conference to invest revenue into the creation of a professional sports broadcast production company. That would be an insanely expensive proposition for which the current streaming revenue doesn't even come close to covering. It's a bit of a chicken and egg scenario: Invest money and hope to get more subscribers, or get more subscribers in order to generate more revenue in which to invest in a better production?
 
Re: Flosports deal with new WCHA a disaster for fans

When compared to other TV/Sports entertainment options out there, WCHA TV customers are paying for a Ferrari, and getting a 15 year old Kia.

FloHockey - $30/month
Netflix ~ $16/month
HBO ~ $15/month
Fox Sports Regional Networks ~ $8/month
ESPN+ ~ $5/month
Hulu ~ $10/month
 
Re: Flosports deal with new WCHA a disaster for fans

The Exiled One said:
I get you, but you missed the part where I said everybody else's broadcast is pretty amateurish. It's not as enjoyable watching UNO's hack broadcast, but I get that it's built into the price as the NCHC is getting the streaming service off the ground.

Also, what's the alternative? It's unreasonable to assume that all of the schools will improve (or in some cases create from scratch) elite broadcast journalism schools for the sake of the hockey team's video needs. Therefore, you'd have to expect the conference to invest revenue into the creation of a professional sports broadcast production company. That would be an insanely expensive proposition for which the current streaming revenue doesn't even come close to covering. It's a bit of a chicken and egg scenario: Invest money and hope to get more subscribers, or get more subscribers in order to generate more revenue in which to invest in a better production?
Click to expand...

If there is no interest in improving quality, then the price needs to come down.
 
Re: Flosports deal with new WCHA a disaster for fans

bigblue_dl said:
If there is no interest in improving quality, then the price needs to come down.
Click to expand...

I won't disagree with you there. Like I said, the $99 annual rate for NCHC.tv seems reasonable to me, even if it means they lose a little money while they ramp up subscriptions. It'd make sense for WCHA to follow suit.
 
Re: Flosports deal with new WCHA a disaster for fans

UNH fan here and I agree with the sentiments on the thread. Hockey East has the same "deal" for $30 a month and I wish they had some sort of package for less for the HE tourney for single games or at least one for just the weekend instead of paying for a whole month.
 
chickod said:
I can understand both opinions. But I have to say, as one who remembers sitting in my dorm room huddled next to a transistor radio trying to hear the broadcast of the NCAA tournament (which was like trying to tune in a radio station from Finland), I have to take the view that being able to see the game is better than nothing. Yes, the production could be better. What's REALLY annoying is the schools that just take the scoreboard feed, and what's even worse is how the production literally ends about 1.5 seconds after the clock goes to zero. But it's still better than not being able to watch the game at all.
Click to expand...

My next best option was to listen to an online radio feed that sometimes didn’t work while following on barely updated gametrackers and Twitter. The fact that I can now see nearly every Lake State game is amazing to me. The only complaints I have is that LSSU doesn’t put powerplays in its graphics at home, and the main camera at Taffy Abel is a little off center but not badly.
 
Re: Flosports deal with new WCHA a disaster for fans

lakersparty said:
My next best option was to listen to an online radio feed that sometimes didn’t work while following on barely updated gametrackers and Twitter. The fact that I can now see nearly every Lake State game is amazing to me. The only complaints I have is that LSSU doesn’t put powerplays in its graphics at home, and the main camera at Taffy Abel is a little off center but not badly.
Click to expand...

Curious what ESPN+ offered the ECAC to broadcast all their games. Anyone know?
 
I though Flohockey's subscription got you *all* their other hockey. So not only are we getting WCHA.tv, but also NCHC games, B1G Mistake games, Hockey East, junior teams, whoever else they have. But, as a WCHA fan, I dont really have interest in the rest of the product.



What kept me from signing up is the secrecy of their plans and coverage. The only way to see what they have is to start to sign up. Nothing else anywhere on their website breaking down the plans.

No thank you.
 
Re: Flosports deal with new WCHA a disaster for fans

bigblue_dl said:
If there is no interest in improving quality, then the price needs to come down.
Click to expand...



Flo can't fix stupid.. It all starts with the poorly trained and led staff of each school.....call them I have Brad at BSU blew me off with....." It’s always going to be a bit home-heavy as the bulk of the fans are BSU fans."
 
Re: Flosports deal with new WCHA a disaster for fans

As I understand it, the league has jumped in with Flo and is arguing that the wider bundle justifies the price. I disagree. I stated my case to the league when that came out. The previous folks may not have been very good in terms of providing the product consistently, but the variety of products (team-only, road-only, league-wide, playoffs-only) was pretty great. From a flexibility point, it's a step back.

From a price competitiveness point, it's also a step back. Yes, NCHC.tv and ECAC.tv are lots cheaper, but they aren't offering as much (stuff I don't care about at all)! Starting a $10/mo subscription on Friday and canceling it on Sunday (unless you get lucky and play two road series against teams from the same league in the same calendar month) isn't terribly onerous, but $30 is pretty **** steep.

I guess that it's probably a revenue generator for a league who 1) doesn't have a lot of revenue generation from member teams and 2) share a corporate structure with a women's league that loses money because of the inequities in how women's collegiate (non-basketball) sports are supported.

I do expect that the pricing may change for next year. Be honest with and respectful to the league should you choose to bring it up. Don't expect it for free. Don't expect it for $1/mo. Look at what's out there and make that argument.

Lastly, understand the pricing structure of bundling. I bet Flo knows that the only games that I watched this year on their service were with my alma mater. They got a lot of money from me for just that handful of games (compared to their total operations). I'm certain that this is a fairly standard profile. The marginal cost of one user streaming something isn't that big, especially as you've lost PIP/multiple simultaneous streams with this provider — if you want to watch all five league games on a busy weekend, you're watching at least two of them on delay, when the cost to serve that stream is pretty low.

It's overpriced. The quality of member schools' production is uneven. (Mankato has a great production but terrible announcers.) I keep wanting to get super-mad about it, but 15 years ago I couldn't see road games at all unless I traveled.

GFM
 
Re: Flosports deal with new WCHA a disaster for fans

I look at it differently. I watch a lot of games so my price per game was low but.... it's a good revenue generator to a league who desperately needs funds. As long as that is the situation i'm for keeping the price as it is and working with individual teams to up their quality. I'm unwilling to give up a single dollar the league needs at this point. Maybe if somehow there is a way to get some more funds in, then sure. Say like spinning off the women's league.
 
Re: Flosports deal with new WCHA a disaster for fans

It's overpriced. The quality of member schools' production is uneven. (Mankato has a great production but terrible announcers.) I keep wanting to get super-mad about it, but 15 years ago I couldn't see road games at all unless I traveled.

GFM
Click to expand...

BG uses the students in the WBGU program in the RTVF school, or whatever they call the college now.

So it is what it is and whether or not its good or bad will depend on whom they have chosen to do the games for a particular school year.

Some of the students know hockey better than others. They have had some really good play by play guys who have gone on to work for Pro teams or become an icon like Doc Emrik has.
The analyst position has been more hit or miss, some students know the game well and have done a good job, some not so much and their lack of true hockey knowledge shows through in the words and phrases they use.
It's not going to change at BGSU and I know its the same structure at some of the other schools.

It is what it is and like GFMorris said, its better than just having the radio. At least I can see the game......
 
Re: Flosports deal with new WCHA a disaster for fans

Alaska Hockey said:
Flo can't fix stupid.. It all starts with the poorly trained and led staff of each school.....call them I have Brad at BSU blew me off with....." It’s always going to be a bit home-heavy as the bulk of the fans are BSU fans."
Click to expand...

UAtta Boy BSU fixed the 12/16/18 replay when didn't have the UAA OT GWG on film and bad mouthed when we scored to tie. ....... so they fixed it with the OT GWG but added music overplayed so loud can't hear the hicks chirp........that is real bush league .....Flo can't fix that crap........
 
bravohankins said:
BG uses the students in the WBGU program in the RTVF school, or whatever they call the college now.

So it is what it is and whether or not its good or bad will depend on whom they have chosen to do the games for a particular school year.

Some of the students know hockey better than others. They have had some really good play by play guys who have gone on to work for Pro teams or become an icon like Doc Emrik has.
The analyst position has been more hit or miss, some students know the game well and have done a good job, some not so much and their lack of true hockey knowledge shows through in the words and phrases they use.
It's not going to change at BGSU and I know its the same structure at some of the other schools.

It is what it is and like GFMorris said, its better than just having the radio. At least I can see the game......
Click to expand...
Whoever produces the highlight videos needs a stick upside the head. Only showing the low camera angle from beside the net doesn't really show much of a "highlight."
 
Re: Flosports deal with new WCHA a disaster for fans

bravohankins said:
The analyst position has been more hit or miss, some students know the game well and have done a good job, some not so much and their lack of true hockey knowledge shows through in the words and phrases they use.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I was wondering when they took a slapshot from the blue line and the call was "Ohh he shoots it from way downtown...BANG! Nothing but net!"

Flo Sports has hired this budding star to do road games next year.
https://youtu.be/W45DRy7M1no?t=120
:D
 
Re: Flosports deal with new WCHA a disaster for fans

At least UAH's new PBP guy is better than the old one.

GFM
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top