ASP Selling World Tour Webcast Rights
Sweeping changes to surfing's World Tour appear imminent upon news the ASP is preparing to sell its global media rights. In 2007 the ASP ceded full control of media rights, including the production of event webcasts to its licensees. It's been hampered by a piecemeal approach to webcasting since.
Swellnet has learned through an anonymous source that the ASP has been in negotiations with a global media company and will soon wrest the webcast rights back from licensees to be run by the new company.
World Tour webcasts have proven to be a powerful marketing tool and many observers believed the licensees wouldn't give them up easily. However Swellnet has been told that ASP licensees are now at the stage where they believe it's in their best interests to hand over control of the webcasts.
For one, it would reduce expenditure for the licensees - each webcast production costs a minimum of $250,000. Secondly, there's an understanding that webcast reach has plateaued and can only expand further with the assistance of an established global network.
The project can only work if the new company acquires the rights to each WT tour stop, and it's believed that they will. What this will mean for viewers is a uniform webcast package between events: commentators, webcast technology, and presentation, would, for the first time, be consistent at every event.
Swellnet understands that this isn't an umbrella sponsor, although it has the potential to generate huge income for the ASP.
The ASP has no official comment at this stage.
We'll have more developments as they come.
Comments
Could this mean the revival of the ASP Dream Tour DVD that ended in 2007?
Hopefully the company gets full access to WT archives. Imagine dialling up every single Slater v Irons heat or every Parko v Mick heat just like that. Or having access to proper stats across all WT's and not just those sponsored by BIlly, Quik etc
Here's hoping that Chris Cote gets the main anchor role - I think I'm speaking for all sports fans when I say that he was GREAT in Fijeee.
Seriously though, if the ASP wants to save itself from irrelevant oblivion, this is its best (and last) chance.
@whaaaat; And here I was just thinking I hope Chris Cote, Joe Turpel and GT aren't in the mix for a presenter's gig.
Perhaps BR and his cronies should read this article
Instead of giving Steve Shearer a pummeling over there on Twitter
In: Pottz, Ronnie Blakey, Doherty, Joe Turpel.
Out: Luke Egan, Stansfield, Occy, GT.
Shoeshine Boy: Chris Cote
Congrats' to the ASP negotiators though I think world economic climate must in part be why the Big 3 would hand over the rights now. Just earlier this year Neil Ridgway intimated that it would never happen and all the technological advances were due to competition between the companies.
Give Bruce Lee a Gig
Frankly, for sheer listening pleasure, it should be the Outsider and the Wascally Wabbit in the booth, with in-the-channel comments and general contra- everything by Tyler. Stu as producer. We're talkin' Dreamteam, peeps.
...and Sid the Fish as the stats man? He's got a head for numbers.
But yeah, friction in the booth, everybody loves it when Bill Lawry and Tony Greig go head-to-head so we'll use that as the template.
Just as long as Turdpail doesnt get a gig... Top to Bottom Bells.. you must be his only fan...
How reliable is the source? That's somewhat big news for the asp.
If the source is genuine, it almost seems like they're trying to derail any negotiations. I can't imagine this big media company would be pleased that any headline grabbing announcement has been scooped.
Or are they behind it trying to pressure the asp...?
So many questions!
Anchorman: The Legend of Dave Wassel
And he can't wear a shirt all year. Not at Bells or J'Bay or nothing. He has to call the comps bare chested.
the HOFF, J.Aker and the BIG MARN .
also, they should have pit lane type girls with silicon valleys, up on the dias to parade the score of each wave on cardboard hold ups...
... just for Cori Schumacher.
Hal-lay-loo-jah!
Not for the silicon valley girls although they get a cheer, but because this is exactly what the ASP needs. Like AFL, Rugby, NBL, even Nascar, the coin comes from the broadcast. I just hope the ASP makes enough coin so they aren't pushed around by the Big 3. Maybe they'll even get to the point where they can choose locations.
Another one - Brad Gerlach: thought he was great at the World Juniors a couple of years ago. Great independent commentary when Mitch Crews controversially beaten in his semi (I think).
GREAT NEWS as long as C. Cote is out!
Howard Cosell type broadcaster - would be preferable.
It will be interesting to see this develop into a long needed sport oriented broadcast venue.
Professional Surfing deserves a place right up there with the NFL and the NBA.
Soccer(football for the rest of the world, and rugby? - not so much)
what will this mean for Fuel TV's coverage?
except when they cross to the UFC thugfest (prelims no less!) if you have cable then for me it is far superior to intertube coverage.
The old hypocritical Hollywood handbag, that bunny eared Rottkamp has been proven wrong again.
With news like this, it is quite clear that competitive webcasted surfing will not only NOT end in the next ten years. It will not end in our lifetimes!
It only gets bigger from here.
Good job, Stu. Great job Stiv Shearer.
Wow! Write all this based on an "ANONYMOUS SOURCE."
Bwawahahahahahaha!
Key word, rottkamp. you Hollywood handbag...
Selling.
As in capitalizing on the rights to broadcast ASP surfing contests?
Now lets move forward. And speculate on who is it that will choose to forkover large piles of funds in order to lease these rights to broadcast....
RedBull.... Redbull TV?.... you know that same massively profitable corporation that sponno's all sorts of professional surfers..
In light of the rumors, would you like to revise your wrongheaded prediction that professional contestable surfing ends in the next ten years. To something with a much longer shelf life? Something on the order of quadruple that?
Or are you going to continue to roll forever with your foot in your piehole. And my boot up your arse. ;-)
Hooyou!
I predict that if and when this new deal goes down, and one company builds a uniform platform for all of the different comps, many of us, including that small group of continual neggies who have been running the hate, will long for the days when these events were covered by differing teams of webcasters and or commentators.
Yup. all you oldies will still be longing for the good old days.
Whether this comes true or not, with all of the shitehouse news out of Europe over the solvency of Greece, Spain, Portugal, and or Italy,...
one thing is imminent.
Today, Germany will be kicked out of the Euro.
relax rolls, benny@the Fed is gunna pump up the ponzi tyres for the whole world.
no one is on the hook for Europe more than them too big to fail banks in the good ol' yoonited states.
that's 90 trillion worth, with a T .
:)
steady now, sids-o.
the ball went straight thru your wickets, mate....
It is now a fact. Germany got the boot....
by Italy from the Euro 2012.
ah, I see said the blind man, you're talking wog-ball
either way, me statement stands.
rolls, do yersef a favour and watch a proper game of footy...
next wednsday nite, QLD vs NSW, state of origin decider.
Faaaaarking Jeebus, what a snotty ball of constipated misery!!!
Be sure to let us know when you're happy, woncha?
Apparently even when he does break an exclusive story, Stu is STILL not doing his job properly.
Barton Lynch is good on the mike. No one else springs to mind that i actually recognize...
It would be good hearing Richie B call a score of 2.22 though.
Or hearing him say a '2 second tube'.
hahaha! That would be awesome.
A tyoo second tyoob at chyopoo
yea Sids, footie is bad ass.
watched many an AFL match on the tele. and that Grand Final the year before last was a classic... you know, that Grand Final between the Pies and the Saints which ended up in a kiss your sister, tie game?
dig that the AFL rules stated, when that happens we all get together the next weekend and do the whole Grand Final thing all over again. great for ticket and concession sales. as well as advert revenues....
as to nations with heaps of debt obligations, the fact that the current admin has added an extra trillion bones on to the US debt pile aside,.... who the fig ever looks at only ONE side of a balance sheet?
when analyzing such things, never forget to include the ASSET side of the balance sheet as well, mate.
on a surfing secondary note, one could never do better than having Jake Patterson, and whoever else is in the commentary box with him.
http://www.telstradrugawarepro.com/videos/heats-on-demand/day-5/telstra-...
Roller,
Red Bull provided the webcast for the Volcom Fiji Pro. They were always known as a company who ran promotional stuff that no-one else could or did. That tactic has changed recently and they've been moving into trad areas. My money is on them.
I was thinking sarge and hoyo, they would have so may stories between the ample sets in the 2 man heats. but we'll probably end up with rick ardon and some ex-basketballer...remember the margaret river pro telecasts of the 80s?
Big scoop Stu. It all reeks of mainstream. You are not joining in on this thread?
"Perhaps BR and his cronies should read this article
Instead of giving Steve Shearer a pummeling over there on Twitter."
That actually made me laugh out loud surfer joe. :-)
Taking a pummelling from BR on Twitter .................
Makes being flogged with a piece of wet lettuce look like capital punishment!
Oh, don't hurt me on Twitter now BR, oh no, ouch, oooh, you're so BIG!
Farkin hilarious
Nice work Stu, you're starting to look like a journalist.
Whether it's true or not, it should be. It's about the only business model I can see that would work
@Smeeagain,
I'm watching from the shadows. Don't mean to be all sneaky like but it's not good form for me to be speculating on this story. As for mainstream: well, it's the only way it can go, isn't it? Professional sport aims to reach the maximum eyeballs possible. Just hope the hosts aren't reduced to iron-free blazers and cheap cross-promotion.
Nice one B&F, though all that talk of journalism is liable to see me getting a pummelling on Twitter too. Oh no...
Am i spot on?
Or am I spot on?
Does not Redbull clearly have a highly profitable product? ... Which in turn provids themmassive heaps of crumbs to diversify and build a very sweet tv/MOD CASTbusiness?
What eles would the folks running a biz such as Redbull tele need to lease but more CONTENT?
Remember, well after our top shelf Stu brah's excellent article here speculating on the subject. I'm second... With the call most likely it's to be RedbullTV.
Or a partnership of some sort.
Shoots, didn't the folks at Volcom/PPR just get done presenting the top shelf webcast from Fiji? One that more than included a bit of everything surfing?
So, no matter what a highly neggie. Bunny eared. Schizo. May twatter on about...
Doesn't surfing. In all of it's forms. Collectively have nowhere to go but up from here? Get 'ya some.
I reckon there's a good chance you're close to the mark Roller.
If we take it as Given that its RedBull , and they haven't lost a Fortune in Europes dive with the Euro dominated flying races ? Then could we bunk up in the Comm. Box , Red Bull Rider Ry Craik & Perhaps Phil Macca . They could have the full Ocker Off , with undescribable Aussie Drawl , that requires Subtitles . With Special comments , impromptu Karaoke performances and Translations from OCCY .
Special Mention to Jake Patto who has a good Mix of Verbal reportoire , and maintain that if they do get involved that JOB gets no where near the Microphone ( Please ) .
@southey,
Ha!... excellent post!
Now, what's if it's not Redbull. But The Disney Company/ESPN?
Roller , i fear not cast that Thought .
Disney / ESPN , is most likely going to Produce some Blokes most Australians won't know or want to ......
And more than likely someone ( atleast one ) that will make JOB sound shy and retiring .
Stu,
My point was always that if ASP wanted the bucks it needed mainstream viewing/media/sponsors.
It would be great if the crowd situations at all our local breaks was back to the "good old days" but it isn't going to happen.
I hope the sale of the media rights means a return to the "Dream Tour" or an improvement on it. Do some of the B events at city locations but lets see the best surfers in the world surfing the best waves in the world for the world title.
@ Batfink
And it is a hilarious to read the tweets of Comedy Duo Rottie and his Chief Chihuahua (as Steve calls him)V for Vanguard... alias Big Wave Benny... they yap around Steves Heels like a pair of hyenas... it really is a laugh...
"V for Vanguard"
Global Village Idiot.
Hah... True that, HH.
And, for all the perma neggies,
"The Price is right, bitches".
Getting to know Big Wave Benny...
He's a passionate fella is V Vanguard Ben, apart from his wild claim on Twitter that surfing mega Cloudbreak was "easy" and he would go, hence the name Big Wave Benny, he is unrelenting in his rails against the "Cartel" ... the "Industry" ..
Good Friend of the Wascally Wabbit, in fact the only one of his ilk on Twitter that has met him, and knows BR's real identity.
Ben has had quite a bit to say on Twitter today, I think he gets bored with his day job... Waste Waste Engineer in Morro Bay San Luis Obispo County, California, Is that right Ben?
The latest news from the ASP? According to Dave Prodan, ASP Media Director, "The ASP has nothing scheduled to be announced at the US Open."
I questioned Dave about this today following rumours that an official announcement would be made at the US Open (beginning July 30th). However, the next ASP board meeting will be run in conjunction with the US Open.
So we wait...
After a couple of months of rumours and speculation, the ASP has finally release a public statement. It appears the media rights - including that of the webcast - will be managed by ZoSea Media, a company owned by Terry Hardy (Kelly Slater's manager).
As announced in France just a few hours ago:
"Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) International has entered into a Term Sheet with ZoSea Media (founded by Paul Speaker and Terry Hardy) designed to enhance the organizational structure of the sport as well as the direction of professional surfing in the coming years. This measure enjoys the comprehensive support of surfers, events, staff and ASP Board Members."
Here's the complete media release: http://www.swellnet.com.au/news/3223-asp-international-and-zosea-media-a...
And thus begins Pro Surfing's grown-up phase....
... and this from Fearless Fred
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/pro-surfing-signs-new-media-deal/s...
I was wrong.
Since "the industry" has holes in its pockets. Which allowed all of their crumbs to slip thru...
It's not Disney Inc... It's Time Warner!
"Sweeping changes"? ....
Bring on the brooms.
http://www.timeinc.com/aboutus/ourcompanies.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Warner
http://www.surfermag.com/features/asps-new-deal/
Terry Hardy, Slater's manager and Paul Speaker, BOD Quiksilver...not going to hear too much negative publicity about RKS from ZoSea I reckon.
But the ASP has never seemed to have an issue with conflict of interest in the past, why change now?
Why don't they stop just beating around the bush and come out and say "Kelly now runs the tour".
Tyler, a theoretical question for you. Do you think it'd be possible to find someone suitable for the job who wasn't already involved with a surfing company in some way? And therefore unlikely to be tagged as having a 'conflict of interest'?
For what its worth, I reckon if a non-surfer (or at least someone unknown outside of the surfing world) stepped up to the plate, there'd be equal howls of protest.
Totally agree Ben, if it was a non-endemic coming in and taking over the tour rights there would be more than a few protests about its new direction etc. al a Laura Inman and Billabong.
Swellnet or Coastalwatch, provided either of you do not already sponsor professional surfers, which as far as I'm aware you don't.
ESPN, Fuel TV, Foxsports/Sky...at least all these companies actually own cameras
Tim Baker has written a good article on the deal. Doesn't answer the questions above but addresses a few other pertinent points. Worth a read:
http://bytimbaker.tumblr.com/post/33054943195/my-take-on-the-new-asp-zos...
It's not about owning cameras TD.
Besides, are you aware of the enormous amount of money involved in setting this up? It's not like Terry and Paul are proposing to allocate an hour or two each week towards this. They're putting up the bucks to get this done. And if they're reportedly picking up a ~$2million slack from each event, then with 11 events in total that's $22 million on the line.
As for ESPN/FoxSports etc - they are merely broadcasters (and, it's fair to say that they may still be involved in this new arrangement).
The actual press release stated that the arrangement was "designed to enhance the organizational structure of the sport as well as the direction of professional surfing in the coming years". TV broadcasters have no interest in this aspect.
ESPN were very instrumental in the abortive Rebel Tour attempt. Fair guess it will be bidding for product this time around.
The critical question that remains to be answered is how well the pro surfers can reorganise themselves to take advantage of the new order - will they be players at the negotiating table or just played?
Solidarity Forever, Comrades.
When Kelly Slater says "Do it this way or I'll sack you as my manager", what do you think Terry Hardy will say?
Traditionally, when a sporting organisation sells it's media rights they sell them to a company that owns a TV station.
The company, or an arm of it, also owns the cameras/hardware and has a production team and commentators.
I read Tim's article a day or so ago and he doesn't really provide too many answers, moreover he seems to be scratching his head as to what ZoSea are actually going to do.
When a company takes over the media rights it frequently gets involved in the planning/scheduling in order to maximise viewers and it turn advertising revenue. No doubt ZoSea are going to do the same at some point.
However, ZoSea also have a participating high profile competitor to consider, and many others sponsored by Quiksilver.
ZoSea's priorities are 1.Hardy/Speaker, 2. Kelly Slater, 3. Quiksilver 4. Everybody else, in that order
When has it ever been inferred that Kelly would say that to Terry?
And irrespective of that.. what has Kelly got to gain?
I'm not saying Kelly would or has said that to Terry Hardy, I'm saying what if he did. Terry would be conflicted because if he said no to Kelly in the best interests of ZoSea then he might lose some personal income as a result of being sacked as Kelly's manager.
That's what conflict of interest is all about...potential.
I'll do what my teachers did to me Ben and let you answer your own question, you'll gain more from the exercise.
If you're having trouble I'll help you out after I get back from my surf
Well, if you want to get into 'what if' scenarios, we could be here for a very long time.
Or very short. Say, for example, when ZoSea are running things Quiksilver decide they want to sponsor the most popular comp when currently they don't (who wouldn't?).
Terry Hardy says no can do, Billabong have been sponsoring that one for years.
Kelly then says to Tezza "make it happen or I'll change managers"....just hypothesising of course.
Of course you're hypothesising. Is that the best you can come up with?
First up, you're assuming the Tahiti event is more desirable to a sponsor than the Gold Coast event. That's arguable.
Besides that, I'm not going to debate your hypothesised dialogue between Kelly and Terry because it is RIDICULOUS.
If you don't want a hypothetical conversation maybe you shouldn't have started it by asking me a theoretical question,
I'll put it as simply as possible for you in non hypothetical terms and see if you can bring yourself to agree.
Every decision Terry Hardy makes concerning Quiksilver or one of its competitors is contended by the fact that he is on Kelly Slaters payroll, who is on Quiksilvers payroll.
Now if you can't bring yourself to agree with that then I'm not going to have a conversation with you because it is RIDICULOUS
TD, whilst I'm no expert in this area, my understanding is that event contracts are typically drawn up with 'first right of refusal' clauses, or options on multiple terms periods. Which means that if Billabong have a contract for the Tahiti event (plus options), Terry can't just hand it over to Quiksilver just because 'Kelly said I had to'.
But thanks for reminding me not to ever ask you a hypothetical question again though.
Just got back from france and have spoken to most of the parties concerned with the deal which will effectively privatize the ASP with one of the richest guys in the USA underwriting the tour to the tune of $25 Million.....
this is a greta deal for the mens and women's surfers and Greville Mitchell has appointed the best lawyers and sports managers that money can buy.....the Surf Co's have little money left to continue sponsoring events and if all goes to plan we will see more $'s going to surfers from the juniors,WQS,WT surfers which will allow the surf Co's to provider the athletes and global company's to sponsor the events......
this is ground breaking stuff,and surfing will be better for it,as the surf Co's monopoly has run out of $'s....so we all wait and see what the lawyers finalize......but this is a positive for the surfers and thats what really matters....
I agree it's a positive, but Quiksilver and Kelly are the big winners. Hopefully this means event locations and individual decisions within a contest are made by the ASP with no influence from the sponsors.
But nothing is perfect, ZoSea may also be making decisions which benefit the company and potentially not competitive surfing per se.
And by the way Ben, you asked me to provide examples of how Kelly might influence Terry Hardy, which I did. So I don't really understand what you are carrying on about. The Tahiti thing was an example, but what about when Billabongs rights for the event expire?
Are you saying you can see no potential conflict of interest for ZoSea? If so is that your personal opinion or that of Swellnet? You own Swellnet don't you?
tyler....the ASP has been owned and run by the surf Co's.......I was an advisory board member for 22 years and realize that there is a perception of bias from the surf Co's....Kelly has actually used his manager to secure an independent businessman to create a private business that will benefit all without hopefully bias from the surf Co's...and their own vested interest......
from what I gather,next year there might have been very few WT events as the surf Co's are currently in crisis and would have to cut back on surfer contracts and also events,so the real winner in the long run will be the young surfers who will profit from what Kelly and all before him have fought for....an independent tour of the surf co's...with mainstream sponsors and better coverage of events...
the women stand to gain enormously and deserve a better deal......
also there will hopefully be a big wave tour that will also provide a living for those who chose this path and provide us al with entertainment....
lets sit back and see what eventuates....but I can assure you Kelly or Quick will not be the beneficiary of this deal...this is actually Kelly giving back
I'm sure Kelly's intentions are noble Brutus but at this point it appears that ZoSea is a company consisting of only two people: Kelly Slater's manager and a board member of Quiksilver.
Hence, it appears there are multiple conflicts of interest they may be potentially exploited.
Lets hope not.
Do you think it is possible Quiksilver have acted to capitalise on the relative weakness of it's two main competitors?