black duck wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:18 pmI don't buy that. Do you have figures to back the steady decline Crabby? Regardless of the comp format (same as before basically) and the cheesy friendly sanitised presentation thing they insist on (also same as before), the comps have never been better. Almost everything about the presentations is better. More cameras, more angles, faster, better replays, more specialist analysis from guys like Barton and Thompson. The internet version of the comps is way better than it was a few years ago. For the most part it's also the same surfers as 5 years ago, besides a few rookies. The venues haven't changed either. What's the difference? Do you have figures? Be interested to see if there is a difference.crabmeat thompson wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2017 6:27 pmit would end in tears.
the amount of people watching the events have been on a steady decline since the World Tour went from ASP to WSL. Core surfers are turned off by the mainstream attempt to popularise surfing. Australians are tuning out due to the americanisation (and seriousness) of the production.
wsl must be putting all their eggs in the cashed up brazilian market, because not many aussies will buy it.
i have zero interest in the wsl until they change the event & heat formats. I've totally lost interest in watching it. If I didn't have to touch base with it all for work, i wouldn't know any results!
Before the wsl changed webcast providers - where now they're viewing numbers are masked - the numbers were declining steadily.
There has been some youtube viewing numbers and facebook live stuff where as little as 2000 odd ppl have been tuned into finals of events. This was published on twitter a little while back.
The fact they've failed to get another headline sponsor, while several other smaller sponsors have dropped out... indicates the decline is still on. These advertisers would demand viewing numbers.
Anecdotally, the ppl i come across and talk to both in my work and personal surf circles, the numbers and interest for it is down. Significantly.
Comp viewing numbers (historically) have lived and died by the swells and the surfers.
Swell wise, they scored Margs and Jbay. Id be amazed if they weren't the two most watched events this year.
And surfer wise. No personalities, no rivalries, no dominant figure/s, the wsl micro managing everything they say.
imo if the wsl go PPV, it'll be all she wrote.