We are blessed in New York to have access to several local sports channels via cable TV. I've always thought this was a pretty amazing thing, really - in the UK, for example, you have to punish your wallet and buy a fairly pricey annual subscription if you want to watch your favorite soccer team's channel (that is, if they have one at all). It was a bit disappointing to discover, therefore, that one of our local sports channels, SNY, seems to be facing a few problems this season.
New York Mets evening games starting before 7pm EDT cannot actually be broadcast on SNY until after that time due to some exclusive rights now held by Fox TV! Apparently, Fox now has the exclusive rights to air games between 1.10pm and 7pm EDT. That would be sort of ok if they actually televised the games - but they don't seem to be doing that! Recent Mets games against the Florida Marlins started around 6.30 (at their request) and fans found radio was the only option. Despite frantic searching - as evidenced by discussion on the Mets Blog, linked from the post title above - fans found no live feeds on the internet. It seems the only way to see the start of the game live was to, er, go to Florida...
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It was the 2007 Rugby World Cup that finally did it for me.
Not only was it impossible for us or our kids to watch any rugby games on television without 'paying to view' or - worse - going to a sports bar or pub (at $20 per person), we couldn't even get video highlights over the internet after the match!
This feels like the culmination of a process that has been underway for some time - the gradual lifting of popular competitive sports away from the people. At the same time, we see burgeoning levels of lethargy and obesity, including in children. How can we expect kids to participate in playing sport if they are unable to participate in watching it - at least, not without their parents shelling out, yet again...? Something is very wrong here!
Hence the Campaign for the Democratisation of Sport.
We don't want much, just the chance to enjoy our favourite sports again - to be awed by excellence, to share the highs and lows with our friends and families, to inspire our kids to 'try it for themselves'.
To this end, we are campaigning for:
1) greater consideration to be given to ACCESS issues by sports associations, broadcasters, sporting franchises and their regulators, when they agree commercial rights;
2) much greater investment in community sports, including the significant investment of time, money and ideas by the big sporting brands and their boards;
3) greater consideration of and input from the fans in club board decision-making.
This feels like the culmination of a process that has been underway for some time - the gradual lifting of popular competitive sports away from the people. At the same time, we see burgeoning levels of lethargy and obesity, including in children. How can we expect kids to participate in playing sport if they are unable to participate in watching it - at least, not without their parents shelling out, yet again...? Something is very wrong here!
Hence the Campaign for the Democratisation of Sport.
We don't want much, just the chance to enjoy our favourite sports again - to be awed by excellence, to share the highs and lows with our friends and families, to inspire our kids to 'try it for themselves'.
To this end, we are campaigning for:
1) greater consideration to be given to ACCESS issues by sports associations, broadcasters, sporting franchises and their regulators, when they agree commercial rights;
2) much greater investment in community sports, including the significant investment of time, money and ideas by the big sporting brands and their boards;
3) greater consideration of and input from the fans in club board decision-making.
About Me
- eazibee
- I am an optimist and look for the best in everyone I meet. I believe we can make the world a better place with good ideas and passionate application!
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