Effects of ISU's media deal - Figure Skating on CBC but not Eurosport

This is soooo upsetting!! I’ve just written to the ISU to complain. I think that’s all we can do as fs fans to try to apply some pressure. I have a job so I can’t just watch live streams whenever I want. I loved being able to record the coverage on the telly and then just watch it whenever I wanted and watch it again and again if I wanted. I don’t want to have to rely on YouTube. I’m old school and I still think watching fs on a telly is the best way to watch it, rather than a small computer screen, like most other sports!!!

Below is the link to the CTV/TSN Skate Canada schedule (I have no idea why it says 2017 in the link):

https://www.tsn.ca/2017-canadian-national-figure-skating-championships-on-tsn-1.631528

At least I can watch this competition...

madraykin said:

Both Sue Barker and Clare Balding did this weird thing that seems to have fallen out of fashion where they'd actually do some research on the thing they were commentating on so they knew what they were talking about even if it wasn't a sport they were usually involved in...

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Noo still don't want them:disapp:

Louise Walden was quite good too !

madraykin said:

Both Sue Barker and Clare Balding did this weird thing that seems to have fallen out of fashion where they'd actually do some research on the thing they were commentating on so they knew what they were talking about even if it wasn't a sport they were usually involved in...

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Oh, don't start me on people in the media not doing background research on what they are talking about.

This morning, I read a story on the website of a newspaper that has now gone online only. It was about two people, one of whom is in the public eye in another country. But, they failed to mention a significant detail about the famous person. And, as a result of this not being mentioned, the story took on a totally different complexion.

So, I complained, saying that I know the newspaper industry is going through hard times, but they should not be resorting to running stories that are deliberately misleading to try to draw more people to read them. And they got back to me, apologised and explained that they would never do that and that it was a genuine mistake. They also said that they would add the detail in, which they did.

But, it just shows the sort of damage that can be done by not doing your research into what you are talking about. All it would have taken was a quick look at Wikipedia, and the thing they missed would have become obvious immediately. (Not that I am encouraging serious journalists to rely on Wikipedia. I am just saying that the detail is easily found).

It is much better to take the time to do your research rather than saying incorrect things that could lead you to get into trouble.

CaroLiza_fan

The most annoying thing about all this is we don’t know what, if any, our alternative way to watch will be. It’s disgraceful.

If the ISU want to do their own thing fine but let’s be having it then, rather than all this confusion!

IceDancingQueen said:

This is soooo upsetting!! I’ve just written to the ISU to complain. I think that’s all we can do as fs fans to try to apply some pressure. I have a job so I can’t just watch live streams whenever I want. I loved being able to record the coverage on the telly and then just watch it whenever I wanted and watch it again and again if I wanted. I don’t want to have to rely on YouTube. I’m old school and I still think watching fs on a telly is the best way to watch it, rather than a small computer screen, like most other sports!!!

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I feel the same way. I can't watch most of the live streams as I'm at work!

DSQ said:

The most annoying thing about all this is we don’t know what, if any, our alternative way to watch will be. It’s disgraceful.

If the ISU want to do their own thing fine but let’s be having it then, rather than all this confusion!

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Exactly. We're a week out and only the Americans know what they're seeing. Everyone else is completely in the dark. Great way to grow skating, ISU. Make it so that no-one knows how to watch.

karne said:

Exactly. We're a week out and only the Americans know what they're seeing. Everyone else is completely in the dark. Great way to grow skating, ISU. Make it so that no-one knows how to watch.

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So we do we know how/where to watch the GP or are we are still in limbo here in Europe?

I am hoping it will be like the JGP with Ted Barton, that would be cool but who knows?

russell30 said:

So we do we know how/where to watch the GP or are we are still in limbo here in Europe?

I am hoping it will be like the JGP with Ted Barton, that would be cool but who knows?

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We're in limbo.

The ISU have reportedly told some people that there will be an announcement before the beginning of the GP events, but who knows what that will be.

russell30 said:

So we do we know how/where to watch the GP or are we are still in limbo here in Europe?

I am hoping it will be like the JGP with Ted Barton, that would be cool but who knows?

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Just did a search on the Sky EPG, and there is no sign of any GP coverage using the terms "figure" or "skating" during the next 7 days.

So, unless there are highlights somewhere from Sunday onwards, it looks like it isn't going to be on the TV anyway. :disapp:

CaroLiza_fan

Absurd.

This is no way to run a business. If skating fails to grow I don't blame the skaters. I blame the ISU.

We need Ted Barton to save the Senior Grand Prix now!!

How on earth the ISU are making money is beyond belief, most of the challenger events have looked empty too!!

CaroLiza_fan said:

Just did a search on the Sky EPG, and there is no sign of any GP coverage using the terms "figure" or "skating" during the next 7 days.

So, unless there are highlights somewhere from Sunday onwards, it looks like it isn't going to be on the TV anyway. :disapp:

CaroLiza_fan

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I have a SKY subscription, and only continued with it because of Eurosport (for the skating!) THEY just put our subscription up as well but now the skating won't be on there it looks like i will be cancelling it - but i will keep looking at the listings...

I suppose it doesn't bother Simon or Catherine they cover other sports, as you say Chris is coaching in Chicago US, I didn't realise Nicky had emigrated, but he looks like he is doing other things in Canada now...directing music etc...

As for BBC we might get highlights of the Worlds next year in Canada, they might stream it live on the Red Button, I like Robin but not at all amused with the new girl!! bring back Sue! or even Barry Davies out of retirement!

I suppose you tube would be fine, but they can be geoblocked or removed so you have to be super quick!

russell30 said:

We need Ted Barton to save the Senior Grand Prix now!!

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I can actually imagine him being bombarded with this request. If only we lived in a perfect world.. :sad46:

Nice way to lose even more of figure skating's fanbase, ISU!

russell30 said:

I have a SKY subscription, and only continued with it because of Eurosport (for the skating!) THEY just put our subscription up as well but now the skating won't be on there it looks like i will be cancelling it - but i will keep looking at the listings...

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Oh, don't start about price rises. Every year we have to put up with price rises from Sky and BT. We watch quite a few things on Eurosport, but if it wasn't for the MotoGP, we would get rid of BT Sport in a shot! But the thing that gets to me is the way Sky are raising their prices, but the number of channels is reducing! So many channels have closed over the past year or two, and there have not been many launches to make up for it.

russell30 said:

I suppose it doesn't bother Simon or Catherine they cover other sports, as you say Chris is coaching in Chicago US, I didn't realise Nicky had emigrated, but he looks like he is doing other things in Canada now...directing music etc...

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Yeah, I've listened to some of Nicky's music, and it is actually quite good. But, I would still prefer to hear him talking to us about skating!

russell30 said:

As for BBC we might get highlights of the Worlds next year in Canada, they might stream it live on the Red Button, I like Robin but not at all amused with the new girl!! bring back Sue! or even Barry Davies out of retirement!

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Wow. I didn't even realise Barry Davies was still alive! :shocked: He was before my time, so I can't really comment. But I wonder what he thinks of the mess we have now (and what he thinks of Kat Downes... )

Doesn't look like it will be on the Red Button channel, as any skating on there would have come up when I did the EPG search. BUT, I think our best hope might be that the BBC might stream the skating on their website. But, the Live Guide page on the website only goes as far as tomorrow!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live-guide

russell30 said:

I suppose you tube would be fine, but they can be geoblocked or removed so you have to be super quick!

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Tell me about it! During the Junior GP, the archived livestreams were getting zapped in no time. And although the individual routine videos survived, some of them had the sound muted when the music was playing. And it is just not the same watching people skating to silence.

But, on some of the videos they were even having to mute them between skates because of music being played in the arena! Which meant that people who weren't fortunate enough to watch LIVE missed out on Ted Barton's comments.

It's an awful situation we are in. And if something isn't sorted soon, figure skating is going to become even more obscure in Europe than it already is. If figure skating isn't easily accessible on the TV or online, kids aren't going to see it. As a result, less kids will become inspired to take figure skating, and the sport will die.

Sorry for being melodramatic, but it's true!

CaroLiza_fan

Increasing relevant content for fans on TV, the website, social media channels

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Hey, Mr Dijkema. Aren’t you forgetting something? Like, doing what you promised you and the ISU would do if you were re-elected?
SA starts in five days. This is so frustrating. :curse: I don’t want to have to resort to illegal streams on potentially not-very-safe websites.

This is beyond comprehension. What are we supposed to do? There is only one week left...

Wasn't there an ISU rule that if the broadcasting rights were not sold in any given country they have to air a live stream in that given country or am I mistaken?

russell30 said:

How on earth the ISU are making money is beyond belief, most of the challenger events have looked empty too!!

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The ISU has 250 Million USD in the bank..They have plenty of money.

BTW, in addition to contacting the ISU, I would contact your local federation as well.