Sky 2014

[BWitcher]

 

 

It would be interested to hear what the 'right changes' you would like actually are. If truth were told, I suspect I would support all of them.

 

The only difference between us is I don't let stupid rules, corrupt practices and selfish promoters put me off going anywhere (the only thing that does are crap track surfaces).

 

While I think you should most certainly be listened to, if the changes you want are not brought into effect then I'd say it would be a no brainer to chase a never been bothered instead, wouldn't you ?

 

You're not grasping it at all HalifaxTiger.

 

As Tsunami does you are dismissing the views of those that don't go. The very fact they are still on this forum, the very fact they still enjoy to watch the sport but don't go should ring massive alarm bells. What hope of attracting new fans and keeping them if those who love it aren't going?

 

This isn't speculation or pie in the sky stuff, its reality. Fans have been drifting away from the sport for a long time and they are NOT being replaced. Quite clearly the current strategy is not working.

 

You claim that real speedway die hards wouldn't walk away.. I'm sorry but they do and they have. I know of many, many fans who followed their team for years home and away and wouldn't have ever dreamed of not attending. Slowly they began to be worn down by the corrupt way the sport is run, the antiquated presentation etc. Eventually they reached a breaking point and stopped.

 

I may live in Portugal, Tsunami claims my opinion is no longer valid, but I haven't yet reached that stage. I flew over to see Sam Ermolenko ride in the Joe Hughes Memorial meeting and for the playoffs, attended as many meets as I could when in England at other times of the year... each time I come there are less of the familiar faces who have attended the sport for years before.. and very very few new ones. It's the same old people, another year older, but less of them. THAT is a trend that simply cannot continue.

[oldace]

While I fully appreciate your circumstances (and those of others), I always think that someone who says they love speedway but never goes is a bit like someone who says they love ice cream but never eats it.

 

 

Using your ice cream analogy, if I had an ice cream shop and someone that loved ice cream didn't buy from me I would want to know why. OK lots of people don't like ice cream and have no interest in buying it but I would be very concerned if my shop, once full of ice cream lovers was now empty and those people had taken their trade elsewhere.

 

In the same way I haven't become a hermit, I still seek out and attend other forms of entertainment, just not speedway.

 

Attracting customers is always difficult but can you not see that if those with an affinity to the sport are drifting away then there is a major problem.

 

In these circumstances "bring a friend" campaigns etc are futile, in reality you are likely losing a potential customer. I could get someone to come once based on what I tell them but having seen the reality they would not come back, ever.

 

If it were simply marketing and awareness then where are the 5000 that attended Lakesides free meeting. Most didn't see enough value to come again (and i know an element were existing fans having a free night). Not only that but even if it were to improve you would not get a second chance from those people

 

Never ever ever market a flawed product

[Star Lady]

Cancelled our Sky Sports subscription this morning and told them in no uncertain terms why. I was told we were loyal customers and they value us!!!!!!! so I told them we would return but only if they broadcast speedway.

It's all I as an individual can do but at least I've done my bit.

 

Personally can't see them broadcasting speedway next year in the way they have in the past. Things have to change-as to what doesn't matter what I think cos BSPA never listen to the fans and I'm not convinced Sky do either.

[AndyJ]

It'd be intriguing to quantify how much we speedway fans are really worth to Sky. How much we pay for the extra Sky Sports package or even the entirety of the package for those who will shift to an alternative, such as BT vision, once it is crystal clear that speedway coverage has now ended? How many may then also shift away from Sky Broadband too?

 

Doesn't take that many (1500 or so?) before the loss of subscriber income exceeds what Sky were pumping into the speedway coffers each year.

 

If BT Sport were to step in and pay for the broadcast rights, how many would ditch Sky in favour of this?

[Vincent Blachshadow]

It'd be intriguing to quantify how much we speedway fans are really worth to Sky. How much we pay for the extra Sky Sports package or even the entirety of the package for those who will shift to an alternative, such as BT vision, once it is crystal clear that speedway coverage has now ended? How many may then also shift away from Sky Broadband too?

 

Doesn't take that many (1500 or so?) before the loss of subscriber income exceeds what Sky were pumping into the speedway coffers each year.

 

If BT Sport were to step in and pay for the broadcast rights, how many would ditch Sky in favour of this?

A calculated risk by Sky. If speedway isn't shown some new sport will most probably fill the void - there's not a lot of football every other June and July. If that sport's devotees take out Sky/add Sky Sports packages as I'm sure some speedway fans did 15 or so years ago, there won't be much difference to Sky's income.

Edited October 16, 2013 by Vincent Blackshadow

[Woz01]

I gather BT Sport is still light on live summer sports? Id guess speedway could help fill their schedules if Sky dont renew.

[AndyJ]

I gather BT Sport is still light on live summer sports? Id guess speedway could help fill their schedules if Sky dont renew.

Also perhaps a viable business decision for them too if it helps entice a decent number of Sky customers via a relatively modest outlay.

[ABS]

A calculated risk by Sky. If speedway isn't shown some new sport will most probably fill the void - there's not a lot of football every other June and July. If that sport's devotees take out Sky/add Sky Sports packages as I'm sure some speedway fans did 15 or so years ago, there won't be much difference to Sky's income.

 

But there will be a lot of football in June/July next year, with the World Cup in Brasil. Don't know what, if any, packages sky have the rights to broadcast, but there will certainly be no void, well not one of 2.5 hours on a Monday evening, to concern them as a result of there being no speedway contract.

 

As a speedway fan, I will always go to Belle Vue and watch Sky meetings later anyway, but will miss coverage when there are no clashes. I do hope that the sport can be sold to BT, as the cupboard is pretty bare IMHO as regards their sports offerings. I only watch the odd football game and as I believe that rugby should be played with 13 men on the field, am not interested in their flagship rugby offering.

[Vincent Blachshadow]

But there will be a lot of football in June/July next year, with the World Cup in Brasil. Don't know what, if any, packages sky have the rights to broadcast, but there will certainly be no void, well not one of 2.5 hours on a Monday evening, to concern them as a result of there being no speedway contract.

 

As a speedway fan, I will always go to Belle Vue and watch Sky meetings later anyway, but will miss coverage when there are no clashes. I do hope that the sport can be sold to BT, as the cupboard is pretty bare IMHO as regards their sports offerings. I only watch the odd football game and as I believe that rugby should be played with 13 men on the field, am not interested in their flagship rugby offering.

Which is why I posted 'every other June and July'.

[tyke]

But there will be a lot of football in June/July next year, with the World Cup in Brasil. Don't know what, if any, packages sky have the rights to broadcast, but there will certainly be no void, well not one of 2.5 hours on a Monday evening, to concern them as a result of there being no speedway contract.

 

As a speedway fan, I will always go to Belle Vue and watch Sky meetings later anyway, but will miss coverage when there are no clashes. I do hope that the sport can be sold to BT, as the cupboard is pretty bare IMHO as regards their sports offerings. I only watch the odd football game and as I believe that rugby should be played with 13 men on the field, am not interested in their flagship rugby offering.

 

Sky have NO package for the World Cup. This must be transmitted on 'Free to view TV' ie will be on both ITV and BBC in the UK.

[ABS]

Sky have NO package for the World Cup. This must be transmitted on 'Free to view TV' ie will be on both ITV and BBC in the UK.

 

Thanks for the heads up on that. It will be interesting to see what Sky comes up with to compete against the World Cup. Clutching at straws somewhat, but speedway might be a good option for sky as the fanbase is pretty loyal. Would be interesting to learn what the viewing figures were for yesterday evening, going head to head with the England match.

[The White Knight]

Thanks for the heads up on that. It will be interesting to see what Sky comes up with to compete against the World Cup. Clutching at straws somewhat, but speedway might be a good option for sky as the fanbase is pretty loyal. Would be interesting to learn what the viewing figures were for yesterday evening, going head to head with the England match.

 

Well - I, for one, watched the Speedway.

[Hackett]

In sales ; you need combine looking after your existing clients, as well as targeting new clients. Speedway on the most part has failed to do both. The product is getting worse yet more expensive and people are voting with their feet - hence the declining numbers. Targeting a new audience is mostly forgotten. Speedway cant afford to neglect its current audience - as word of mouth is and always will be its most cost effective sales tool.

[ABS]

In sales ; you need combine looking after your existing clients, as well as targeting new clients. Speedway on the most part has failed to do both. The product is getting worse yet more expensive and people are voting with their feet - hence the declining numbers. Targeting a new audience is mostly forgotten. Speedway cant afford to neglect its current audience - as word of mouth is and always will be its most cost effective sales tool.

 

Too true - one thing travels faster than good news and that's bad news

[A ORLOV]

Well - I, for one, watched the Speedway.

I watched both at the same time with the big screen showing the speedway and the football on mute , but would watch speedway over football every time.

[moxey63]

Posts that say the likes of oldace and myself shouldn't be able to have an opinion on the sport because we don't go and watch anymore, is like saying we shouldn't have an opinion on a news story... if we don't buy a paper.

 

That we have watched the sport, shed many of our lifetime hours trudging up and down the roads to support our teams and favourites, that we still have a draw to these websites, doesn't that make us people that should be listened to.

 

We are still clinging on.

 

Alternatively, try discovering the problems with the sport that stopped the people from attending anymore... first, you will have to find the people that can't be arsed even diping into speedway forums, they became so brassed off.

 

If there are three people on this site, no longer attend but post, then just where all the others?

 

If a shop sold you shopped with every day sold you a dodgy pie and it put you off shopping there, you didn't report it, the store would have lost business. Though just one customer, how many others have been lost along the way... through various reasons.

 

If the store didn't welcome feedback, thinking those who no longer shop with him must be odd, then he will one day go out of business.

 

Speedway should be worried - not by the hangers on, who no longer go but still retain an interest - but by the masses that can't even be bothered to stick around, perhaps while there was still opportunity to fathom from them just why they jacked it.

 

Some would take the likes of me and oldace up the nearest country lane, deadpan us with a spade, and then bury us somehere in the countryside.

 

But the same people are posssibly having to pay extra to attend, to cover ones that no longer do so. As another season passes, another couple of digits go amiss from the terraces,

 

If previous diehards are called whingers because they become disillusioned by certain things, and then they just vanish from the speedway supporting fraternity, and there's no one else to replace them, then one day the likes of Eastbourne - and their average gates of 770 - will also disappear, with the ex-speedway fan that used to help swell their support to double this figure... and for a meaningless open meet.

 

Many Birmingham fans will feel slightly disilluisoned by last night's events and the thought they had just been the most consistent team all year, yet were elbowed off the silverware. Half a dozen people have given the thumbs up for the Play-Offs, but what about the ones who don't like them?

 

My bet... they will gradually stop attending.

 

The crowds will go up for the Finals, it's an event (or should be), but the bald terrace on regular matchnights tells me all is not well.

 

Open discussion is healthy; hiding your views and thinking the sport is wonderful - it must be, because you still attend... it isn't the solution.

[The White Knight]

Posts that say the likes of oldace and myself shouldn't be able to have an opinion on the sport because we don't go and watch anymore, is like saying we shouldn't have an opinion on a news story... if we don't buy a paper.

 

That we have watched the sport, shed many of our lifetime hours trudging up and down the roads to support our teams and favourites, that we still have a draw to these websites, doesn't that make us people that should be listened to.

 

We are still clinging on.

 

Alternatively, try discovering the problems with the sport that stopped the people from attending anymore... first, you will have to find the people that can't be arsed even diping into speedway forums, they became so brassed off.

 

If there are three people on this site, no longer attend but post, then just where all the others?

 

If a shop sold you shopped with every day sold you a dodgy pie and it put you off shopping there, you didn't report it, the store would have lost business. Though just one customer, how many others have been lost along the way... through various reasons.

 

If the store didn't welcome feedback, thinking those who no longer shop with him must be odd, then he will one day go out of business.

 

Speedway should be worried - not by the hangers on, who no longer go but still retain an interest - but by the masses that can't even be bothered to stick around, perhaps while there was still opportunity to fathom from them just why they jacked it.

 

Some would take the likes of me and oldace up the nearest country lane, deadpan us with a spade, and then bury us somehere in the countryside.

 

But the same people are posssibly having to pay extra to attend, to cover ones that no longer do so. As another season passes, another couple of digits go amiss from the terraces,

 

If previous diehards are called whingers because they become disillusioned by certain things, and then they just vanish from the speedway supporting fraternity, and there's no one else to replace them, then one day the likes of Eastbourne - and their average gates of 770 - will also disappear, with the ex-speedway fan that used to help swell their support to double this figure... and for a meaningless open meet.

 

Many Birmingham fans will feel slightly disilluisoned by last night's events and the thought they had just been the most consistent team all year, yet were elbowed off the silverware. Half a dozen people have given the thumbs up for the Play-Offs, but what about the ones who don't like them?

 

My bet... they will gradually stop attending.

 

The crowds will go up for the Finals, it's an event (or should be), but the bald terrace on regular matchnights tells me all is not well.

 

Open discussion is healthy; hiding your views and thinking the sport is wonderful - it must be, because you still attend... it isn't the solution.

 

Good Post Moxey63.

 

I am on the verge of joining you and oldace in jacking in going to my local Track. I just cannot stand some of the Rules nowadays. I was seething when I left Newcastle the other Night -

 

WHY THE HELL SHOULD I PAY FOR THAT? !!!

 

Like you - I will still come on here though.

[PHILIPRISING]

WHAT was the straw that broke the White Knight's back?

[EnglishRoundabout]

You should come and see the toilet facilities at Swindon. An Elite league club with toilets that hark back to the 1950's....shocking way of treating your customers...

[moxey63]

Good Post Moxey63.

 

I am on the verge of joining you and oldace in jacking in going to my local Track. I just cannot stand some of the Rules nowadays. I was seething when I left Newcastle the other Night -

 

WHY THE HELL SHOULD I PAY FOR THAT? !!!

 

Like you - I will still come on here though.

 

Don't talk to me about understanding the rules, still trying to fathom the man-o-man KOC heats. That was the closest novelty to having tiggy-hit in speedway.