Disson Skating Shows discontinued

[mollymgr]

Steve Disson announced on the Disson Facebook page that he won't be producing any more Disson skating shows.
https://www.facebook.com/DissonSkating/posts/10154370724092237

 

[victorskid]

As linked on the Facebook page - from: http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/...keting-and-Sponsorship/The-Lefton-Report.aspx

COMINGS & GOINGS: After 28 years and hundreds of made-for-TV shows featuring top gymnasts and skaters, Steve Disson has decided to hang up his skates. He insists retirement is not in his future, “it was just time to do something altogether different.” Disson’s first made-for-TV skating/gymnastics special, “The Sudafed Skating & Gymnastics Spectacular” in 1989, was not altogether different from his last: January’s “The Colgate Skating & Gymnastics Spectacular.” Each included Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner, first as participants and more recently as hosts. “I had an option to continue procuring shows for ABC, but I just thought this would be a nice way to end it,” said Disson, the first marketer to work for ProServ, an original sports marketing firm and antecedent of today’s Octagon. Outside of skating and gymnastics, Disson produced events around basketball, beach volleyball and bicycling for networks that included ABC, NBC, CBS, ESPN, USA Networks, Bravo and the Hallmark Channel. As for what’s next? “Something in sports and entertainment,” he said. “I just wanted a new challenge.” …

 

[justtojoke]

You truly have to be careful in what you wish for. I wanted a revamp because of course the shows were showing their age, but now it will be gone completely. What will the skaters do?! It's like the end of an era

 

[love skating]

This makes me so sad on so many levels. It's sad cause it means less opportunity for skaters, esp professional skaters and reflects the decline of figure skating in America. And it means less Davis and White, Brian Boitano and Kristi Yamaguchi, etc. on my tv screen - wah!

 

[skatesindreams]

I will miss the specials.
Steve Disson gave opportunities and exposure to dozens of skaters and athletes for many years.

 

[mollymgr]

I wasn't expecting it to be done so soon. They had signed a "multi-year agreement" with Colgate and ABC in 2014 which made it seem like it would be around longer. That just leaves SOI as the the only big event for show skating in the US and that's not even televised. After reading the SOI thread, I wonder how long that will survive.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

I am disappointed! I'd hoped they'd at least run through next year to take advantage of the Olympic interest. Maybe if the US wins a couple of medals someone else will give it a shot.

 

[mollymgr]

I am disappointed! I'd hoped they'd at least run through next year to take advantage of the Olympic interest. Maybe if the US wins a couple of medals someone else will give it a shot.

The sad part is none of the Olympic hopefuls can actually take part in it because it is right during the Grand Prix season. Most of them want to focus on their competitive events. It would have made sense to have these during the off season so more current skaters could participate.

 

[clairecloutier]

Honestly I was never a huge fan of the Disson shows themselves ... but they provided much-needed work for professional skaters. So I'm sad to hear this news.

 

[Willowway]

Regardless of my occasional quibbles with formatting, etc., these shows gave Kulik's Krew so many wonderful times and such great opportunities to see Ilia, and other terrific skaters, do their thing. I have nothing but gratitude and appreciation for all the shows, will miss them and the lovely Disson folks who produced them. I am hoping that for a coming generation of pro skaters something will rise naturally to fill the void.

 

[Debbie S]

This is sad news. Some of the specials had gotten a little boring but the holiday show was always nice to watch and SWDOI was a great addition...I hope another group will take that over. Maybe Scott Hamilton (or IMG) will be inspired to start a new group of shows.

 

[Garden Kitty]

His shows gave skaters an opportunity to earn money for many years, and gave fans a chance to see some of their favorite skaters once they turned professional. It's a loss, but I'm thankful for all his contributions.

 

[MacMadame]

If there is a market for these shows (and I think there is), someone else will take up the slack. I vote for Davis/White and Rohene Ward to come up with something really cool and different.

 

[Wyliefan]

You truly have to be careful in what you wish for. I wanted a revamp because of course the shows were showing their age, but now it will be gone completely. What will the skaters do?! It's like the end of an era

My thoughts exactly.

 

[midori]

So sad. Disson shows are big part of things that guided me into ice shows. We have broadcast of their shows in Japan, started right around the time I started following figure skating, and through watching them I found many great entertaining performances by professional skaters.

 

[Frau Muller]

Sad. I especially loved the Family Tribute shows.

Some of the shows were becoming so cheesy, with voice-overs of screaming teens in audience (esp. the gym show), but it was all that existed on U.S. TV on the "pro skating" front. The interest in skating, in the USA, has hit rock bottom. This is reflected in this news. Sigh.

 

[Frau Muller]

I wasn't expecting it to be done so soon. They had signed a "multi-year agreement" with Colgate and ABC in 2014 which made it seem like it would be around longer. That just leaves SOI as the the only big event for show skating in the US and that's not even televised. After reading the SOI thread, I wonder how long that will survive.

The almost-certain fact that the upcoming Olympics in Korea will likely be the worst for Team USA - particularly the prospect for USA Ladies, which is what really counts with the general public, let's face it - portends a gloomy future for figure skating's entertainment value in this market. Disson sees it; hence, it's time to get the heck out of Dodge!

The gay community alone cannot prop-up men's and ice-dancing figure skating in the US forever. Sorry for Nathan Chen and Shibs. If they take the Gold in the Olympics, the best that they can hope for is a gig with Dancing w/ the Stars or a job on a cruise ship.

 

[paskatefan]

Sad news indeed. I will particularly miss the opportunity to see many of our favorite pro skaters, particularly in the Family Skating Show Tributes. The "Shall We Dance" shows were consistent among the best & most creative, IMHO, of the most recent Disson shows.

 

[caseyedwards]

ABC aired all these so unless he was just a good dealmaker there's an audience to continue them!

 

[Meredith]

I just want to express my appreciation to Steve Disson for the opportunities he gave a diverse group of skaters over the years. As a skating fan and member of Kulik's Krew it was a pleasure to attend several of these shows, which remain some of my favorite skating memories.

I will miss the shows. Disson and his staff were a class act.

 

[Frau Muller]

Where can I go for my annual Annie Mae Weiss musical fix, if these shows are cancelled?

 

[Sylvia]

Steve Disson announced on the Disson Facebook page that he won't be producing any more Disson skating shows.
https://www.facebook.com/DissonSkating/posts/10154370724092237

Glad to see the many positive comments of appreciation posted on their FB page.

 

[mollymgr]

Glad to see the many positive comments of appreciation posted on their FB page.

I know. I am secretly hoping Disson will bring it back in a fresher, revamped format.

 

[kittyjake5]

The almost-certain fact that the upcoming Olympics in Korea will likely be the worst for Team USA - particularly the prospect for USA Ladies, which is what really counts with the general public, let's face it - portends a gloomy future for figure skating's entertainment value in this market. Disson sees it; hence, it's time to get the heck out of Dodge!

The gay community alone cannot prop-up men's and ice-dancing figure skating in the US forever. Sorry for Nathan Chen and Shibs. If they take the Gold in the Olympics, the best that they can hope for is a gig with Dancing w/ the Stars or a job on a cruise ship.

I would not worry about Nathan or the Shibs. They always can get work in Japan they are very popular in that country. I don't think we will
be seeing the Shibs or Nathan on a cruise ship anytime soon.

That said I am disappointed to hear the news about the Disson shows. They were a mainstay for so many years and I will miss them.

 

[blue_idealist]

I wasn't expecting it to be done so soon. They had signed a "multi-year agreement" with Colgate and ABC in 2014 which made it seem like it would be around longer. That just leaves SOI as the the only big event for show skating in the US and that's not even televised. After reading the SOI thread, I wonder how long that will survive.

They don't show SOI on American TV anymore? The Canadian version is still shown (on CBC).

 

[skatesindreams]

They don't show SOI on American TV anymore?

They haven't shown the entire show in the US for several years.
A much shortened "promo" version, with a few programs, has occasionally been made available.
However, individual stations across the country need to buy/broadcast it for us to be able to watch.

 

[mollymgr]

IIRC, the last US SOI that was on TV was in 2014 and it was the promo version.

 

[Frau Muller]

I would not worry about Nathan or the Shibs. They always can get work in Japan they are very popular in that country. I don't think we will
be seeing the Shibs or Nathan on a cruise ship anytime soon.

That said I am disappointed to hear the news about the Disson shows. They were a mainstay for so many years and I will miss them.

I was just thinking in the USA. How crazy that the best opportunities for US skaters are in Japan.

 

[darya_russian]

For the last couple of years those shows were the only chance to see some of my favorite skaters perform. I'm feeling so sad now

 

[glorybox64]

This is such sad news, as cheesy as the Disson shows had gotten.

Fingers crossed that something - anything - crops up to fill the void of televised professional opportunities for the crop of skaters who were showcased in these events. I'd still love to see a rebirth of a small "Masters"-style pro competition circuit, though that seems unlikely..