ISU Fan Survey 2023

[Aceon6]

I suggested that they modify contracts to require that any outlet getting exclusive rights for their country, 1) be required to make all disciplines available, 2) be required to show the competition in its entirety, 3) be required to make replays available for a minimum of 14 days.

 

[Firedancer]

I filled it out yesterday and said broadcasters should be required to provide replays. If they don’t we should be able to watch them on the ISU you tube.

 

[skatingguy]

I noticed someone up thread said you tube was "free".

Not in my universe. I had to buy an ISU subscription for for ISU access. Then I discovered, I only purchased the mobile version and could not watch ISU channel on my laptop or smart TV without paying for an additional upgrade.

That's very confusing. I've never seen a paid subscription for the ISU content on YouTube, and they don't have a membership button on the channel the way that some other channels do.

 

[tony]

I noticed someone up thread said you tube was "free".

Not in my universe. I had to buy an ISU subscription for for ISU access. Then I discovered, I only purchased the mobile version and could not watch ISU channel on my laptop or smart TV without paying for an additional upgrade.

No matter what, skating fandom like found with posters on FSU, Golden Skate, ISU forums is not the norm. Doesn't matter where you are in the world, skating is a niche, exclusive, expensive sport. Viewership will never be huge numbers unless another star set like Michelle, Tara, Irina, Maria or a Katerina Witt or G/G come along.

Why are soccer, football, basketball, baseball, tennis, golf, cricket, and even racing viewing options much more available on TV/streaming services and have more butts in the seats? Because a) anyone can see themselves in their backyard or local leagues actually or have done that sport. People kind of get the rules because they played it. However, you still pay for streaming access. There is only limited free broadcast access with blackout in some areas.

Anyway, this is a mute discussion. ISU and national Federations and streaming services including you tube are going to do what they are. going to do.

YouTube and the ISU access on it are free, but you can't see anything from the major events unless you change countries with a VPN-- that discussion has gone in circles in other threads.

Whatever ISU Channel you bought (and I don't know where from) was not what you needed to do. You need to just get a VPN.

NBC Sports Gold was $60 for the year and I happily threw money at them to get the full events. An ISU year sub to access skating would only be following the same model.

In fact, they'd be expanding upon it most likely if they also had Challenger events and other ISU competitions (maybe even the JGP could move there or remain as part of a free-access incentive). I have no doubt they'd have other features and miniseries focused on the skaters, as well.

 

[tony]

I curiously started looking around at other sports who have stand-alone channels. The Tennis Channel (the + version of it) is $109.99 a year. The Golf Channel seems to only be available through cable subscriptions that are already much pricier. MLB.TV is $119 a year just to see your own team and $139 to see all teams.

Of course all of our talk from the last few pages is theoretical, and it's the ISU so I wouldn't expect some miracle overnight that appeases everyone, but I would think they could pull something off. Especially if it's just an ISU in general channel, which might also pull in speed skating/short track fans.

 

[SkateSand]

I wouldn't mind paying for either an annual subscription for all events or pay-per-view for single events as long as I could see everything I wanted and there were replays for at least a limited amount of time. I already pay about $5 a month for Peacock and I'm very, very happy with it except for too short a time for replays or none at all.

I would definitely like the option to have commentary-free events. I'm spoiled now and super unhappy when I have to watch something with commentary, even if it's decent commentary.

 

[once_upon]

I think at least in the short term for fans in the US, it would be a combo of Peacock for US events and whatever ISU would offer.

I think NBC has a long term contract with ISU for US events.

But I don't know.

 

[Skate Talker]

Is anyone familiar with the site 'Recast' which is mentioned in the questionnaire? I had never heard of it before, but it seems like it might be the site that the ISU wants to use.

Useful links

Maintain complete control of your rights by embedding your content on your website. Unlock extra revenue with chosen affiliate websites too. Set your own price per view, geo-blocking + more.

watch.recast.tv

There was some discussion about Recast last year on curlingzone and some people were unhappy about paying for events that were "free" in the past.

Dave-o-t-N is correct. World Curling Fed moved from a "free" YouTube channel to Recast so that events I used to watch now require a fee. Since I was only somewhat interested in the coverage on YouTube and would only occasionally watch if the time was convenient so I have not chosen to pay for games to date. I do enjoy watching curling but the coverage I am really interested in is available to me through my cable provider.
With all the skating I'm also interested in, I already have trouble keeping up.
I do receive notifications of the curling available at recast - they just finished showing the Scottish curling championships. Due to this discussion I decided to go and have a look at the recast site as I hadn't been there since the initial announcement from World Curling Fed. I see that they already have an ISU channel. The current content on both the figureskating and synchro tab are a total of 3 "This is Us/#Up Again" shorts. There appears to be speed skating competition video and upcoming Junior speed skating.

 

[overedge]

Oh and it would be good if we had commentary + no commentary options! Season pass can also be made more attractive by adding exclusive interviews and fluff.

I suggested the "no commentary" option too.

I also never heard of Recast, and quite honestly its business model doesn't sound that appealing to me. https://recast.tv/fans

Maybe I'm cynical after many years of enduring tech "innovations" that turn out to be lemons, but I must admit that I'm automatically wary of anything that bills itself as "revolutionary". Why is the ISU asking about only one streaming option? Why isn't it suggesting a list of options, like Recast and, say, DAZN, and asking which one the respondents are familiar with and/or would prefer?

ETA: Just saw @Skate Talker post about Recast already having an ISU channel. So the decision has already been made for ISU streaming and the survey is intended to validate that decision

 

[tony]

ETA: Just saw @Skate Talker post about Recast already having an ISU channel. So the decision has already been made for ISU streaming and the survey is intended to validate that decision

It doesn't mean they are automatically going to move forward with everything there.

 

[Skate Talker]

Recast is just way too complicated for me - at least at first glance....

 

[Bunny Hop]

We currently have the most TV skating coverage ever during my lifetime in Australia, as all the major events (GP, Euros, 4CC, Worlds) available to stream both live and on demand afterwards. I still remember when all we got was a 1-2 hour highlights program for Euros and Worlds, plus a long period of no coverage outside of the Olympics at all (in the before YouTube days). So I know how lucky we are to be able to see what we csan now legally.

If that were not available I would definitely be willing to pay a subscription to receive the same content.

 

[overedge]

Also, the list of skating events that you watch regularly has Worlds, Euros, Grand Prix, etc.....but no Four Continents.

 

[Karen-W]

Also, the list of skating events that you watch regularly has Worlds, Euros, Grand Prix, etc.....but no Four Continents.

4CC is on her list...

 

[Orm Irian]

Also, the list of skating events that you watch regularly has Worlds, Euros, Grand Prix, etc.....but no Four Continents.

Yes, I noticed that. Annoying.

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

Wow - my feedback mostly had to do with broadcast as well. I suggested a model like the Met Opera. You can pay and watch from anywhere. I believe you also get replay.

I travel and a US-based subscription doesn´t work. Figure skating is a multi-day event. Like in-person attending you should ve able to click any combination of tickets you choose.

One problem is the production. All those locales - filming, programming, using ISU standards, etc. (We´ve had providers who had technical difficulties.) Or like in construction there could be a Polish crew traveling around Europe - "its the week before Christmas, must be Obersdorf". Note: not trying to insult anyone. One thing that works in the EU are workers from low cost-of-living specializing in certain types of work. Work, that would be cost-wise prohibitive in Germany.

 

[DreamSkates]

I wouldn't mind paying for either an annual subscription for all events or pay-per-view for single events as long as I could see everything I wanted and there were replays for at least a limited amount of time. I already pay about $5 a month for Peacock and I'm very, very happy with it except for too short a time for replays or none at all.

I would definitely like the option to have commentary-free events. I'm spoiled now and super unhappy when I have to watch something with commentary, even if it's decent commentary.

I find most commentary annoying when it is during a program. Commentary could be done before and after (during replays while awaiting scores). Talking over the music -grrrr. It’s not like basketball when the fans are cheering and shouting but you can still see the action even with commentary.

I want to soak in the whole program, all the moves and jumps integrated with every musical note and nuance.
So I like that part about Peacock (no commentary viewing available). Plus it’s cheap. Just disappointed about mostly livestream only.

 

[Tinycities]

Regarding recast, I dug a little deeper on their site. They don’t use subscription, it’s strictly pay per view. And they mean pay per view. There’s no replay unless you pay a second time to view it again. I think this would be a step backwards.

Cost wise, it’s 1GPB P a minute, essentially a penny or two a minute. So not expensive, but it’s microtransactions. I’m guessing it would come out to 3-5 dollars per event to watch once.

 

[MacMadame]

Cost wise, it’s 1GPB P a minute, essentially a penny or two a minute. So not expensive, but it’s microtransactions. I’m guessing it would come out to 3-5 dollars per event to watch once.

I'm thinking a lot of events were 1-2 hours for the SP and 2-3 for the FS If we use $2 per event with 4 disciplines and 2 events each, that's $16 per. So someone wants to watch the GP series and the championships (Worlds, 4CCs, Euros) that's $144. And that doesn't include everything we get on Peacock now from the ISU.

That seems a bit pricy to me.

 

[Skate Talker]

Hmm - well I could cut back on the pricing by not watching the women's events. Might have to restrict my watching to the Pairs and maybe the Ice Dance....
I have to say I really hate this model.

 

[MacMadame]

My hope is that, if Recast is used, the ISU will cut a deal to give us a Season's Pass of some sort -- a volume discount.

 

[tony]

Recast isn’t even a done deal for figure skating next season, nor are any of the other ideas we’ve floated in this thread. For all we know, it’ll be same old Peacock/YouTube for everything.