onefrombills
10-04-2009, 07:31 PM
Over the years, professional bowling fans became accustomed to the rhythm of a weekly PBA Tour stop followed by live television coverage of the final round. That format is great for live coverage of the final round, not so great for coverage of the tournament leading up to the final round.
During the entire history of the PBA Tour, only fans at the event ever really got to see what happens during the week leading up to “the show”.
The Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour significantly changed the nature of the first half of its Tour with the completion of the first PBA World Series of Bowling. Understandably, there has been some confusion and questions from fans regarding the upcoming 2009-10 Tour season.
Many fans have lamented the end of the all-live television finals as the end of the PBA Tour as they knew it, and they are right, but not in the way the may be thinking. Many more fans have embraced the new first half of the season as represented by the PBA World Series of Bowling with enhanced coverage provided by Xtra Frame. Those fans are even more right.
Given the ever-changing nature of the American sports landscape, the PBA is looking for ways to stay relevant and attract new fans and sponsors – even as other sports are struggling in this economy. Any sport that stays exactly the same as it has for 10, 20 or even 50 years is likely to fail – even if they have a good product and a good television contract...just ask the Arena Football League or the Ladies Professional Golf Association.
With the changes in the first half of the PBA Tour season, there is an unprecedented amount of time between competition and the television shows, so how do you prepare to watch the PBA World Series of Bowling?
Many bowling fans have already evolved. Subscriptions to PBA’s Xtra Frame are up 20% after the World Series of Bowling. These fans have seen the daily live coverage from Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich. and are up-to-date on many of the storylines heading into the ESPN television season that begins on Oct. 25 with the finals of the PBA Women’s and Senior World Championships.
First on the list, if you haven’t already, become a PBA Xtra Frame subscriber. Fans are able to catch up on each and every tournament match play as webcast from suburban Detroit. Watch the World Championship Match Play in advance of the first television show to catch up with the finalists and the storylines.
The week of the first show, catch Xtra Frame’s exclusive interviews with the finalists and ball reps immediately prior to each show to give you insight on the strategies used during the show. Watch the show on ESPN to see how the storylines played out, very much like knowing the “hole cards” in the World Series of Poker and playing along to see how the hand plays out. Very, very interesting, even if you already know who has won.
Fans have also asked (for years) to have a check and trophy presentation and a winner’s interview after the ESPN show. For many reasons, this coverage has not been provided and is missed by fans. Now, after the ESPN show, you will be able to see the entire check and trophy presentation and winner’s interview and press conference all available for the first time on Xtra Frame.
Stay up-to-date with Xtra Frame prior to the ESPN television show with PBA:39X60 and match play coverage, then watch the ESPN show and then come back to Xtra Frame for a complete wrap up of the tournament.
That’s one way to watch the PBA World Series of Bowling. Even though it is not exactly the same as it has been, the new way now available for watching bowling gives fans more complete coverage of their favorite sport than they have ever had in the past
During the entire history of the PBA Tour, only fans at the event ever really got to see what happens during the week leading up to “the show”.
The Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour significantly changed the nature of the first half of its Tour with the completion of the first PBA World Series of Bowling. Understandably, there has been some confusion and questions from fans regarding the upcoming 2009-10 Tour season.
Many fans have lamented the end of the all-live television finals as the end of the PBA Tour as they knew it, and they are right, but not in the way the may be thinking. Many more fans have embraced the new first half of the season as represented by the PBA World Series of Bowling with enhanced coverage provided by Xtra Frame. Those fans are even more right.
Given the ever-changing nature of the American sports landscape, the PBA is looking for ways to stay relevant and attract new fans and sponsors – even as other sports are struggling in this economy. Any sport that stays exactly the same as it has for 10, 20 or even 50 years is likely to fail – even if they have a good product and a good television contract...just ask the Arena Football League or the Ladies Professional Golf Association.
With the changes in the first half of the PBA Tour season, there is an unprecedented amount of time between competition and the television shows, so how do you prepare to watch the PBA World Series of Bowling?
Many bowling fans have already evolved. Subscriptions to PBA’s Xtra Frame are up 20% after the World Series of Bowling. These fans have seen the daily live coverage from Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich. and are up-to-date on many of the storylines heading into the ESPN television season that begins on Oct. 25 with the finals of the PBA Women’s and Senior World Championships.
First on the list, if you haven’t already, become a PBA Xtra Frame subscriber. Fans are able to catch up on each and every tournament match play as webcast from suburban Detroit. Watch the World Championship Match Play in advance of the first television show to catch up with the finalists and the storylines.
The week of the first show, catch Xtra Frame’s exclusive interviews with the finalists and ball reps immediately prior to each show to give you insight on the strategies used during the show. Watch the show on ESPN to see how the storylines played out, very much like knowing the “hole cards” in the World Series of Poker and playing along to see how the hand plays out. Very, very interesting, even if you already know who has won.
Fans have also asked (for years) to have a check and trophy presentation and a winner’s interview after the ESPN show. For many reasons, this coverage has not been provided and is missed by fans. Now, after the ESPN show, you will be able to see the entire check and trophy presentation and winner’s interview and press conference all available for the first time on Xtra Frame.
Stay up-to-date with Xtra Frame prior to the ESPN television show with PBA:39X60 and match play coverage, then watch the ESPN show and then come back to Xtra Frame for a complete wrap up of the tournament.
That’s one way to watch the PBA World Series of Bowling. Even though it is not exactly the same as it has been, the new way now available for watching bowling gives fans more complete coverage of their favorite sport than they have ever had in the past