Bowling TV viewing audience

[RobLV1]

First the PBA tried to identify bowlers with pro golfers. They were required to wear polo shirts with their names on the back, along with nice-looking slacks. Next they tried to capture the NASCAR audience with Jerseys covered with sponsors logos. Now, it seems, they are going after the wrestling viewers with championship belt buckles and announcers that feel compelled to yell at the viewers.

Personally, I think that the viewers who watch bowling are people who bowl themselves; mainly in leagues. What do you think of the new direction of the PBA?

[bowl1820]

First the PBA tried to identify bowlers with pro golfers. They were required to wear polo shirts with their names on the back, along with nice-looking slacks. Next they tried to capture the NASCAR audience with Jerseys covered with sponsors logos. Now, it seems, they are going after the wrestling viewers with championship belt buckles and announcers that feel compelled to yell at the viewers.

Personally, I think that the viewers who watch bowling are people who bowl themselves; mainly in leagues.

I agree with this assessment, mainly current and past league/Tournament bowlers and maybe at least off and on new bowlers coming into the sport. Their not going to really draw in non bowlers at least not for a long time.

What do you think of the new direction of the PBA?

I don't really care about the shows window dressing, I try to just watch the bowling.

If the players are wearing Nascar style jerseys, I was ok with that. I remember when bowlers wore team shirts that's not much different. Having a championship belt like wrestling instead of the usual trophies that's kind of interesting.

Will any of that bring in new bowler's or viewers I doubt it. Could it turn off some viewers? I think the older ones yes, the one that grew up seeing that sort of stuff would just MEH about it.

As long as the bowling is kept pure, about the sport. I don't care if they let the players want to show some style.


Now if they want to start having round girls carrying cards with strikes and spares on them while wearing slingshot monokinis. That might be a little over the top, Though I would be watching.

[J Anderson]

First the PBA tried to identify bowlers with pro golfers. They were required to wear polo shirts with their names on the back, along with nice-looking slacks. Next they tried to capture the NASCAR audience with Jerseys covered with sponsors logos. Now, it seems, they are going after the wrestling viewers with championship belt buckles and announcers that feel compelled to yell at the viewers.

Personally, I think that the viewers who watch bowling are people who bowl themselves; mainly in leagues. What do you think of the new direction of the PBA?

I just watched the Butturf/Jones and Duke/LaVoie matches. I thought the player intros were kind of hokey. Randy Pedersen and Dave Ryan were not yelling, or being any more irritating than they ever were.

Unless PBA stars like Belmonte and Troupe will be appearing on WWE broadcasts, this looks more like the PBA taking some marketing dollars to let the WWE promote wrestling to bowling fans than the other way round.

[boatman37]

I don't care for the 'window dressing' as it was called but will still watch. Trying to grab more audience using gimmicks isn't a great business plan in my opinion but that's all above my pay grade

[Ryster]

The WWE tie-in is most likely a by-product of the PBA being on FOX national instead of FS1. WWE is on FOX, bowling is on FOX, it is all marketing.

The intros were also part of the FOX national airing. With bowling being on the national broadcast network, I am sure that Colie Edison wanted to give the broadcast a certain level of polish so that non-bowlers tuning in on a Saturday night are seeing something more akin to a typical sports broadcast.

Bowling is airing on a national broadcast network, that viewers can get over-the-air if they don't have cable. This is opening bowling to potentially hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of viewers who otherwise wouldn't even see a bowling telecast. If a different style of player intro and a WWE tie-in is what had to be done to expand viewership that is fine by me. It is all being done to make sure that bowling telecasts can continue.