2018 BDO World Championship- Lakeside- 6th-14th January

[devosteve]

Let us forget that anything but coverage on a major channel is a step backwards, although some will paint whatever news comes out as magnificent.

Certain that the mantra "it's better than not being televised" will be chanted by the faithful.

also blame will be shifted. I remember folk blaming the BBC re them dropping lakeside.

[Ginge]

They will be issuing a fatwa on Channel 4 for not being loyal, or something.

[oche balboa]

I rang them yesterday and they said its "In the hands of the BDO"

[Ginge]

One assumes the BDO are scrambling round trying to find a broadcaster, then.

[oche balboa]

Of which there are only two options

Freesports/Premier Sports And/or BT Sport

Streamed only

[Ginge]

Well yes, given Channel 4 have wiped their Darts page and now goes to a "no longer found" page, we can safely assume they arent renewing.

[nikkiboy]

Let us forget that anything but coverage on a major channel is a step backwards, although some will paint whatever news comes out as magnificent.

Certain that the mantra "it's better than not being televised" will be chanted by the faithful.

No it's not, for other events like the WDT it's fine but Lakeside is the showpiece and CH4 paid £400k for the rights so if they give them away for nothing they will completely devalue that product. It would be better to let it go ahead not televised this year and start work on a new broadcaster for the next year.

[Ginge]

Let us forget that anything but coverage on a major channel is a step backwards, although some will paint whatever news comes out as magnificent.

Certain that the mantra "it's better than not being televised" will be chanted by the faithful.

No it's not, for other events like the WDT it's fine but Lakeside is the showpiece and CH4 paid £400k for the rights so if they give them away for nothing they will completely devalue that product. It would be better to let it go ahead not televised this year and start work on a new broadcaster for the next year.

Thats all well and good but if no decent broadcaster wants it this time around, what is likely to change in 12 months? The "battle" has been fought and lost.

[oche balboa]

I find it astonishing that C4 has been lost, the viewing figures were not bad at all and it was a good gap filler for C4.

[Ginge]

The programming they show in the same slot is cheaper to make. As an example, whacking 5 extra episodes of Countdown onto an order for 245 a year or whatever is going to work out much cheaper per hour than a 9 day extensive outside broadcast, John Parrack has told us what the cost of this can be, add to that the initial rights outlay etc....

[devosteve]

I find it astonishing that C4 has been lost, the viewing figures were not bad at all and it was a good gap filler for C4.

Are you 100% certain that C4 has been lost?

[devosteve]

Let us forget that anything but coverage on a major channel is a step backwards, although some will paint whatever news comes out as magnificent.

Certain that the mantra "it's better than not being televised" will be chanted by the faithful.

No it's not, for other events like the WDT it's fine but Lakeside is the showpiece and CH4 paid £400k for the rights so if they give them away for nothing they will completely devalue that product. It would be better to let it go ahead not televised this year and start work on a new broadcaster for the next year.

Thats all well and good but if no decent broadcaster wants it this time around, what is likely to change in 12 months? The "battle" has been fought and lost.

The possible answer to that question is: Barry Hearn.

[Ginge]

I find it astonishing that C4 has been lost, the viewing figures were not bad at all and it was a good gap filler for C4.

Are you 100% certain that C4 has been lost?

Chris Mason says it has, Nicholson on an interview filmed at the fishing thing last week said he had no idea what was going on (both have worked on Lakeside the last 2 years, the latter actually on the Channel 4 bit), Channel 4 have wiped the website and no longer exists, its been 8 months since the last Lakeside finished and there has been no renewal news, Channel 4 have bought other sport and one fixture of which is likely to clash with the darts on the same weekend as the final...

All the signs dont look good, Steve.

The possible answer to that question is: Barry Hearn.

Its an absolutely ridiculous answer. Hearn wont be coming in and saving Lakeside as much as I wont be converting to Islam.

[Ginge]

As an aside, just been told that there is a crunch meeting at Lakeside this weekend regarding the darts, and that Des actually hasnt been in contact with Lakeside yet so nobody has any idea what is going on....

[devosteve]

Re hearn. I have not just thrown that name there without context.

He mentioned about helping them in some way.
He wants them to drop the professional part of the title.

would he be willing to save a rebranded lakeside with the bdo accepting (officially) their secondary position in the darting world?

Just a thought, but I don't think a ridiculous one.

ps don't forget to take your shoes off on Friday ginge

[devosteve]

As an aside, just been told that there is a crunch meeting at Lakeside this weekend regarding the darts, and that Des actually hasnt been in contact with Lakeside yet so nobody has any idea what is going on....

If your info is correct that that's got to be an incredible meeting for the future of the BDO.

Re Des. I think he can't lose. If a successful outcome is achieved he claims the victory and becomes the man who turned around the BDO's fortunes. If a 'bad' outcome' then the blame will fall on the previous board (and especially Sue who is still on this board!). Des will claim he couldn't save the situation that he had been left with.

TV is obviously key. Folks have said Potter will o0nly stump up the prize fund if on a major channel. maybe. But if on a minor channel he may offer, say, to pay 50% of prize fund. It may not be all or nothing with potter 9thus BDO only stumping up half of what they have contracted themselves to do.

[Ginge]

Keeping the event at Lakeside and on a major channel isnt "turning around" anything, its a standstill situation.

[Buzz Fledderjohn]

I would imagine that once you lose the word "professional" from the title of the tournament, it devalues it to the TV companies as a marketable commodity.

As it stands, TV companies seem uninterested in trying to sell the "World Professional Darts Championship" to a weekday afternoon audience of octogenarians and the perennially jobless who have no idea how many of the players they are watching actually make a living from the game.
I would imagine they'd run a mile from the "World Pub Chuckers Classic" or whatever Barry chose to re-brand it as.

Whilst Hearn giving the BDO a helping hand is no longer as far fetched as it once was, I don't see him busting a gut to get whatever is left of Lakeside on the telly.

[markymark]

I'd imagine that every TV company knows the word "professional" is irrelevant in the title now. As far as the general public is concerned, this is the minor show.

[Buzz Fledderjohn]

Keeping the event at Lakeside and on a major channel isnt "turning around" anything, its a standstill situation.

Whilst this is unquestionably correct, you only need to look at what has happened over the last couple of years to see that in BDO land, something not getting too much worse is seen as a glorious victory for all concerned.
If Des does manage to maintain the status quo, he can paint that as an monumental triumph to the faithful, and they'll lap it up.
You need to remember we're not the gallery he's playing to.