Strikeforce to Offer Upcoming Event Live Online With Extra Features
by Cannon Jacques on Apr 7, 2009 11:41 PM EDT
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Michael David Smith explainsThe Strikeforce All Access feature will cost $24.95 on Showtime's web site, and it will give viewers the opportunity to choose their own camera angles and their own audio (either the fight call by Showtime announcers Gus Johnson, Mauro Ranallo and Pat Miletich or the audio corresponding to the chosen camera angle), chat with other fans while the fights are going on, view photos from the fights and purchase the fighters' entrance music from iTunes.
It's really an interesting idea. If one already subscribes to Showtime, it would seem unlikely that they would pay an extra $24.95 for these extra features. However, those without Showtime may be more receptive to such an offer. I'm curious to see how the offering actually functions. At first glance, it seems a bit cost prohibitive when you consider other methods for viewing the event. You can check out the Stikeforce All Access site here.
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It’s on Viewers Choice PPV in Canada for 39.95, and the commercial mentioned none of that fancy stuff.
Now, that might make this thing more appealing if the $39.95 PPV were your other alternative.
by Cannon Jacques on Apr 7, 2009 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I voted no for myself, but this is a neat idea and could certainly come in handy for people who don’t have cable / don’t want to subscribe to Showtime and just want to see the fights. Though as Cannon mentioned in the post, there are other, cheaper (like $24.95 cheaper) ways of watching online, and Showtime is only like $10/month anyway, right?
I actually don’t subscribe to Showtime right now. I’ve always preferred HBO to Showtime, not that you can’t have both. I was thinking like $10-15 as being more reasonable. Of course, Showtime likely doesn’t want it that low as they want to see a bump in subscriptions from MMA fans.
by Cannon Jacques on Apr 7, 2009 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I want these features on the DVD, not the live telecast – I’m not going to put down my bong and beer to act as executive producer.
by Derek Suboticki on Apr 7, 2009 11:07 PM EDT reply actions
I said no, but I might get it anyway. $10 is a snap buy for me. $25…ehhhhh
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I'd POSSIBLY be interested...
but not the first time they roll it out. That sounds like something begging for a buggy rollout. After it happens a time or two if I hear good things I’d consider it to be a really interesting option for certain events.
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by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 7, 2009 11:59 PM EDT reply actions
nothing new for showtime
they have done something similar for their boxing telecasts in the past. i believe they had the fights for purchase for about 15 bucks (maybe even more than that) on showtime ppv for non subscribers. now with the advanced technology they added much more stuff like online streaming, chat, etc in addition to just a fight.
not sure how successful it has been in the past. maybe it was, they did it quite a few times i remember. i’ve always liked showtime and especially their boxing since i was a kid so i’ve always subscribed to it so never had the need for any of this.
might as well subscribe to it in my opinion, its only like 12 bucks. $25 is a bit much for one telecast.
If the price was 20 or lower, I’d definitely buy this, and I get Showtime. I’ve always wanted the option to switch the cameras to see all the technical aspects of the ground game at will. Also, turning the announcers off would be gold. I went to my first live event in February (FN 17) and it was much more engaging without them talking through the whole fight.
price seems alright
It doesn’t seem so bad, most people who regularly buy UFC PPVs (regardless of the “strength” of the card) will probably not have too much of a problem with the price point.
I voted no because if it is streaming on some site online I’d rather watch that and be a part of the live commentary on one of my fav MMA Blogs than go through the hassle of ordering it through showtime online, or whatever.
But, someone did mention that it is on Canadian PPV for 40. If I’m home that day and want to watch it, I’ll probably buy that and watch it more comfortably on my TV.
But over all I think it’s a good idea… even if something like this only sells enough to cover its own costs then I believe a smart, dynamic company will find a way to squeeze some value out of it (not necessarily monetary).
$25
I suprised at how many people voted no.
I don’t get Showtime in my town so I would n’t have a problem paying that much.
I figure that Diaz vs Shamrock is worth $10
Radach vs Smith $5
Rogers vs abongo $5
Santos vs Akano $5
REAL MMA fans should be willin to pay to see their favorite sport.Quit being cheap and support smaller Orgs.
by TheLevi on Apr 8, 2009 2:12 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I don’t think folks are being “cheap.” It comes down to how much you value the card and the features they’re offering. I’m not in the business of supporting an organization just because it’s MMA. Should I feel compelled do this for some reason? I think not. Now, if you value the card in the way that you do and don’t have access to Showtime, you should definitely spend the $24.95. There isn’t, however, an absolute value for any fight card. It’s all personal preference and how that preference relates to each individual’s economic reality.
by Cannon Jacques on Apr 8, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Seems like a waste when I already pay for Showtime.
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by Richard Wade on Apr 9, 2009 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions
$15, thats the sweet spot.
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
More Details
Strikeforce: All Access will cost $24.95 per user and is available for review and pre-order by visiting http://strikeforce.sho.com.
With Strikeforce: All Access, fans can be the producer. Users can toggle between five live cameras surrounding the cage with full pause and rewind capabilities. Audio tracks will include the SHOWTIME telecast fight call by Gus Johnson, Mauro Ranallo and Pat Miletich, and the corresponding audio to the selected camera. SHOWTIME is working with BitGravity, Inc. and Episodic, Inc. to enable this unique multi-camera experience.
Fans will be able to make predictions, comment on live fights, discuss outcomes and even talk a little smack with All Access through a live Facebook® Connect application.
Other Strikeforce: All Access features will include professional photography from the action in the cage, as well as behind-the-scenes, backstage and fan photos. Images will be uploaded during the live event via Flickr, the popular image and video hosting website and online community.
If users want to own the ring-walk music of their favorite fighter, they can purchase select songs via iTunes directly from links on the site.
“SHOWTIME has led the industry in multi-platform initiatives for years,” said Robert Hayes, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Digital Media for SHOWTIME. “We were the first premium network to offer content on iTunes. We were the first to offer Emmy® voters online screenings of SHOWTIME nominees. We partner with over 100 sites when sampling episodes of our original series and SHOWTIME Sports content. And we are the only premium network offering the explosive sport of mixed martial arts.”
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