Originally Posted by Matt Trulio (Post 4929105)

You're touching on a great point. Does the sport have enough viewer appeal—hence advertising appeal—to sustain coverage beyond livestream, which to be kind struggled this time around

Originally Posted by HuskerPerformance (Post 4929142)

Pay Per View? Really? LOL The answer is looking back to what attracted fans in the past. It all starts with the video capture. I can deal with dopey announcers as long as the video gives me the action. For Xinsurance, as I mentioned earlier, recruit an icon of offshore video Jeff Gerardi Freezeframe video as a consultant, if he still is alive and able. His videos to date, bar none, were indeed the best. Yea, at times his commentators were not the best, but he knew how to capture and get THE shot! Imagine this, Jeff pioneered on board cameras a decade before GoPros were around. He would hardwire rig the cameras painstakingly to our boat and de rig when we were finished. Only caveat was if we crashed we had to pay $600 for the setup.

Get the video capture under control then concentrate on the commentators. Back in the day, one, if not the best commentators, was Rich Luhrs. Besides being comfortable in front of the camera, he knew race boats, engines, equipment, history, development. In short he knew the sport. Often in the chopper he would include another expert who either was a racer, engine builder or race boat rigger which added more expert information to the viewers. Stan Lane and Jim Hendricks for Superboat International, although goofballs at times, were not experts but could hold their own and keep the flow of the race story interesting. Recently, Bob Teague commentates on shootouts. I look forward to hearing Bobs opinion on each run as a trusted and proven expert.

Being an ole fart who has been involved in this sport from the mid 1970s, Its great seeing relatively new sponsorships get into OUR sport and I wish them the very best. I hope they heed recommendations because the garbage I saw this weekend is hurting OUR sport.

Originally Posted by bajaholic (Post 4929236)

Great advise, but after ALL that writing, it still comes down to : How do you pay for it? And from what I am reading between the lines is, its someone else's issue to pay for "our sport" and then expect the tab to be picked up, so you can have everything you want? THAT right there is the problem. I am not calling you out, just pointing out, EVERYONE needs to participate in some form financially, or there will never be a way to grow and sustain what is a never ending uphill battle.

How do we get everyone to help pay so we can get all upgrades? Let’s start there.

Originally Posted by Wildman_grafix (Post 4929244)

My view is this "sport of racing" will really never be more than club level when comparing to other sports. There is no money to be made, it's really just people that have the ability wanting to race.

It's a show that is hard to sell to the masses for money, because of the reasons posted.

Originally Posted by Tartilla (Post 4929253)

What made racing so good in the past was innovation and effort could get you to the top of the podium. Now, it's money that gets you there.

This is also from an advanced level tech of the sport.

Create classes and limitations that promote innovation and race in interesting water. I wouldn't want to watch an offshore boat drive around in a puddle.

Originally Posted by lake p.a.l. (Post 4928991)

Absolutely pitiful tv coverage this weekend. We all tried to get the coverage or live streaming but nobody could get it. Took buds boat to Redheads today & even their "coverage" was awful. Truly sad this day & age how this all played out.