Surfing, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing and Bodyboarding News Center. Breaking News, Surfing Games, Surf Movies, Board Size Charts, Surf Videos, Wind and Wave Forecasts, Surf Shop, Surf Spots, Surf Cams, Surf Travel.
ASP World Tour studies online pay-per-view system
Wednesday, 14 March 2012 09:30

Surfing: pay-per-view or beach-to-view

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is studying the possibility of introducing a pay-per-view system for the online broadcast of the ASP World Tour surfing stages.


The number of live stream enthusiasts has been growing steadily in the last years. Millions of surf fans invade the event's official site in order to capture the stoke, from all corners of the world. Surfing has evolved thanks to the digital democracy.

Meanwhile, pro surfers are lobbying for more cash in prize money and sponsoring rights. Surf brands abandon iconic stages - New York, for example - in order to secure their yearly net profits. Which means that the broader audience they helped create is also going to kill their revenues.

"A pay-per-view webcast/broadcast model has been discussed in depth at the ASP Board level, and is an option for moving forward," Dave Prodan, ASP International Media Director, tells ESPN.

"There is obvious resistance to moving away from the free model towards a pay-per-view model in regards to the risk of reduction of fans," Prodan continues.

""There is obvious resistance to moving away from the free model towards a pay-per-view model in regards to the risk of reduction of fans," Prodan continues. "However, if the pay-per-view model were to result in continued premium event locations and perhaps an enhancement upon the delivery of the current product, then one could feasibly estimate that the fan base would be happy to pay for the experience".

While that is absolutely true, it's really important to know who the audience is. SurferToday.com has been studying the profile of the average surfer and the correspondent drill-down by continent, nation, region and city, in the Surf Industry Research study developed.

Current figures show that a pay-per-view surf ticket will dramatically reduce the number of fans following their idols, as well as a drastic number of surf brand contacts with the market.

Of course, it will be different if prices charged are 40$ or 10$ per season. The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing webcast collected 10.4 million views. How much will it cost to watch a single event? One dollar or three dollars? The question remains for both cases: how will surf fans see it?


 

Join our surfing community in Facebook!   Get the top news stories in your Twitter account!   SurferToday.com on Google +   Follow us on Pinterest   SurferToday on Youtube

The best surf watches in the world
Wave Height Forecast
Wind Speed and Direction Forecast
Wave Period
Surf Videos
Surf Books
Surf Movies
Online Surfing Games

SURFING

Riding a 15-foot Teahupoo wave with Shane Dorian
21/05/2013
article thumbnail

Shane Dorian has captured all the glory of a 15-foot Teahupoo wave with his surf camera mount.
We've seen Shane Dorian tasting the power of Nazaré and speaking about the wave of his life. The big wave surfer born on the July 19, 1972, in Hawaii, has published an impressive picture, directly from the Tahitian pit. The mid-May swell that hit "The End of the Road" brought huge, perfect tube rides to the French Polynesian island. Dorian was there to ride the wild beast.


Jordy Smith wins the Billabong Rio Pro 2013
19/05/2013
article thumbnail

Jordy Smith has conquered the Billabong Pro Rio 2013, in clean two-to-four foot (1 meter) waves, at the primary site of Barra da Tijuca, in front of thousands of surf fans.
The best ocean conditions of the entire Billabong Pro Rio 2013 came in the finals' day, with Jordy Smith beating Adriano de Souza in the last heat of the last day of the event waiting period. Win it or break it. Adriano de Souza and Jordy Smith were up and riding with different trumps under their belts. The Brazilian w [ ... ]


+ Surfing News

KITEBOARDING

"Kite Surfer" is the new wind riding game for iOS
22/05/2013
article thumbnail

"Kite Surfer" is the latest kitesurfing game for iPhone and iPad.
Lemondo Entertainment has announced the release of its newest game, "Kite Surfer", an arcade kitesurfing game designed for both iPhone and iPad. "Kite Surfer" is an endless running game, in which players take control of a character by swiping on the display or tilting a mobile device.


Pudla Narapichit hailed Kiteboard Tour Asia 2012/2013 champion
21/05/2013
article thumbnail

Pudla Narapichit and Doque Delos Santos have been crowned the Kiteboard Tour Asia 2012/2013 champions.
With 120 riders from 30 countries, the final and decisive Chinese stage once again broke all records, at Pingtan Island, also known as Haitan Island. The spot is regarded as China's windiest location - regular wind speeds of over 30 knots are recorded over the winter monsoon season and all of the island's old traditional style stone houses need to have rocks placed on top of their tiled roo [ ... ]


+ Kitesurfing News

WINDSURFING

Taty Frans and Kiri Thode blast the Curacao Challenge 2013
17/05/2013
article thumbnail

Taty Frans and Kiri Thode have claimed the Slalom and Freestyle titles at the Curacao Challenge 2013, in the Netherlands Antilles.
A total of 85 windsurfers from some of the world's best sailing countries like Bonaire, Aruba and Curacao competed in front of hundreds of spectators. The 5th edition of the Curacao Challenge showcased an high level of competition mixed with a great atmosphere. The event held a Tow-In Freestyle contest, Slalom races and a SUP battle.


The windsurfing book for young people
14/05/2013
article thumbnail

"Go Windsurfing!" is a windsurfing book for young people published by the Royal Yachting Association.
Written and illustrated by Claudia Myatt, "RYA Go Windsurfing!" offers easy reading style and engaging content to children aged between 7-12 years old. The entertaining and clear format takes the reader from the beginnings through to starting to race and what they need to know to stay safe while out windsurfing. There is also an informative section at the back which explores Windsurfing amaz [ ... ]


+ Windsurfing News

BODYBOARDING

Lachlan Cramsie takes the Arica Chilean Challenge Trials 2013
21/05/2013
article thumbnail

Lachlan Cramsie has stolen the 2013 GoPro IBA Arica Chilean Challenge Trials, in solid and glassy 4-6 foot barreling waves at El Gringo, Chile.
The Australian rider defeated Ruben "Babby" Quiñones, George Humphreys and Roberto Bruno in the final and decisive heat. Nevertheless, all the best seven trialists secured a spot in the main event, where they will compete against the top 24 Grand Slam Series bodyboarders and event wildcards Alan Espinoza, Jake Stone and Diego Cabrera.


Dan Ryan air drops into vertical Teahupoo
15/05/2013
article thumbnail

Dan Ryan has scored epic air drops into deep barrels, in Teahupoo, Tahiti, during the largest swell of the year.
The adrenaline-fueled 13th May 2013 has been considered an historical big wave surfing day, in the French Polynesian island. Too big to paddle-in, too vertical for surfers. No worries. Dan Ryan, member of the big wave bodyboarding club, was one of the few prone riders defying fear, at the Teahupoo bowl. When the moment came, he went for it, big time.


+ Bodyboarding News