I completely support MLG's decision to make this event pay-per-view only and in my opinion this is a fair and level-headed decision by the TL admins. Good call!

grs

Germany2339 Posts

February 23 2012 08:17 GMT

#262

Good deceision. If they make a pure business out of it, they can advertise. What I really like is, that this also draws a clear line between "support e-sports" and "buy our stuff".

Doublemint

Austria8760 Posts

February 23 2012 08:18 GMT

#263

I also like this decision. Whether it came out of principle or if there was financial disagreement about a promotion fine with MLG, I don´t care so much, though I tend to believe in the integrity of TL.

syllogism

Finland5948 Posts

February 23 2012 08:21 GMT

#264

Also, how come broodwar events are included despite them not providing free streams for most of the audience? Sure, there are almost always restreams, but that is something that doesn't depend on tournament organizers themselves.

Youtakenocandle

543 Posts

February 23 2012 08:23 GMT

#265

Sucks for the people that did pay. If this will hurt MLG that shows why Esports have a long way to go though. If viewership depends on a small calendar on one website.

thewax

Austria365 Posts

February 23 2012 08:29 GMT

#266

Uhm am I wrong or did i just realize that even tho i have a gold membership i would still have to pay 20 bucks to watch the Winter Arena???

I hope i'm wrong...

DrZz

Romania70 Posts

February 23 2012 08:30 GMT

#267

Very nice response from TL. I am though very sad that MLG looses a lot of viewership through this decision...

Wroshe

Netherlands1051 Posts

February 23 2012 08:32 GMT

#268

On February 23 2012 17:30 razz wrote:
Very nice response from TL. I am though very sad that MLG looses a lot of viewership through this decision...

They won't. People that paid already will know where to find them, people that haven't paid can't view to begin with.

Looking at the demographic of MLG viewers it also isn't likely that there would be a lot last minute purchases, considering that the value for money would then be even lower.

jmbthirteen

United States10734 Posts

February 23 2012 08:34 GMT

#269

On February 23 2012 16:28 lichter wrote:

Show nested quote +

On February 23 2012 16:25 jmbthirteen wrote:

On February 23 2012 16:13 lichter wrote:

On February 23 2012 16:00 Spaceneil8 wrote:

On February 23 2012 15:40 lichter wrote:

On February 23 2012 15:35 Spaceneil8 wrote:

On February 23 2012 15:15 lichter wrote:

On February 23 2012 14:50 Xyl wrote:
So much unnecessary drama!
Between GSL 2012 Season 1 Solo and Team matches, MLG 2012 Season 1 matches, MLG Winter Arena matches, GSL's King of Kongs Tournament and December's AOL, I have watched so much Starcraft 2 these past 3 months and still have 1.5 months before both organizations have their 2012 season 2 events. With way more than enough games from only 2 organizations, I can go to the source to watch the events and don't require some calendar for easier access.
I feel it's comparable to folks who pirate movies - they want to watch as many movies as possible but don't want to pay for it and find a way to complain that each release in theaters or DVD/Bluray is too expensive. Meanwhile, those of us who care about quality chose what we watch and support our hobbies/passions with our income. We also understand that there's insufficient time to enjoy all the high quality releases even if we could afford 'em.

To summarize: MLG will do just fine, Hot Bid. The publicity of the main events will pull in new players much like it always has. And just like any PPV event, the hardcore/interested fans will support them and get an extra dose of awesome matches.

An aside: GOM's 2012 pricing (where even a Premium+ yearly ticket doesn't get you ever 2012 show) should be evidence that this tournament broadcasting is a business, and the best tournament organizers have to find more effective ways to monetize the business. MLG's pricing for 2012 ($20 PPV season tickets x 4 + $20 Gold membership = $100) is still much cheaper than GOM's.

So I did some computations to see if this is true.

According to my math:

GSL will have ~3,350 games this year (counted number of sets per season, multipled by 3 games for simplicity which I will hold consistent for MLG as well, and 5 seasons). A yearly monthly ticket for GSL/GSTL will cost $239.88. That's ~14 games per dollar, without including Off the Record, AoL, and other special tournaments which are included in Monthly Premium +.

MLG Arenas will have ~732 games (61 sets per tournament, 3 games per set like above, 4 seasons). The ticket for the whole year is $100 as you said. So that's 7.32 games per $1.

Based on number of games, GSL has almost twice as many games per dollar (without counting special events) than MLG.

Was bored at work so I was just curious about it :p

Are you just counting Arenas? Why aren't you counting the main events if you are?

The $20 only pay for the Arenas and not the main events. Is the main event still free? Not sure about that one actually. :D No point counting free stuff since GSL can also be watched for free.

Well Arenas might not be 20$, and some are apparently free too. The Main events are free. You are counting free GSL seasons too. Idk, it's just tough to base it on numbers.

All the Arenas, at least right now, are planned to cost $20 unless MLG see that they could earn more at a different price point. So $20 is a fair number since there is no other number to use.

The main events are free, yes, so I didn't include them in the numbers.

There are no free GSL seasons. I counted GSL and GSTL only, since we don't know about AoL yet, but it is included in the ticket. GSL and GSTL cost $19.99 per month, for the Premium+ subscription.

I'm not saying one or the other is better, just wanted to show which has more games per paid dollar.

Anyway if you have any idea how many games from the open bracket get casted (I'm assuming a minority) I can add up to MLG's totals.

Edit: Assuming every round of 3 game from the Open bracket gets shown, as well as every Championship bracket game, around 2172 games will be shown by MLG this year (Arenas + main events). That's 21.72 games per dollar. Though I find it silly to add the main event games in the total, since they are free. If I counted GSL games you could watch for free it would be 3350 games for 0 dollars, though I admit they'd only be in SQ.

Ummm every season of GSL and GSTL is free. Even the AOL's have a free stream now.

Yes yes but like I said there'd be no point for computations if I just counted the free streams (see edit). There'd be no way to compare supposed 'bang for buck' for each tournament. That's why I didn't count the ability to watch GSL free, nor the main tournament of MLG, only paid premium GSL vs MLG Arenas. =/

Anyway I'm off work now so no more boredom for me :D

So its an absolutely meaningless comparison.

Sgt. Bilko

97 Posts

February 23 2012 08:35 GMT

#270

On February 23 2012 16:49 odder wrote:
when you think about it, this thread is free advertising

so is you and me posting in it ^.^

SnapCall

94 Posts

February 23 2012 08:35 GMT

#271

On February 23 2012 17:29 thewax wrote:
Uhm am I wrong or did i just realize that even tho i have a gold membership i would still have to pay 20 bucks to watch the Winter Arena???

I hope i'm wrong...

you get a 5$ discount since you are a gold member, so only 15$. But you have to pay, yes.

thewax

Austria365 Posts

February 23 2012 08:37 GMT

#272

On February 23 2012 17:35 SnapCall wrote:

Show nested quote +

you get a 5$ discount since you are a gold member, so only 15$. But you have to pay, yes.

Thanks, but wow, i dont know if it's stupid ore insane. They really want people to spend 35 dollars on their Gold pass per Year and about 80-100 dollars to watch their arenas?

Wow... thats a low point

Rabbitmaster

1357 Posts

February 23 2012 08:44 GMT

#273

On February 23 2012 12:53 MadJack wrote:
Completly fair, MLG wants to charge money? they also need to pay some fees for other services then.

Yeah, in the words of sundance himself "we are a buisness". And so is TL, and buisnesses do not work by giving away advertising for free.

Amlitzer

United States471 Posts

February 23 2012 08:45 GMT

#274

So MLG has now joined the infamous likes of BigT and other outcast in the TL stream/tournament community.

endy

Switzerland8970 Posts

February 23 2012 08:49 GMT

#275

If MLG can make money with this new PPV system I guess they can afford paying an advertising fee to appear on TL's calendar in the future. Makes perfect sense.

Hrrrrm

United States2081 Posts

February 23 2012 08:50 GMT

#276

On February 23 2012 17:45 Amlitzer wrote:
So MLG has now joined the infamous likes of BigT and other outcast in the TL stream/tournament community.

ROFL! They aren't blacklisted permanently, just as long as they provide a free stream or pay w/e TL was asking. Someone previously said it before as well when TL would link to the free Red and Blue streams on the right hand side but, not the Black and White(beta) streams which were part of the subscription. I wondered at the time why that was the case and now it makes sense. The calendar for me lists events and streams that I could literally just click and watch, not click and take out my credit card to have the possibility to watch. Good move by TL. Lines have to start being drawn and this is a good one.

Sermokala

United States14155 Posts

February 23 2012 08:52 GMT

#277

Good on team liquid to draw the line and get the precedent started for how they list events. I'm 90% sure that this won't be a problem it'll just cause some people to miss a couple games. paying customers are indeed more alert customers on their purchased content. they probably will lose some snap buys from this but a rule must be followed and enforced.

Sufinsil

United States760 Posts

February 23 2012 08:53 GMT

#278

On February 23 2012 17:37 thewax wrote:

Show nested quote +

Well with Gold, you expectation was 4 big live events. You still get those 4 events. GSL charged for other events outside the main GSL and GSTL. I can't not stay up to 3am every night and watch for a couple hours when I have to work at 8. Realistically my only option to watch GSL is to pay.

This thread itself is advertising the Winter Arena. Makes up for the loss of not being listed for free.

Monsen

Germany2548 Posts

February 23 2012 08:56 GMT

#279

What I got out of this: "TL is still in a close and open relationship with MLG". Pics?