BallReviews

General Category => PBA => Topic started by: link7298 on July 21, 2012, 10:07:08 PM

Title: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: link7298 on July 21, 2012, 10:07:08 PM
PBA Xtra Frame should be free!  That is all.
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: Dave81644 on July 22, 2012, 05:44:09 PM
And how will that get paid for?
I imagine there is a fair cost for them to produce what they do
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: Russell on July 22, 2012, 09:01:04 PM
If they had some issues today...sorry to hear that.

I personally think it's the best $65 I have ever spent as a fan of the game.  I make it a point to watch Xtra Frame over the Sunday telecast.
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: link7298 on July 22, 2012, 10:35:08 PM
advertisements....youtube is free
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: Dave81644 on July 23, 2012, 06:49:01 AM
You tube isn't live though.

If you don't like it, you don't have to use it.

I currently do not subscribe, to many issues
Once they are ironed out, I may do so
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: Russell on July 23, 2012, 09:14:32 AM
Dave I'll be honest I don't see many issues at all.  Sure when they are on remote at a random regional the connection may have some small issues, but that is simply because they are at the mercy of the bowling center's connection.  Overall I think they are MUCH better than a couple of years ago.

I would recommend doing the short purchase time and giving it a try next time they are doing an event.  You may be surprised :)
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: link7298 on July 23, 2012, 12:59:43 PM
Its not that I do not like, I just do not think it needs to be charged for since most can only watch in a small monitor. For me it really just come from an overall frustration in the sports need to charge for everything and cannot figure out why there is such a decline in participation. BowlTV doesn't charge for their streams? I would rather have that money go towards my kids bowling a pro-am...but then again unless you live in Las Vegas or outside the USA there are no pro-am's to bowl.

Bottom line is I got a link on Facebook to watch the doubles on Xtra and it ticked me off about the fee to watch it. I remember looking so forward to the tour coming to town and being able to go and watch the all the rounds in person. Now that the tour doesn't "tour" (whole other forum topic) this is the only way to watch the real meat and potatoes of the tournament.
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: NHLfan88 on July 23, 2012, 01:39:36 PM
It's is a good idea that has some issues.  The quality of the broadcast really needs to be improved.   Would be nice if you had a choice of a few different pairs so you can see the people you want.  Also It gets a bit old listening to the fat guy mouth breathing into his microphone.
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: Spider Man on July 23, 2012, 08:17:40 PM






What production does Utube do? It's just a platform for dopey pet videos and the like from subscribers. Xtraframe has to travel to site, maintain equipment, compensate staff, etc. Poor comparison. Also I recall in the past Xtraframe has had promotional free periods.





advertisements....youtube is free
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: link7298 on July 23, 2012, 09:26:15 PM

youtube may of been a bad comparision but bowltv is not and niether is any other sport that streams games online for free with the ability to use any camera angle you choose.

All I am saying is with minimal effort the PBA could make this a free service. even if you only had to pay for live and the archived links were free to watch. It is just another place where they have dropped the ball.

Also be careful calling something a dopey pet video when being named after a comic book hero! LOL!



What production does Utube do? It's just a platform for dopey pet videos and the like from subscribers. Xtraframe has to travel to site, maintain equipment, compensate staff, etc. Poor comparison. Also I recall in the past Xtraframe has had promotional free periods.
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: Spider Man on July 24, 2012, 05:57:40 AM
"With minimal effort the PBA could make this a free service." Again somebody has to pay for it. The PBA pays to be on espn - not the other way around. And in case you haven't noticed, prize funds aren't what they used to be for the pros. The answer would be more advertisers, which is the age old dilemma.





youtube may of been a bad comparision but bowltv is not and niether is any other sport that streams games online for free with the ability to use any camera angle you choose.

All I am saying is with minimal effort the PBA could make this a free service. even if you only had to pay for live and the archived links were free to watch. It is just another place where they have dropped the ball.

Also be careful calling something a dopey pet video when being named after a comic book hero! LOL!



What production does Utube do? It's just a platform for dopey pet videos and the like from subscribers. Xtraframe has to travel to site, maintain equipment, compensate staff, etc. Poor comparison. Also I recall in the past Xtraframe has had promotional free periods.

Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: Russell on July 24, 2012, 09:06:13 AM
Actually the bowltv vs. Xtraframe comparison is great...having watched both live quite a bit the video quality on bowltv is NOWHERE close to the same.  XtraFrame in my opinion is better video quality, and great analysis.

Perhaps a better comparison would be insidebowling.com's streaming service.  The quality is close to Xtraframe...and it's free...but guess what...

There are commercials you have to watch every few minutes.

There are no free lunches....Xtraframe is only $5/month for MANY hours of coverage that you don't get on ESPN.
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: Spider Man on July 24, 2012, 10:46:16 AM
Russell, well stated. We all know the PBA is struggling so why not help a little by paying up the $5?


Actually the bowltv vs. Xtraframe comparison is great...having watched both live quite a bit the video quality on bowltv is NOWHERE close to the same.  XtraFrame in my opinion is better video quality, and great analysis.

Perhaps a better comparison would be insidebowling.com's streaming service.  The quality is close to Xtraframe...and it's free...but guess what...

There are commercials you have to watch every few minutes.

There are no free lunches....Xtraframe is only $5/month for MANY hours of coverage that you don't get on ESPN.
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: link7298 on July 24, 2012, 12:48:32 PM
Thanks Russell, That was a well put comparision. I have not seen the coverage on insidebowling.com and will definitely check it out.

It still comes back to the fact that PBA is struggling and what is the best way to turn it around. Do you try and make as much money as you can from the die hard fans there are out there? or do you make attempts to show your product to as many people as possible to grow a bigger following. I know this is a bad analogy but all that most people see are the tv finals and have no appreciation for the path it took to get there and it would be like only watching the Super Bowl in football. If you only watch the Super Bowl you have no understanding of the difficult road it took for the teams to go through the regular season and the play offs to get there. I know its a bad anaology but I hope you understand what I mean by it and how it could give more appreciation to the bowlers in the finals.

Those watching the online streams are already huge fans of bowling and those fans already pay enough to the sport.
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: joeschmoe on July 24, 2012, 02:02:56 PM
PBA Xtra Frame should be free!  That is all.
A better question for the OP would be:Do YOU work for free???
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: sabman on July 24, 2012, 06:41:39 PM
The Luci Bonneau Doubles competition was horribly pixelated on XtraFrame.  I hope this was an isolated case due to being at an unfamiliar venue, because it was unwatchable for me.  XtraFrame upgraded their stream quality to HD for the PBA Tournament of Champions back in April, and it was amazing, but it looks like they went into cost savings mode for the summer.  The senior tour coverage XtraFrame was respectable quality, but not as good as the TOC.  Bowl TV has very good quality for being free. 
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: Dave81644 on July 24, 2012, 09:37:51 PM
joe = +1
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: link7298 on July 24, 2012, 11:04:56 PM
@joeshmoe - I volunteer with the youth leagues at my bowling center as well as will be helping with major youth tournament in the fall. It is a small but I feel nessecary contribution to helping the sport.   I also help with fundraisers at my son's special needs class to help pay for activities they do. That way the kids parents do not have to pay out of pocket for the activities. Its kind of like the PBA getting sponsors to pay for the Xtra frame and not making the only true fans to pay for it.

@Dave81644   joe = -1
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: joeschmoe on July 25, 2012, 03:11:31 PM
@joeshmoe - I volunteer with the youth leagues at my bowling center as well as will be helping with major youth tournament in the fall. It is a small but I feel nessecary contribution to helping the sport.   I also help with fundraisers at my son's special needs class to help pay for activities they do. That way the kids parents do not have to pay out of pocket for the activities. Its kind of like the PBA getting sponsors to pay for the Xtra frame and not making the only true fans to pay for it.

@Dave81644   joe = -1
   Hey kudos to you for doing a very noble thing, not only for your son, but for youth bowling. I wish there were a hundred like you. But you are a Volunteer. For the PBA, as has been stated, they have invested alot of money in Xtra Frame.  I doubt they have the capitol to pay everyone involved out of pocket aka corporate sponsors or it would be a free service as it was at one time when it was Strike Pass.
   As it has been pointed out to you, the money has to come from somewhere.
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: BackToBasics on July 30, 2012, 09:06:00 AM
I'm sorry, but Xtra Frame needs to get with the times.  The fact that it's not mobile and multi-platform is ridiculous. I don't want to have to sit in front of the computer to watch the telecasts. 

I watched the live finals of the Jr Gold on BowlTV for FREE on my IPhone and it was very good.  I am not saying Xtra Frame should be free, but for the price they charge and the severe limitations of it, it's a terrible service and I won't pay a dime for it until it uses 20th century tech.
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: MI 2 AZ on July 30, 2012, 01:07:08 PM
I'm sorry, but Xtra Frame needs to get with the times.  The fact that it's not mobile and multi-platform is ridiculous. I don't want to have to sit in front of the computer to watch the telecasts. 

I watched the live finals of the Jr Gold on BowlTV for FREE on my IPhone and it was very good.  I am not saying Xtra Frame should be free, but for the price they charge and the severe limitations of it, it's a terrible service and I won't pay a dime for it until it uses 20th century tech.

LOL.  Well, I guess you should be paying for it since it is using later tech than 20th century tech. 


Current century is the 21st century.  20th ended in 2000. 

Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: Stickythumbhole on October 17, 2012, 01:31:30 PM
I'm sorry, but Xtra Frame needs to get with the times.  The fact that it's not mobile and multi-platform is ridiculous. I don't want to have to sit in front of the computer to watch the telecasts. 

I watched the live finals of the Jr Gold on BowlTV for FREE on my IPhone and it was very good.  I am not saying Xtra Frame should be free, but for the price they charge and the severe limitations of it, it's a terrible service and I won't pay a dime for it until it uses 20th century tech.

LOL.  Well, I guess you should be paying for it since it is using later tech than 20th century tech. 


Current century is the 21st century.  20th ended in 2000. 

  That is precisely his point.
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: ImBackInTheGame on October 17, 2012, 02:56:03 PM
If they make it free then they won't be able to pay Jackie... lol

I like xtra frame and I can even watch it on my android phone.  It would be nice if it were free, but since the PBA has their hands in it, that will never happen.  Bowl TV is great and free, but only show USBC events.
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: BackToBasics on October 17, 2012, 03:03:01 PM
I wouldn't have a problem with paying for the service.  However, when the service is charging a fee but is subpar and not mobile ready (iOS specificially), then I will not subscribe. 

My point is that there are FREE services offered with better service than what XtraFrame CHARGES.  Heck, purchase some LTE phones and stream it to Youtube  :o.
Title: Re: PBA Xtra Frame Should be free!
Post by: tommyboy74 on October 17, 2012, 09:39:50 PM
Even UStream.tv carries a lot of the bowling events and all for free.  Plus they normally have much better video quality than Xtra Frame.