AIFA/Simply Me TV Deal

[MediaMan]

Any word on the deal. Was looking forward to seeing the Baltimore game.

[insane_asylum]

I have heard nor seen anything.

I know that the AZ Adrenaline were working on trying to get local coverage for their games in Arizona on KAZT TV....but with the recent loss of their GM and now the untimely death of the TV stations GM (he was killed in a car wreck this past weekend) that things may not transpire as they(team) thought they would.

:(

[MommaColt]

With less then two months to kickoff, has anyone seen any information locally about AIFA games being aired in their areas? It still says, according to the Reading website, that their opener vs. Baltimore will be televised nationally.

The SimplyMe.TV games/dates are now on the Augusta Colts website (AugustaColts.com).

[Tatonka]

On the bright side, everyone but Utah will be on your cell phone at least once, but it's not as balanced as I would have hoped for if I were an AIFA team owner.

Canton, a former champ and Huntington, who looks like a contender with most of the Lakeland staff and roster on board, will only appear one time each. Same for West newbies Arizona and inexplicably, Wyoming. Utah is not scheduled. Seven teams get two games and two more get three apiece so that's good, and Baltimore and Fayetteville get four games. There's a final TBA game and it's indicated that it will be out west, so here's to hoping they get the Adrenaline and Cavalry matched up or throw the Saints a bone so fans who can receive the signal on their phones will have an opportunity to see them.

Erie, Columbus, Wyoming (& Utah obviously) will not host SimplyMe produced games according to that schedule.
_________________________________________

So at this time, what markets have chosen to purchase this national programming package from SimplyMe, or is that information confidential?

[mel3476]

This is what I was trying to get last week. Of course SimplyMe TV was not going to produce anything meaningful. I never expected them to, and the KoolAid drinkers never had a single response to give to the posts that I had. This whole TV deal was nothing but a sham, and I expect nothing from it into the future. If this was a legit deal, I would think the west would have a shot at survival, but I don't think it will work into the future. Should it last next season, it will not look anything like it does this season. It was a nice try, but please...please potential investors, do your homework. You will save yourself a ton of money and effort in doing so.

[insane_asylum]

So...the games shown on a little 1.2" cellular phone screen. Now i'm really impressed.
I knew this was gonna be big....but I had no idea it was gonna be huge.

NOT

[Tatonka]

So...the games shown on a little 1.2" cellular phone screen. Now i'm really impressed.
I knew this was gonna be big....but I had no idea it was gonna be huge.

NOT

I don't know about you, but even if I WANTED to see Mississippi at Florida, my cell phone battery wouldn't last the entire three hours needed to see the whole game. And besides, I'm not gonna sit around the house to watch my phone; if I'm using my cell it's because I'm away from home... and on what occasion would I have three hours straight to watch a game on it? While I'm driving?

I understand the streaming video highlights (ESPN does this) and stuff to catch what you missed while you were out, like those commercials of the guy in a wedding... but who's gonna watch a football game on a cell phone? There's still no comprehensive list of stations that have purchased the rights to "air" these games "nationally."

[insane_asylum]

There's supposed to be internet access similar to CHL network...but some of us know how clunky that can be sometimes. Audio and video signal being lost, poor audio, overlapping audio streams, fuzzy picture, bad camera work, etc.

Again....i'll watch and see what happens.

[Tatonka]

If it's video webcasts, a la the failed AIFA-TV experiment from last season, then it needs to be promoted as such; not a "national television deal" as is continually reported on the websites and press releases.

There's nothing inherently wrong with video webcasts, they just did it so poorly last season and have completely abandoned it and moved onto something that could be an even bigger diaster. B2 Networks has successfully produced af2 and various hockey leagues' games for years now, but the AIFA couldn't lure in new owners without selling them on the idea of coast-to-coast television broadcasts to sell ad-time for.

If you can't show me when and where my ad will appear and how many people will see it, there's no way in hell my business gives you it's money for advertising. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

[BananaCat]

If it's video webcasts, a la the failed AIFA-TV experiment from last season, then it needs to be promoted as such; not a "national television deal" as is continually reported on the websites and press releases.

There's nothing inherently wrong with video webcasts, they just did it so poorly last season and have completely abandoned it and moved onto something that could be an even bigger diaster. B2 Networks has successfully produced af2 and various hockey leagues' games for years now, but the AIFA couldn't lure in new owners without selling them on the idea of coast-to-coast television broadcasts to sell ad-time for.

If you can't show me when and where my ad will appear and how many people will see it, there's no way in hell my business gives you it's money for advertising. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
I have to agree with you. You're making too much sense though, so your advice will probably be ignored.

[Tatonka]

1) Wouldn't you think these 50 stations would be known by now and advertising the games?

Yes, I would have thought that since there is a schedule of games available, and kickoff is closing in, that the league would be able to release a comprehensive list of markets that will be airing the games. Also, which markets will air ALL games vs. the markets that may only choose to air the game(s) that involve their market's team. What use is it to me if Anaheim airs all the games but I'm in an AIFA market and I only might see one game because my local station will only pick up the one game my local team is involved in?

Remember though, the league kicked out a huge list of stations last summer that were going to be carrying the championship and all-star game and they trumpeted the "international" availability of the game. What was the quote? "Available in 40 million households" or something obscene like that? I spoke with the guy who arranged that deal, and he confirmed that no where near that many stations picked up the games and the available household viewing number was a fraction of that amount. So I'll take anything from the AIFA with a grain of salt. A football-sized grain at that.

[thefridge81]

[B]1)So I'll take anything from the AIFA with a grain of salt. A football-sized grain at that.

Easy on the cholesterol there tatonka. Eating that much salt could be hazardous to your health! :p

[Tatonka]

Actually, my cholesterol is great... must be genetic because I eat all the wrong stuff. Had it checked last year and it was real low.

Sodium on the other hand, I can't get enough of. For some reason I've always had a low blood pressure so all the extra sodium chloride in the ol' blood stream helps keep the pressure up.

Wow did we get off-topic quickly or what?

Oh, yeah... trying to read AIFA press releases is what's really hazardous to your health. ;)

[newdawn]

For those of you who are blaming SimpleME TV for the AIFA's inability to live up to your national tv expectations, you should be more informed before 1) arriving at such negative conclusions 2) spreading them on the web and 3) attempt to tarnish a good company's (SimplyMe's) reputation. To begin with, the AIFA expected SimplyME to waste unlimited production dollars on AIFA events which could not pull national advertisers. Without major advertisers consistently interested in the programming (AIFA games), NO network in its right mind is going to continue to spend money without a return. That is one main reason the deal fell through.

In addition, intrigue between the league and individual team owners created a toxic atmosphere behind the scenes. One other thing you should know: The AIFA shamelessly exploits its players, paying each only $250. per game. Sounds like a lot to a high school kid, but pittance compared to the money team owners and the league are making. What's more, these naive players have no union to represent them and few options if seriously injured during an AIFA game. In short, they perform with all their heart for the league and the fans, hoping for a shot at the Pros, but more than likely will end up with chronic injuries and broken dreams.

I know these things because I am a neutral party that was privy to the intricasies of the AIFA/SimplyME situation. Having stumbled upon the negative comments posted here, I felt compelled to set the record straight for anyone who might read the misinformation a disgruntled / ill-informed AIFA fan might perpetuate about SimplyME TV.

The moral of the story: Don't pass judgment until you know the facts. Otherwise, you speak as an ignorant person.

[newdawn]

For those of you who are blaming SimpleME TV for the AIFA's inability to live up to your national tv expectations, you should be more informed before 1) arriving at such negative conclusions 2) spreading them on the web and 3) attempt to tarnish a good company's (SimplyMe's) reputation. To begin with, the AIFA expected SimplyME to waste unlimited production dollars on AIFA events which could not pull national advertisers. Without major advertisers consistently interested in the programming (AIFA games), NO network in its right mind is going to continue to spend money without a return. That is one main reason the deal fell through.

In addition, intrigue between the league and individual team owners created a toxic atmosphere behind the scenes. One other thing you should know: The AIFA shamelessly exploits its players, paying each only $250. per game. Sounds like a lot to a high school kid, but pittance compared to the money team owners and the league are making. What's more, these naive players have no union to represent them and few options if seriously injured during an AIFA game. In short, they perform with all their heart for the league and the fans, hoping for a shot at the Pros, but more than likely will end up with chronic injuries and broken dreams.

I know these things because I am a neutral party that was privy to the intricasies of the AIFA/SimplyME situation. Having stumbled upon the negative comments posted here, I felt compelled to set the record straight for anyone who might read the misinformation a disgruntled / ill-informed AIFA fan might perpetuate about SimplyME TV.

The moral of the story: Don't pass judgment until you know the facts. Otherwise, you speak as an ignorant person.

[newdawn]

The SimplyME TV AIFA deal may have worked out had there been major interest from sponsors in the AIFA's games. SimplyME produced a number of games which were aired as scheduled. Unfortunately, the major advertisers didn't bite, SimplyME's expectations weren't met and the network subsequently exercised its right to terminate its agreement with the league.

[exit322]

The SimplyME TV AIFA deal may have worked out had there been major interest from sponsors in the AIFA's games. SimplyME produced a number of games which were aired as scheduled. Unfortunately, the major advertisers didn't bite, SimplyME's expectations weren't met and the network subsequently exercised its right to terminate its agreement with the league.

Otherwise translated into "this is exactly what all of us here thought would happen." Good businesses usually utilize the theory of "foresight."

And I thank you for bumping this 16-month-old topic.

[preeths]

The SimplyME TV AIFA deal may have worked out had there been major interest from sponsors in the AIFA's games. SimplyME produced a number of games which were aired as scheduled. Unfortunately, the major advertisers didn't bite, SimplyME's expectations weren't met and the network subsequently exercised its right to terminate its agreement with the league.

Rather than blather on about player compensation while insulting those who cared enough to follow this fiasco, why didn't you start with this tidbit? If SimplyMe had an out in the contract if certain benchmarks weren't met, why not just say that and leave it at that. We can all understand that. Your other post looks like an unnecessary shot at the league, and though you claim to be an unbiased third party, you don't come across as such.

[daytonadan]

Cut her some slack, Paul ... the effects of jumping forward in time from when this was an issue probably caused some temporary lapses.

{I know. I just couldn't resisit.}

[newdawn]

Hey Preeths, point well taken. Was just being candid after receiving firsthand, the information about the players that I shared with you. And you know what? I always become biased when I discover young people with real dreams are being coerced with false promises. If you have children of your own, or ever had a dream you pursued with all you had, only to find out you'd been exploited, I would expect you to understand. On that note, having said my piece, I now move on to my next mission for justice. Thanks for the lively exchange and best of everything to you.

[phydeaux72]

On that note, having said my piece, I now move on to my next mission for justice.

How many years back are you going to go this time around to dig up the next dead and forgotten topic?

[gonzo13]

Hey Preeths, point well taken. Was just being candid after receiving firsthand, the information about the players that I shared with you. And you know what? I always become biased when I discover young people with real dreams are being coerced with false promises. If you have children of your own, or ever had a dream you pursued with all you had, only to find out you'd been exploited, I would expect you to understand. On that note, having said my piece, I now move on to my next mission for justice. Thanks for the lively exchange and best of everything to you.

How exactly are the players exploited? What were the false promises? These guys all know what they are going to be paid before they step on the field. You are right about one thing, the TV deal could have worked if there had been any major advertisers. But don't you think that's something that should have been researched before hand?

[preeths]

gonzo, I have to ask the same questions. Yes, the pay isn't great, but everybody knows that going in. Players are NOT going to make a living on the indoor game. The economics just aren't there. Even drawing 10k/game with some national TV exposure and decent sponsors, trying to do so has nearly killed the AFL.

Also agreed that SimplyMe shouldn't have been taken aback by this fact. How in the world did they not know that going in? These leagues generally market the everyman quality of their athletes at least sporadically. Sorry, I don't have much sympathy for either side in the SimplyMe-AIFA TV debacle. Both sides should have known better going in.