Comments on: No Love For The Ironman World Championships

By: JC

JC — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 13:47:27 +0000

Kona doesn't make the same day sports news with its winners because it doesn't want to. They have decided long ago that the TV show will give them a much better forum to tell their stories and expose their sponsors than anything they would get with race day coverage.

And, as commented below, they do not see mainstream media really caring enough about thee sport (as shown by other championships) to risk "giving away the story" by pushing real time coverage over their meticulously crafted show 6 weeks later.

Remember - Ironman is owned by the people who own Yankee Entertainment Studios and Universal Studios (and I believe an interest in Universal Sports Channel). If they thought it would increase the value of the property to feature same day coverage, they would. But since they already sell out, and the commercial value is in sponsorship and "content" provided by the show, it is unlikely to change.

But, since Julie crawled the last 50 feet, it has ever been thus.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:07:11 +0000

American's are content to sit on the couch on Sunday and spend all day watching football and eating nachos. What more can you expect.

By: Broke Josh

Broke Josh — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:14:49 +0000

Triathlon will NEVER be popular until the races become substantially more affordable. I can run a 5k for $15 or less any weekend or sign my kids up for a 8 wk season of soccer for only $40, but tris of any challenging distance are always pushing $75 or more. Even sprints are almost impossible to be found for less than $40. Add in the cost of all the gear and 80% of us are financially out of reach even though we are extremely interested in the sport.

It is a sport for the financially elite and I am not convinced that the governing bodies of the sport care.

By: Roland

Roland — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:09:21 +0000

I am very surprised about that. I thought you were (in the US) at the top of the information on the Internet, and triathlon was a “big” sport, very mediated.
In France we have the same problem, which is very very very bigger than yours. The French Federation is part of the ITU progress, so we never hear about the performances of our athletes when the do Ironman races. They are not helped, like us, in Xtriathlon…

By: Thomas J. Vonach

Thomas J. Vonach — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:48:48 +0000

One of the best articles I have read in the past about where we are standing with the “media-importance” of our sport. Being involved myself in professional triathlon-sport I face the reality nearly every day as part of work. No coverage or an article without actively sending press-releases, photos or organising footage for TV-stations back home so they maybe will show 30 seconds in the evening sport, 30 sec. of a whole Ironman! It´s far time that we take bold steps towards professionalism.
The professional athletes in our sports are long ready for it, are working actively on all kinds of PR- and marketing-levels, social networks and websites. Are there for press-conferences, interviews just hours before they perform on highest level.
It´s a complex problem that will exist as long as the professionals are not on center-stage and build up as role-models and stars of their profession. As long as it is a random luck if a pro in the top-ranks makes it the race-coverage or not, even if they fail or have a bad day, it won´t get better. People out there want to see it all, and see it all live in action!
The pros are the stars that are there today and tomorrow, and they have to make a living.
Most of them deserve much more air-time, price-money and support.
And as soon as we all realise that and make the changes, we´ll step out of the shadow…!

By: Ruckus

Ruckus — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:57:52 +0000

The sport is too often marketed by targeting human interest stories, including overcoming impossible odds, diseases, and physical disabilities. Perhaps, the sport of triathlon would be taken more seriously if the sport was marketed using the professionals, who make a living competing and traveling. TV airings spend more than 50% of their coverage spotlighting people other than professionals. All other major sports coverage, contains content relative to the final outcome, i.e. who wins, how they won, who lost, was hurt and so on.

NOTE* I don't want to take away from those accomplishments of the disabled, or challenged, but those athletes do not have what you might call “staying power” in the sport, and the faces change every race. With professionals, they are the same (for the most part) across an entire season, and become identifiable athletes. Take a lesson from the NBA or NHL, who have marketed the sports superstars to grow the brand.

By: LJB

LJB — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:55:17 +0000

Perhaps an American needs to win Kona next? or could it be possible that there are now too many ironman events that to the lay person distinguishing between Kona and any other Ironman race doesn't cross their mind?

As for the Long Course Champs in Perth, I think that claim could be laid at any city when an event is on. Although it was bloody infuriating trying to find a coffee on saturday morning (day before the race) as all the cafes seemed shut for the weekend!

By: IM fan in Cali

IM fan in Cali — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:57:02 +0000

In my opinion, Ironman has done a VERY poor job of using social networking and traditional means to promote their races- especially the race in Kona. It can't be they are understaffed. Perhaps it is those who are running it?

They need to stop trying to control access and what people can broadcast during the event. They want to preserve the ratings on their precious IM show on NBC. Guess what? People are going to watch it regardless.

By: jack straw

jack straw — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:01:47 +0000

this is the best story ever written on the current state of pro triathlon. well said. Craig Alexander seems to have stepped up his marketing this year. Chrissie – well….she needs help. big time help.

By: Sammibrown

Sammibrown — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:32:07 +0000

This is not suprising, unfortunately. The ITU world Olympic Distance Championship was held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia….it was an Aussie woman who won…and still no coverage on the local or national news..?..even worse was the ITU Long Course Championships held in Perth Western Australia…the locals were wondering why the roads were closed??? The ITU and Triathlon Australia hadn't advertised it enough!! It's one thing to blame the mainstream media, its another thing for the sports governing bodies to not promote the sport…something HAS to change!

By: trichronicles

trichronicles — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:10:47 +0000

Down here in Australia, Craig Alexander's win got a little bit of media but it was few and far between. Some TV interviews and a few mentions at the end of sports bulletins. No live coverage except online and very little video footage saw the light of day. The World ITU Long Course championships were staged in Perth Australia two weeks after Kona. Crowie didn't compete but was the main attraction anyway. Seems that individuals benefit more than the sport – perhaps because of the WTC / ITU divide in administration?