blonde Live Updates - your opinions needed please.

[TightEnd]

Is there any discernable difference between any of the type of updates (GUKPT, EPT etc) and sign ups to blonde and obviously the Card room as this is generating income for these expenses?

No, the link between live update traffic and card-room has always been minimal/disappointing..no matter how much or how little we spam an update thread

[SuffolkPunch]

Hi Tikay

Cost aside (if that's possible) I think it's also a question of how you would like Blonde to be perceived by the visiting public. If you stick to just UK events then you are, in my opinion, becoming a bit too insular. However, including EPTs, widely considered to be the best events in Europe, stamps your authority as a respected conduit of poker information across the continent.

Plus, of course, you will continue having the undoubted search engine benefits of multiple posts with multiple names from multiple locations!

I hate to say this, but I would ignore WSOP totally. Access problems, plus lack of known names relative to field size makes it a no-no (sorry updaters!).

I would finally like to say that, while I worked at EPTs and WSOP for PokerStars I found the Blonde updating team to be outstanding at all times.



 

[LLevan]

Personally like a lot of people on Blonde we want to read about UK faces and the majority of recent EPT events appear to be Scandi dominated events. Having said that we are now beginning to get known Scandi names multi final tabling and the advent of the EPT webcam, not available in Prague, has I think also helped the updates in a starange way. Obviously purse strings will be tight for 2008 if a sponsor isnt found for the updates and I think the majority of Blonde readers would prefer to read about the UK names as we can not only put a face to the name but also know a lot of the players too. As much as we would all love to have updates on all events around the world including the WSOP we must all understand that Blonde provide a free service and as grandad Tikay has said in the past theres no way that Blonde will ever charge for updates. There is however a way we could all help to pay for the updates we read, and I'm as bad as most people that I havent got around to open an account yet, and that is to download the Blonde software and play just a few hours a week or a few MTT online and help generate some rake. So my no1 priority is to download Blonde and deposit some money, play a few hours a week and help to wards the running costs of providing us with the excellent updates from where ever Tikay and co decide to send the beagle and his fellow updaters.

[AndrewT]

Is there any discernable difference between any of the type of updates (GUKPT, EPT etc) and sign ups to blonde and obviously the Card room as this is generating income for these expenses?

No, the link between live update traffic and card-room has always been minimal/disappointing..no matter how much or how little we spam an update thread

The direct link may be disappointing, but an update may get someone to join Blonde to read the updates, who then reads/posts in other threads, and then feels part of Blonde and then joins the cardroom and plays. Impossible to measure, but shouldn't be discounted.

This EPT update had quite a few new people posting in it looking out for their friends. Admittedly a few were Yank 2+2ers (who can't play on Blonde) but there were some Europeans as well.

[TightEnd]

Exclusive access to others means blonde will not be at the WSOP, formally updating, in 2008

[tikay]

To be honest, the last event at Walsall had El Blondie, Wernick, Jackson and co on the final table, but our hits for that event were some of the worst throughout the whole year. If, for example, you compare the Blackpool GUKPT update hits with the Prague ones, then there really isn't that much difference. Except for the one that Floppy deleted... LOL!

But a Prague Update costs a LOT more!

As to Walsall, well, as you now, the traditional Fessies - eveywhere - have suffered in 2007 from the advance of "Series/Tour Poker", but I expect that to change in '08, when I expect that the GUKPT Fessies will be exactly that - proper Fessies.

Hopefully, Blue Square & Grosvenor will continue to allow the media such as blonde full access, & if they do, we'll be at all of them if I get my way, the GBPT's too.

[tikay]

Personally like a lot of people on Blonde we want to read about UK faces and the majority of recent EPT events appear to be Scandi dominated events. Having said that we are now beginning to get known Scandi names multi final tabling and the advent of the EPT webcam, not available in Prague, has I think also helped the updates in a starange way. Obviously purse strings will be tight for 2008 if a sponsor isnt found for the updates and I think the majority of Blonde readers would prefer to read about the UK names as we can not only put a face to the name but also know a lot of the players too. As much as we would all love to have updates on all events around the world including the WSOP we must all understand that Blonde provide a free service and as grandad Tikay has said in the past theres no way that Blonde will ever charge for updates. There is however a way we could all help to pay for the updates we read, and I'm as bad as most people that I havent got around to open an account yet, and that is to download the Blonde software and play just a few hours a week or a few MTT online and help generate some rake. So my no1 priority is to download Blonde and deposit some money, play a few hours a week and help to wards the running costs of providing us with the excellent updates from where ever Tikay and co decide to send the beagle and his fellow updaters.

Thanks Llevan. The reality is, if only, say, 20% of the Traffic that reads the blonde Live Updates were to play on the blonde Cardroom, then we would not be having this debate. Live Updates are far & away our biggest single cost, & that's where most of our Cardroom Income goes.  More income would equate to more Updates. It's that simple. We are, I should add, in talks with a few potential Live-Update sponsors, so our options remain open.

[snoopy1239]

To be honest, the last event at Walsall had El Blondie, Wernick, Jackson and co on the final table, but our hits for that event were some of the worst throughout the whole year. If, for example, you compare the Blackpool GUKPT update hits with the Prague ones, then there really isn't that much difference. Except for the one that Floppy deleted... LOL!

But a Prague Update costs a LOT more!

Yep, absolutely true, costs are massive in comparison. I was just contesting your "We believe "Domestic" Updates are the most popular, & traffic figures back this up" line.

[tikay]

To be honest, the last event at Walsall had El Blondie, Wernick, Jackson and co on the final table, but our hits for that event were some of the worst throughout the whole year. If, for example, you compare the Blackpool GUKPT update hits with the Prague ones, then there really isn't that much difference. Except for the one that Floppy deleted... LOL!

But a Prague Update costs a LOT more!

Yep, absolutely true, costs are massive in comparison. I was just contesting your "We believe "Domestic" Updates are the most popular, & traffic figures back this up" line.

They are more popular with me because they are more cost-effective!

£ for £ spent, they ARE more popular.

[Laxie]

Wouldn't want to be in your shoes right now.  Good arguments from both sides.  I love cheering on Blondes during updates of UK events, so delighted those are here to stay.   To be honest, I have to force myself to read updates from international events when the names aren't familiar.  Like to go through the hands played, but the section does the same thing, so no point in cheering you on to spend loads of money for something we already have in some form.  That said (my gut is screaming) in the grand scheme of things, it might be a backward step to stop coverage of larger international events.

Anyone have a coin handy?

[b4matt]

Its a tough one Tony. The live updates are my favourite part of blonde as i know so many players. Blonde updates are also the best.

I think a full domestic circuit of the GUKPT's GBPT's and selected european events, ie Amsterdam, Ept final, London, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Maybe the European WPT for a bit of variety, Definately the WSOPE, and hopefully the few festivals from DTD...

Thinking about it WOW!!! how many events, tours and festivals are there now!!!  I really would look at the domestic mains and pick 6-10 Major europeans i think- oh and find a sponsor who will stick in £50k to cover the ex's..

Thank you for all Blonde do, as i've said before- i certainly get far more than i give, although i do supprt Blonde now and play on the card room.

Merry Xmas to you and all your Staff/team/helpers/moderators/clingeroner's and Tighty ()

 

[tikay]

Its a tough one Tony. The live updates are my favourite part of blonde as i know so many players. Blonde updates are also the best.

I think a full domestic circuit of the GUKPT's GBPT's and selected european events, ie Amsterdam, Ept final, London, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Maybe the European WPT for a bit of variety, Definately the WSOPE, and hopefully the few festivals from dtd...

Thinking about it WOW!!! how many events, tours and festivals are there now!!!  I really would look at the domestic mains and pick 6-10 Major europeans i think- oh and find a sponsor who will stick in £50k to cover the ex's..

Thank you for all Blonde do, as i've said before- i certainly get far more than i give, although i do supprt Blonde now and play on the card room.

Merry Xmas to you and all your Staff/team/helpers/moderators/clingeroner's and Tighty ()

 

Your List & our Proposed List roughly match, Matt, except for the WPT, where we are, in effect, barred.

As to dtd Fessies, we have an agreement with them for 2007, which was not activated due to the delay in opening, & I'm meeting them on Sunday to discuss it further. My wish would be that blonde, because of it's close & historical ties with DTD, will cover any & all DTD Fessies. I imagine a DTD Live Update would be seriously well-received by the blonde community, as the overlap is huge.

Thanks for using the blonde Cardroom Matt, it's much apprciated.

[Longy]

I opened the Prague final table thread today had a look at the final table and then closed it again. None of the names interested me and I only recognised Markus Golser at first glance. If a blondeite or well know Uk player/ Top name goes deep I am lot more likely to read it.

So personally i would concentrate on the fields which have more "names" familiar to the readers on blonde. Of course its "catch 22", I mean EPT Baden will probably be way down the list if costs have to be cut but im sure that thread go loads of hits this year, due to Julian winning it.

[tikay]

I opened the Prague final table thread today had a look at the final table and then closed it again. None of the names interested me and I only recognised Markus Golser at first glance. If a blondeite or well know Uk player/ Top name goes deep I am lot more likely to read it.

So personally i would concentrate on the fields which have more "names" familiar to the readers on blonde. Of course its "catch 22", I mean EPT Baden will probably be way down the list if costs have to be cut but im sure that thread go loads of hits this year, due to Julian winning it.

I did EXACTLY the same. Which is kinda unfair on the Updaters, but nonetheless, a fact. But as you say, Baden woulda been the same, until that Luckbox Thewy got busy.

Not easy.

[kinboshi]

As to dtd Fessies, we have an agreement with them for 2007, which was not activated due to the delay in opening, & I'm meeting them on Sunday to discuss it further. My wish would be that blonde, because of it's close & historical ties with dtd, will cover any & all dtd Fessies. I imagine a dtd Live Update would be seriously well-received by the blonde community, as the overlap is huge.

It's not only blonde who would benefit from updates from dtd events.  Dtd would benefit too, as they would gain greater exposure and attract additional custom to the club.

It's one of those 'no-brainers'.