What is Tennis doing better compared to Badminton?

I think that enjoyment of watching badminton on tv is an important point there ...

And: what online survey???

 

Thanks for the link. That is very interesting.

On the question on "How to raise the profile", I wonder where the skirt requirement ranks OK, I should move on.

On a more serious note, I think the recommendations focusing on TV, presentation, and players, are quite reasonable and on the spot, but key is on the execution. I do hope in making the game more presentable would lead to some rules change as well.

 

Bwf fans survey 2010

My observations on what was shown in cobalt's link:

1. Survey was published in 2010. How was it done - by internet, phone or mail? How reliable are the responses? Is there an analysis on the gender, age of respondents apart from whether they play badminton or not?

2. Survey size is not shown. If the number responding is small, it may become less representative. A reasonable survey population size and response is necessary to be meaningful so that followup work will be more targetted and effective.

3. It is good that two categories of respondents are shown: badminton fans and non-badminton fans.

4. However, it will be more useful and meaningful if further subdivisions are available according to BWF continents, eg: Asia, Europe, Americas, Oceanic, Africa (what else?). Wonder whether the survey included the less-badminton developed countries like South America, Oceanic and Africa. Then BWF can think of strategies to popularize badminton in these countries.

5. Why Fans and non-fans follow the sport

In general, reasons cited by more than 50% of fans and others include: interest in the sport, play the sport, entertaining and fun to watch, exciting and passionate. Surprised to see that 26% of non-badminton fans play the sport.

However, it seems they are not impressed by the TV coverage which receives 42% and 35% from non-fans and fans respectively.

The other reasons given for following the sport are less compelling, not even for love the players/athletes/personalities which scored 28% (non-fans) and 25% (fans).
This is not quite the response I expect. I thought badminton stars and big names have pulling power.

6. As for the other items, such as the responses to Most used media, I can't comprehend figures such as 4.18 (TV), 2.40 (Radio), 4.19 (Internet), 2.91 (Magazine/Newspaper) and 1.46 (Mobile) what they stand for. Are the numbers in percentage, if so what is the response size in numbers. Even then they don't add up to near 100%, very much less and not meaningful at all.

7. This ambiguity goes the same for items How Non-fans (and fans) perceive badminton, Why watching,

8. POPULARITY (The Current Badminton Popularity Map)

Somehow, the survey comes to certain conclusions and map out countries according to the degree of popularity of badminton in such countries as Very popular, Moderately popular and Average popular.

Very Popular: China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Denmark.
Moderately Popular: Japan, Korea Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Phillipines and Singapore.
Average Popular: India

ASIA: Badminton is played as a recreational sport but does not receive wide TV coverage (with the exception of China, Indonesia and Malaysia.)

EUROPE: Badminton is not widely played as recreational sport and rarely receives media coverage (with the exception of Denmark)

NORTH AMERICA: Badminton is considered a picnic/backyard game rather than a competitive sport and rely receives media coverage.

From the above conclusions, badminton has a very long, long way to go. It is both a challenge and an opportunity for BWF and the NSAs to expand the game in countries where badminton is not popular.

Even in badminton loving countries, TV and other media coverage is lacking.

So how to become professionally independent like tennis? Maybe wait another two decades, hopefully?

9. HOW TO RAISE THE PROFILE

89% said "generate more TV coverage for wider global reach";
68% said "improve broadcasting standards for better TV viewing";
46% said "promote the sport on internet more frequently" and less on others.

10. THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE

593 million people watched Beijing Olympics 2008 Opening Ceremonies. This is huge but how many watched the badminton matches?

In 2009:

1.5 Billion internet population;
4.0 Billion mobile phone subsceibers
55.2 million online advertising
49 million US newspaper cirulation
25 million US evening news viewership

What is BWF doing
1. Streaming site – own TV-channel
badmintonworld
2. App for I-phone and Android ​

3. Gaming – Badminton games for fans

Online interaction​

What is BWF doing​

1. Upgrades on TV-production​

2. Upgrades on Tournament presentation
3. More communication about the players
4. Upgrades on branding
a. Visual branding

b. Sound branding ​

Well, it looks like BWF have been doing something to expand the popularity of badminton to the world.
But which of the above have they started on and how far have they gone?
Can we have a status report? ​

 

What is BWF doing?

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We cannot just blame the BWF.

In my mind, BWF is trying much to deal with their National Associations, and not much with individual players. We need some bodies/associations to be set up to deal with players.

Just hours ago, I heard Peter Gade saying that Badminton players must do more to promote the sport as several top stars missed press commitments ahead of this week's 2011 Singapore Open SS.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...s-after-stars-no-show/articleshow/8836454.cms

SINGAPORE: World number five Peter Gade on Monday urged badminton players to do more to promote the sport as several top stars missed press commitments ahead of this week's Singapore Open.

The veteran Dane, 34, said players and the Badminton World Federation (BWF) needed to "raise the bar" but refused to criticise Chinese great Lin Dan, who headed the list of media no-shows.

Lin cried off with a stomach ache, while Chinese head coach Li Yongbo also failed to show, as did reigning men's champion Sony Dwi Kuncoro and 2004 Olympic gold-medalist Taufik Hidayat.

Five Chinese players did front journalists, but they sat stony-faced and gave such glib answers that disgruntled media asked whether they disliked giving press conferences.

And women's title-holder Saina Nehwal of India arrived so late that the press conference room was closed and she had to be interviewed in the hotel foyer.

"I don't know if Lin Dan has got stomach problems or not. It's not up to me, I don't know. I'm not the media so I don't work with him regarding these matters," said Gade.

"Of course in some cases you can say that the players also need to promote themselves better and the BWF needs to do that in an even more professional level," he added.

"I know they're doing the best we can but still we need to raise the bar in my opinion."

Badminton officials said they would seek explanations from Indonesia and India about Monday's events.

"The BWF will seek an explanation from both the India team and the Indonesia team. There are rules concerning the attendance of press conferences," said S. Selvam, marketing manager of badminton's 12-leg Super Series.

Badminton has struggled to reach new audiences and came under fire recently for trying to force women players to wear skirts, in a bid to raise the sport's profile. The plan ran into strong opposition and was shelved.

Edit: I think only Peter Gade of Denmark, Boonsak Poonsana of Thailand and Thomas Laybourn attended the press conference.
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It is such a shame that players have such a irresponsible attitude towards promoting badminton. The top players especially need to have a good look at themselves in the mirror as they are the ones that should be carrying more responsibility. This is after all their profession and the sport has been good to them.

The fact that players/ associations can flaunt BWF rules so readily shows a total respect for the governing body. While BWF may have fines in place for no shows, it's obvious it's not deterrent enough. Maybe a 5 figure fine might make them think again.

I am so behind Peter Gade and his comments. All players must do their part to promote badminton. Please act professionally. Don't let the outside world view it as a mickey mouse sport.

 

Need I say more... SIGH

 

The great stonewall. Or 5 wet noodles

Someone like Li Na gets it. She is confident and has personality. Her English is far from perfect but she's not afraid to try. This is how fans endear themselves to players.

 

You would have thought it's a must these days, and that National Associations would have had the foresight. Oh sorry, it's National Associations we're talking about....

It's so frustrating.

 

A Korean journalist threw a half-joking jibe at Yu Yang this year for texting throughout her press conference. However, while the question about disliking press conferences may have been rhetorical, in some cases, players get hauled in for them and then there are hardly any questions or there is no translator or there are only a few journalists present to ask questions. In situations like that, players may have good reason to dislike the press conferences. On one hand, you could say that as badminton players, they should be accustomed, and still be considerate, to a miniscule press corps, but realistically, many of these same players experience significant media attention in Malaysia, China, Indonesia, and, for Saina at least, India. I don't know what it is like at the Singapore Open.

 

Professional Players going Professional

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Yes, it's because many of them think that their National Associations should speak for them. They have the mentality that (as I have posted in another thread - Professional Players going Professional);

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It's such a shame that our "star players" are not acting like real professionals when they had a chance to speak. The CHN girls should learn from Li Na, although one must remember that Li Na has been in the tennis circuit for quite a while and has picked up a smattering of English as she went along.

I don't think we should really blame the National Associations for their disappointing press conference. It goes beyond that, mainly on a personal level and also the image that Asians are less extrovert and forthcoming than their Western counterparts. Of course it would be good if National Associations took the trouble to prepare their players for such publicity events.

But one would expect the BWF to make proper arrangements for the conference, including the provision of translators as they know full well that most of the Asian players don't speak English. Mind you this is not the first time as they had the experience before.

 

I do agree with a lot of your points. But both the BWF and Nat. Assns. have had ample opportunity on numerous occasions to prepare for press conferences. How many more excuses are we going to give them? Are these people really that inept? Don't they learn from watching how other professional sports handle these events?

Lack of preparation is no excuse. All involved need to have more foresight and professionalism. As you can gather, I am a little frustrated. Maybe I'm too used to watching North American pro sports where PR is slick and players are well versed in conducting interviews. If this whole episode seems embarrassing for a fan like me, imagine how a champion of the cause like Peter Gade feels.

 

1) Skirts are shorter.
2) Shorts are longer.
3) Ah Yee louder.

 

China's top ping-pong players to learn English

Jun 17, 2011






English lessons are compulsory for paddlers representing China in London, which will give international media a closer look at the sport's top players such as Olympic champion Ma Lin (left) and world No. 1 Wang Hao (right). -- PHOTOS: REUTERS


BEIJING - NORMALLY only the squeaking of sneakers or an occasional short, sharp roar provide any acoustic backdrop as China's table tennis 'invincibles' relentlessly power their way to gold at the Olympics and world championships.

But the normally taciturn Chinese are planning a modern version of 'ping-pong diplomacy' with a charm offensive at next year's London Olympics, the country's officials have said.
English lessons are compulsory for paddlers representing China in London, which will give international media a closer look at the sport's top players such as Olympic champion Ma Lin and world No. 1 Wang Hao.

According to a spokesman, all of the top players are taking intensive English lessons with a view to be able to reach a competency sufficient to allow interviews to be conducted in English at the Games.

'This is excellent news,' International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) President Adham Sharara said in a statement. '(It) shows the progressive attitude of the Chinese Table Tennis Association and their understanding that the players must be able to communicate with everyone.'

Chinese players currently occupy six out of the top 10 positions in the men's and women's world rankings, including the top five spots in the women's. The country has traditionally dominated the major tournaments, although the joy of winning gold often turns into stony-faced silence in front of international media. -- REUTERS

(So some badminton girls are adamant to BWF's proposal to wear skirts. Wonder what it'll be if they are required to learn English? )

 

A few years back, because of the proliferation of Korean players on the LPGA, there was some rule (not sure soft or hard) that required them to lean English. This was so that they could represent the tour and its sponsors during media sessions.

The irony? The LPGA has in recent years sanctioned more and more events in Asia and losing traction in the US.

 

There is nothing wrong ladies wearing skirt. Other sports does it too.