Drum Corps International places ESPN2 airing of World Championships on hiatus
(dci.org)
Friday, November 16, 2007 - 1:32 PM
Drum Corps International (DCI) today announced it will suspend the national television broadcast of its World Championship event on ESPN2, effective with the 2008 season. The DCI World Championship program has aired on the ESPN2 cable sports network for the past three years and was viewed by an audience of more than one million annually.“This was a very difficult business decision, but one that was necessary in light of the sizable economic challenges facing DCI and its member corps,” said Dan Acheson, Executive Director and CEO of Drum Corps International. “Both DCI and ESPN anticipated continuing the program for 2008, but as operating expenses continue to rise for the corps, we are forced to look at the core activities and needs of our organization. After exhausting every other option, we have decided that it is in the best interests of the member corps to reallocate the tremendous resources dedicated to the television program to sustain other initiatives that will ultimately improve our collective prospects.”
The organization hopes to resume a national television broadcast in the future.
Acheson continued, “Although the broadcast is a very significant component in our ability to share our performances with the world, our non-profit organization simply can’t cover the expense of producing and airing the program, even with the very generous support of a substantial number of advertisers and corporate partners. We’ve been quite pleased with the viewership of this world-class event and are grateful to the number of sponsors who have helped us offset a portion of the production and airtime costs. In the end, we simply must make a responsible business decision on behalf of the corps.”
Prior to its three years on ESPN2, Drum Corps International World Championship broadcasts ran for more than 25 years on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS).
“We know our fans will be disappointed with this announcement and are likely to feel as badly as we do,” Acheson continued. “We also anticipate that some fans will want to know if we can shift back to PBS in light of this decision, but that is not possible at this time. We hope that our loyal fans will continue to support Drum Corps International and its corps by attending and enjoying our live events, and by taking advantage of our audio and video productions, our cinema events and our ever expanding Web-based media.”
[...] be told, it doesn’t look like it will matter in a few years, as DCI is in such a decline they won’t even televise the world championships this year. They’ll still produce and charge $40 for the DVD of said event tho (I [...]
Pingback: The Blue Site » DCI News: Cadets Bested by 4 Corps in San Antonio? — 7/20/2008 @ 1:00 am
you screwed up when you switched to espn2 in the first place number one you probably lost alot of veiwers that dont get espn and two no one told us about the switch i never saw it till last year but i am very very angry you have stoped the broadcast i feel this is tring to force people to buy stuff from you when they may or may not have the money
you are tapeing it anyway to sell on dvd you could broadcast on pbs you have sponsors
you are setting yourself up for more problems cause you dont know how many fans you get from people acidently flipping across the channels that had never heard of dci
you guys beat all i have ever seen
sorry about the all lower case but i am too irritated to worry about my typing
margaret — 8/5/2008 @ 12:52 am
I believe this is a ploy to force people to buy the DVD. How much more can it cost to get this ready for air with sponsorship than to tape the podcast and dvd for sale. People will still buy the DVD because it is so edited for air play you have to buy if you want to see the whole show. I believe you are cutting off your nose to spite your face. You don’t know how many fans you get from people just flipping across channels that had never heard of DCI. This event has been broadcast for most of my lifetime. People look forward to this event all year. When you moved to ESPN2 in the first place that was a mistake. I had been looking for it on PBS the first two years it had moved. You are forgetting that people watch the boradcast to see if the shows are to their likeing, to see if they want to spend fourty dollars on a DVD. You may find out it actually hurts your sales. It will definately hurt your fan base, because my first time to see DCI was a taped copy of a PBS broadcast my band director brought to school and showed us. I was in love from the first veiwing. DCI has made alot of money from me and people I have turned on to drum corps since then. If there had not been a broadcast who knows how many people there are like me that have spent money with DCI that wouldn’t have other wise. I am very upset and angry at this decision and think that DCI fans should write in and tell the orginization how outraged we are. Let them know it does matter to us. The little people, not everyone has fourty dollars to buy a DVD of the shows every year and you are robbing hundereds of thousands of fans their one true pleasure that comes around once a year. In this economy when people can’t afford the extras like podcast and traveling to live events for your fans, the reason this exist in the first place, you should broadcast the event! Your fans are more loyal than most any other in the world and you would do well to remember why you are here! Or you may wind up loosing us because no matter how loyal people can be ticked off to the point of no return.
margaret — 8/5/2008 @ 1:21 am
Also write to ESPN2 and PBS tell them you are upset no one is boradcasting this event. Fans lets be let it be known we are the reason they are here and we are unhappy. Pass this on. Tell everyone! Let’s fix this.
http://www.pbs.org/ombudsman/feedback.html
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?id=2826900
margaret — 8/5/2008 @ 3:15 am
well you really did it this time DCI. what a shame letting us alumni people of DCI not see the show this year unless you fork it out. The mistake you did with Muchachos in 1975 was even worse. When every corp that marched that finals all had HOLES IN THERE SHOW. SHAME ON YOU ALL and now. Well I guess your decisions are still coming up badly.
Sandy — 8/8/2008 @ 5:18 pm
I guess it makes more sense to add water features to shows and “enhanced applification” instead of working on basic fundamentals to make sure the activity has a good financial case.
Conrad — 8/9/2008 @ 3:07 pm
DUDE, the quarterfinals were not live any place less than an hour away from me and I’m so dissappointed the finals aren’t going to be aired…
KG — 8/9/2008 @ 4:08 pm
This is extremely disappointing. As a college student, I don’t have 40 dollars to drop on DCI DVDs when I have to be paying for tuition and other things. I already forked over 40 bucks to watch the webcast of the semis, and 48 bucks to see the quarterfinals at our theater. I can’t keep burning holes in my pocket for DCI. I was looking forward to the broadcast as were my parents. To not broadcast on PBS, a station proud to support things like DCI, is a complete disservice to your fans.
Allison — 8/10/2008 @ 9:05 pm
Hey you guys, I saw the last hour of the finals last year and was really looking forward to seeing ALL of it this year, then I hear that you aren’t airing it. I speak for myself and many others in saying, WHY? I think that you made a huge mistake in taking it off the air.
TJ — 8/12/2008 @ 11:54 am
The ESPN 2 broadcast sucked anyway - more like a drum corps infomercial. But I am still less inclined to spend money on a DVD if I cannot see the broadcast. It has been obvious for many many years that the DCI directors are not business people. Get some good consultants to straighten this disaster out or you will lose your alumni fan base very quickly - these are the fans with the spare change to buy DCI stuff.
Weeb — 8/14/2008 @ 1:59 pm
Yes - I believe this is a big mistake. I don’t pretend to be familiar with the economics behind the decision to move from PBS to ESPN2, but I will say that your PBS broadcast was one of the things I looked forward to each and every year. It was always shown on Thanksgiving Day, and I would always slip into another room to watch it to avoid having to watch professional football games with my family. Very fond memories…and I guess that’s all they are now because I will not pay $40 to watch it.
JNM — 8/18/2008 @ 1:19 pm
Was looking forward to showing my very young daughters the show this year to help interest them in music what a shame.
Scott K. — 8/18/2008 @ 8:22 pm
WOW! I am shocked! My first DCI experience has been more then 20 years ago and ever since then I have been a die hard fan. When my daughter was born I made it a point to always watch the finals with her (yes even when she was an infant) to begin to instill the love of not just music but also to share in something her mother dearly loved. I am so very sad that you are not broadcasting this year and with no real intention of changing this for the following year(s). I can understand economic and financial challenges - don’t we all. By not broadcasting ANYWHERE you have alienated yourselves as well as twisted the arms of those of us who have supported you in the past. Now WE (your supporters) must decide what is more important: OUR financial ability to support you, or putting our money towards things like our own rising economic challenges. I say take out the “fluff” and broadcast.
Christina — 8/21/2008 @ 9:15 am
DCI.com is now taking pre-orders for the 2008 DVD, and the price seems to have jumped to $100!
Jason — 8/23/2008 @ 2:25 am
Jason, that’s actually $140 if you want 13-20, otherwise it’s $100 for 1-12. Obviously DCI management is not in not with their fans with the removal of the broadcast and the outrageous price for these DVD’s. Hopefully someone buys it and makes a torrent out of it. Serves em right if that happens.
Tylenol Jones — 8/25/2008 @ 1:08 pm
I meant to say not in touch with their fans!
Tylenol Jones — 8/25/2008 @ 1:09 pm
so thanks alot dci i went to finals this year and was so excited to get a chance to watch it on tv and show all my friends my experience. i will be a band director someday and hosting a a dci party is something ive always thought i would do because the espn2 brodcast impressed people that i would never have imagined would like anything that had to do with marching music. watching it on tv is what got me so into it and now ill be marching next year. i think this goes without saying but you will feel the effects of this in the long run.
aaron_r_meador@yahoo.com — 8/25/2008 @ 7:02 pm
Very disappointed that ESPN and DCI will not be showing a broadcast of the 2008 World Championships. This broadcast has been an amazing source of outreach for the marching arts. This is quite a loss. I hope that both DCI and ESPN will be able to cone day ontinue broadcasting an event that highlights the amazing work, dedication, athleticism, and artistry of thousands of young people and underpaid instructors. People need to see and hear the accomplishments of these talented musicians and performers. It is amazing that the money is somehow there to showcase the highly overpaid athletes who don’t need the exposure, yet when it comes to these high level teams of young people who do corps out of the sheer love of performing and not a paycheck…….Well, I am sure everyone will get the true picture here.
Christopher Buti — 8/25/2008 @ 8:15 pm
MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY (dci) MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY(dci) MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!!!! DCI bite me!!!!
john jules — 8/26/2008 @ 11:24 am
Why no approach Scripps-Howard Broadcasting…the Food Network, Home & Garden Network producers who broadcast the Rose Bowl Parade each New Years Day. It would seem to me that they would have the financial and technical chops to put the DCI Finals togather.
nick dadabo — 8/31/2008 @ 10:20 pm
I happen to know that it was not DCI’s fault that they stopped broadcasting on PBS. If it were up to them, they never would have left that great station. But PBS ran the finals as a sort of telethon event to raise money and they told DCI they couldn’t justify running the program anymore so they went looking for another station thus the ESPN2 broadcast and now they can’t afford that. So call up PBS and yell at them, DCI should still be televised.
dci fan — 9/5/2008 @ 7:40 am
I’m hoping that just the pre-orders are $100 for the 1-12 DVD, and that it will later come down to a more reasonable $40 as in the past. If they’re planning on keeping the price jacked-up 250%, then yes I’ll buy one — but then promptly turn my back on all of drum corps. In my mind, Phantom 2008 was the epitome of the art form. I’ve been a fan since 84, and I don’t think there’s a better show to come. From anyone.
Jason — 9/5/2008 @ 6:39 pm
I see that it doesn’t matter to DCI that business vs the interest of the young performers is more important! These young performers put their hearts and souls in this contest and expect it to be broadcast somewhere. As a former performer in a 3 DCI Finals I can speak from experience. I hope that DCI cleans it’s leadership house!!!
Desmond — 9/14/2008 @ 3:33 pm
this is beyound annoying! i went to the movie theatre and paid $18.00 to see a quarter finals and now i wonder who gets all that money. what a dissapointment, drum corps has been a part of my life for over 20 years. it is a sad day this decision brings.
JOHN GILBERT — 9/17/2008 @ 9:42 pm
This is depressing DCI, for all the people and even kids that watch this. This broadcast is what got me started in Drum Corps and even got me to join my high school’s marching band. You need to find a way to put this back on ESPN2 or PBS. This inspires a lot of kids DCI, you have to get this back on.
Tyler Lutz — 9/24/2008 @ 3:56 pm
I have been following “my” Phantom Regiment since the Beethoven flags (30 years???) Are you trying to lose me? If so, you are doing a great job!! MANY of my friends agree that: THEY WILL NEVER PAY SO MUCH FOR A DVD. Before, WE could watch PBS and then send $$$ to the corp(S) we followed. Now WE won’t. BYE,BYE………….We talked w/the program director of our local PBS station and he said they wish DCI would come back to them as it was very popular and good for PBS. Perhaps you should rethink. We really miss seeing it on TV.
jim van dusen — 10/10/2008 @ 7:24 am
I too am very mad! I remember back in 2001 i was flipping channels and came across DCI with no previous knowledge of dci. The Next year, 2002 I was Marching with SPIRIT of JSU! The First year in 10 or 12 years the corps was back in the top twelve and guess what! I got to see about (———–) that much of the show on pbs. everyone wants the live broadcast back! and I want to finaly see the video of me perform! IVE NEVER SEEN IT! SUPPORTING A DISABLED MOTHER A SISTER AND TWO NEICES! I CANT AFFORD IT!!!! DCI PLEASE ALL YOU BIG WIGS, SEND ME A COPY! 241 RYAN ROAD, CULLMAN, AL 35057!!!!!!!!
JESSE JUDICE — 11/22/2008 @ 6:47 am
I must say that googling to find out when they were going to air this year’s finals, and then finding out this HORRIBLE news was THE most disappointing thing I have read all year…ESPECIALLY SINCE I DID NOT GET TO SEE ANY SHOWS THIS YEAR!!!! And this is the first time I missed anything since I marched in 2004! I just figured I could just hold out until Thanksgiving. I was sooooo amped too because the fact that Phantom won was going to be the highlight of my day! After all of the stories I heard about the show…all I wanted to do was see it. PLUS I just can not see paying for a DVD that I didn’t even march in.
With that being said…
The Alumni in the Drum Corps World looks forward to every possible thing that we can grab onto that is DCI related. Some of us CAN’T go across the country to see the shows. Some of us CAN’T afford to make it to finals. And also some of us who usually have shows performing locally, were unfortunately not near a single performing site this summer. When we marched, some of us worked EXTREMELY HARD to earn the right to ATLEAST be able to see the Finals show on Thanksgiving…Why take this little thing from us? We don’t request that much! Oh and another thing, I fail to believe that this has anything to do with our lacking economy. Seriously? If they would have just stayed with PBS, you know this wouldn’t have been a problem, right?
I’m not trying to pay 40-something dollars for a DVD I did not march in…I’m not trying to drive 4hrs to see pieces of shows in a theatre, extravagant or not…I mean something HAS to be done! PLEASE! DO NOT LET 2009 REPEAT THIS AWFUL PROCESS AGAIN!
Robin — 11/22/2008 @ 1:19 pm
Correction, that’s $140 bucks I will not pay haha…actually I wouldn’t pay a dollar for that DVD. I marched and had to hand over quite ENOUGH money to DCI. Unless my money is going to support some DCI related cause like funding someone’s tuition, or helping with the fees of food/toilettries/GATORADE, gas, housing, etc. during tour…I’m not putting money towards some darn DVD! That is completely obsurd. Yeah I said it.
Robin — 11/22/2008 @ 1:31 pm