What can be done to raise the profile of snooker?

Question

After the tragic death of paul hunter, i was shocked by the lack of media interest in this and over the years ,snooker in general.
Why does it not get the same coverage as other sports ie golf cricket or even football within the media, when it is televised just as much if not more?

Answer 1

As a fan of all billiard games, I too would love to be able to watch pool and snooker on TV more often as well. I like to watch it because I play the game myself and I appreciate all the little nuances. I tend to watch the player, while everyone else watches the balls. Incidentally, I think that pocket-cam's are about the dumbest novelty in televised billiards. Here's where I differ with what most people say. I don't think that the future of billiards has anything to do with television coverage, movies, or even (wait for it)...professional players. I think the future of billiards in all of its forms will be centered around amateur participation, i.e. local leagues and local tournaments. Every year, more and more regular people worldwide pick up a cue. Professional billiards does not need universal acceptance. It does not need flamboyant characters and spoiled crybabies with inflated salaries to make the basketball and football fans pay attention. It needs good players...period. M.D.-BCA Instructor/Referee.

Answer 2

I follow the Teletext viewers' forums and letters columns, and when Paul Hunter's death was announced, it appears that those letters' forums were swamped with condolence letters, texts and emails from his fans, and by extension fans of snooker in general.

I once saw a TV interview, where someone had tried to bring snooker out of the dirty old working men's club, but found that, like golf and a couple of other venerable old games, snooker seems resistant to the sort of evolution that major sports such as soccer, tennis and even cricket have had to undergo.

There is still an association of snooker with grubby old gentleman's clubs and seedy snooker halls that is very, very hard to shake. The fact that the snooker coverage on the BBC is considered an annoyance and a joke among the young does not help at all.

As with all evolutionary adaptations, though, the best steps to take are small, but firm ones, where there's no risk of backsliding. And the first thing that snooker, as a sport, has got to shake off, once and for all, is its association with smoking.

Paul Hunter's death from cancer did not help in that regard. But maybe if it raises awareness that snooker, like professional darts, poker and Formula One racing, needs forever to kick the weed habit, then maybe his death can bring about some good in the long run, if those who seriously wish to bring snooker into this millennium press home the message now.

But the jaded cynic in me doubts it will have much effect, either way. The old guard in snooker are too entrenched, more than any other sport.

Answer 3

It needs more t.v coverage at peak times. Loads of people watch the world championships but hardly anyone watches any of the other tournaments, this is because they are not on t.v at all or because they are on some third rate channel where nobody looks to see whats on. If some more of the big channels showed some of the lesser tournaments it would help no end, however they are more interested in showing crap like Big Brother and Celebrity Love Island. Sky have been a huge help to the sport by starting the premier league snooker a few years ago so it's getting more coverage than it was. The sport needs more televised tournaments and some big name sponsors and publicity, simple.

Answer 4

I do think Snooker has a very good profile already and plenty of good media attention when the season demands.
What more can anyone ask?
The problem,- if you want, is some people are not ardent fans of any particular sport and will show their appreciation different to yourself.
The death of Paul Hunter is very sad and regrettable of course and I believe there was good press coverage without going over the top,- which is what his family would want.

Answer 5

I think the fact that Snooker is not all over the papers is actually a good thing. Football in particular is far too over hyped these days and you just get sick of it. You must also remember that snooker players are not part of our celebrity culture which is also a good thing.
Snooker is doing just fine as it is and with the amount of up and coming chinese players coming through at the mo it is fast becoming an international sport.

Answer 6

I think it is because it is harder to appreciate the skill involved with a sport like snooker than it is with something like football.

Also as it is an individual sport instead of a team sport it is harder for people to form an attachment to the sport as there are no local ties at all.

Raising awareness would be tricky but if they could make the game quicker and more exciting like Cricket did with 20-20 maybe more young people would become interested in it. Ronnie O'Sullivan has been championing this sort of innovation for a while now.

Answer 7

Paul Hunter will be very much missed by all the people who love snooker, myself included, and these people aren't few.
Maybe the length of the games is one of the reasons that sets back snooker a little, but it's an amazing game. It's not just about technique, it invlolves a lot of strategy and mental preparation.

Answer 8

It just needs to be shown that it is not just for older men and that young chaps and even women for goodness sake can play it too! Its a great sport to show on TV because it is so easy to watch as its relaxing and it is no doubt easy to film. Snooker really needs to have an 'injection' of coolness from someone or something. Perhaps a reference or snooker scene in a modern cool film that young people will watch.

Answer 9

Snooker is the only sport i know where i love to play the game but i just cant watch it, no matter how much of a chance i give it.

I read someone say that a celebrity competition would be good, and it would....for that one occasion, but the profile will coem straight back down again.

Simply put, it cant be done

Answer 10

Trouble with snooker is that nowadays the players are so good at break building that it's too easy to win a frame with only one visit to the table. The excitement has been dropped and it's turning into a game of chess.
I think it has reached the dizzy heights and its lowest ebbs and has just about found its correct level of support.
Maybe one of the lesser TV companies will pick it up and show it more regularly.