corin_brown
Eagle Member
I agree, this is interesting.
Jussi seems like a force of nature and I respect the scope and scale of his vision. However, his execution isn't measuring up to his stated goals. And there's something vaguely haughty about his views on the current state of pro disc golf which has always rubbed me the wrong way.
Of course, he's free to do what he wants and I only express my views as a customer and audience member.
First, while reading his LaMi benediction, I thought that for an enterprise that Jussi had wanted to be the slickest, most professional, most attractive-to-sponsors enterprise in disc golf history, the writing was just not professional. I could understand what he had written, and while it might have been adequate for the standards of Reddit or the forums at DGCR or Facebook, it wasn't good enough if you wanted to project to corporate sponsors the professional, slick image you stated was your goal. I respect anyone who can speak and write in another language, especially when their native tongue has no connection to Romance languages or English. But when you repeatedly put down the current state of disc golf media, you can't then be unprofessional yourself. At least, if you want to be credible. Jussi, just take some of that production $ you're saving on not providing live coverage and skimping on prize money and hire a professional writer for you're public messages, press releases and pronouncements.
Jussi keeps talking about how unprofessional current disc golf broadcasts are. It's fine to say that, if you're producing something more professional. I just didn't see any difference in the DGWT production aside from the putting stats. That's something new, I guess, but in lieu of showing full rounds or any further live action? Nah. Not worth it.
Jussi's strategy has always been curious to me too. It seems like he wants to package something slick and clean to show to bigger and bigger sponsors. That's fine. But I just don't see why corporate sponsors are gonna go into business with disc golf without a large, growing audience. To sell disc golf to corporate sponsors, the top priority has to be building the audience first. Yes, it's nice to have a slick media package and a power point presentation to show at meetings in conference rooms but what good is any of that packaging if there's no audience for your content? This top-down approach to building a sport seems flawed to me. But what do I know.
And then there's the FPO thing. I understand Jussi's decision to have one division, considering his focus on the DGWT package. However, if he was interested in growing the audience numbers of his tour, turning off many potential women audience members just doesn't make any sense. What major corporation wants to sponsor a broadcast that turns off women? Hooters? Pink Taco? Maybe. But try selling to Pepsi, AT&T or Chevy the concept of sponsoring content that only men will watch. Doesn't matter how slick your package is, that's gonna be a short meeting.
I just don't get how promotors think they're gonna grow the sport without focusing first on growing the audience at a grass roots level.
