by The Editors on January 10, 2012
The Association of Magazine Media (formerly the Magazine Publishers of America) has released their numbers for the quarter October through December 2011 and things aren't looking good at Transworld Media, the only action sports magazine publisher tracked by the MPA. Here's how it looked from best to worst.
2011 2010 % Change
TRANSWORLD SURF 202.94 203.98 -0.5
TRANSWORLD SNOWBOARDING 341.90 362.32 -5.6
TRANSWORLD MOTOCROSS 261.89 282.94 -7.4
TRANSWORLD SKATEBOARDING 272.60 320.64 -15.0
TRANSWORLD RIDE BMX 119.49 160.75 -25.7
TRANSWORLD WAKEBOARDING 39.50 66.50 -40.6
Total magazine advertising was down 8 percent in the quarter vs. last year so TransWorld Surf, Transworld Snowboarding, and Transworld Motocross were technically ahead of the market. Transworld Skateboarding, Ride BMX, and Wakeboarding obviously had some trouble. For a look at past coverage of the MPA quarterly numbers click here.
[Link: Association of Magazine Media]
by The Editors on January 4, 2012
We don’t understand the current state of prime time television. Seems it’s all either grisly murder investigations or bad talent shows. Last night, however, Tony Hawk dropped into TV as himself on Tim Allen‘s Cabelas like sitcom Last Man Standing.
In this episode a Dingoesque bass fishing pro stirs up trouble for Allen. Then Tony Hawk rolls in and suggests the outdoor store move “all the hunting crap” to put in an indoor skate park. The show is not entirely unfunny, and Tony didn’t ruin it. Click the link to watch the entire episode. Tony appears as a punchline in the last four minutes.
[Link: Last Man Standing]
by The Editors on December 27, 2011
Surfline founder Sean Collins died on Monday, December 26, 2011 after suffering a heart attack while playing tennis in Orange County, California according to a story on Surfline.com. He was 59 years old.
Collins served as President, Chief Surf Forecaster, and Founder for Surfline. Over the past 30 years, he helped develop a sophisticated, proprietary system of wave forecasting — much of which is currently used in LOLA, Surfline’s Global Swell Model. Now, Surfline provides weather and forecasting services to every lifeguard agency in California, the Coast Guard, US Navy Seals, National Weather Service, numerous television and movie production companies, multiple domestic and international governmental agencies and nearly every surf company in the world.
Our thoughts are with Collins’ wife, Daren, and two sons, Tyler and AJ. For more on the life of a truly amazing member of the surfing community please click the link.
[Link: Surfline.com and LA Times]
by The Editors on December 21, 2011
Flagging, old media, tits and ass magazine Sports Illustrated recently had a contest that would allow fans to pick the best sports moment of 2011 and have it featured on the magazine’s last cover of the year.
Kelly Slater winning his 11th ASP World title was up for that spot, along with a soccer player named Lionel Messia, Yankees player Derek Jeter, but the cover apparently went to football player named Eric LeGrand who was paralyzed when he used his head to tackle a guy returning a kick off and has finally returned to the sidelines in a wheelchair, according to a story in the Orlando Sentinel.
On a snowy Oct. 29, he led the Rutgers football team onto the field for the first time since his accident during the opening moments of the Scarlet Knights’ game against West Virginia. He was surrounded by his teammates and coaches. . . That moment has been voted as Sports Illustrated’s Best Moments of 2011 by the fans.
We’re not really sure what it says about SI’s readership when the world’s greatest athlete gets snubbed in favor of a guy who broke his neck plowing head-first into a kick return specialist. Then again, it’s only print. And who reads that anymore anyway, aside from fans of college football, apparently?
[Link: The Orlando Sentinel]
by The Editors on December 19, 2011
Thanks to a new deal between NBC Sports Group’s Alli and Red Bull Media House we’re all one step closer to our sponsored, logo’d, caffeinated Idiocracy future. The partnership will launch a series of advertainment on NBC’s new 24-hour sports network.
The Red Bull Signature Series will include the most progressive and innovative snowboarding, mountain biking, freestyle motocross, ice cross downhill, skiing and BMX events, showcased on custom courses from the inspiration of the athletes themselves. The series features some of Red Bull’s top events including X-Fighters, Supernatural, Crashed Ice, Dream Line, Rampage and Cold Rush and other third party action sports competitions (see below for details on shows). The Red Bull Signature Series kicks off on NBC with Crashed Ice on Saturday, January 21.
Just more sad proof that the future of mainstream action sports content is advertising. Luckily, this will all be on cable where no one will see it. Follow the jump for the official info. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 16, 2011
Vans released numbers today saying that the Triple Crown of Surfing served 10.4 million live streams during the 13 days of competition for the 2011 season.
Even if you figure that many of the people (like us) signed in at least 30 times during those days that’s still a lot. in fact, Vans says 1.8 million unique individuals tuned into the events. They’re calling it an action sports record.
“Surfing’s audience is passionate, active and adventurous, and, if they cannot watch in person, they’re finding Vans Triple Crown of Surfing events on their computers and mobile devices,” says Vans Vice President of Marketing, Doug Palladini. “Hawaii also helps us to reach a broader audience than any other surfing event given it’s incredible scenery, dramatic waves and rich beach culture.”
Now, if we figure that one day of modern surf webcasting costs roughly $55,000 (on the low end), then Vans, Reef, and Billabong and the rest of the sponsors of the Triple Crown ended up spending about 40 cents to reach each viewer. That may not seem all that expensive considering the brand bath viewers are immersed in while watching surf broadcasts. On the other hand, if Boardistan.com charged those ad rates then we’d definitely have someone else typing these words right now.
Follow the jump for the official word from Vans. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 14, 2011
Seems like everyone has a plan that involves getting people to give money via the crowd sourced funding site Kickstarter. Well, add Encinitas, California based super soul surf hippie site KorduroyTV. Here’s their pitch:
It has been two years since the launch Korduroy.TV and in that time we have independently produced over 200 shorts, 3 documentaries, and numerous events aimed at creating a new platform for independent surf culture. . . For a consistent flow of rad new shows over this next year we need to raise $18,000 USD to cover our video production, resources and labor costs in order for us to continue spreading digital aloha.
Those who enjoy their surf media served up in a painfully earnest, tragically hipster fashion (and we do mean fashion) click on over to Korduroy.tv’s Kickstarter page and ante up. A $25 pledge will get you a Korduroy Sticker Pack, New Tropi Treats Pineapple Snacks and limited edition “GOT DIGITAL ALOHA?” t-shirt.” Which isn’t a bad deal at all.
[Link: Korduroy Kickstart]
by The Editors on December 7, 2011
The Bones Brigade: An Autobiography documentary will be premiering next month at the Sundance Film Festival and though it’s not his first trip though the cold streets of Park City, Stacy Peralta still seems honestly enthusiastic about the whole game, according to an interview with Colin Bane on ESPN.com/Action.
Even though this is my fourth time, it’s just as exciting as my first time. Sundance is important to me because I’m not a big fish. I’m a small fish in the world of filmmaking and it’s really, really difficult to get attention for independent films and documentary films. When you get accepted into Sundance knowing that 10,000 other films from all over the world were trying to get into this festival at the same time, and yours got selected, it gives a certain cachet and importance to your film. It gives your film a blessing, in a sense. Instantly, here’s all this attention on your little film and it gives you a chance.
We’re just looking forward to seeing the boys back together one more time.
[Link: ESPN.com/Action]
by The Editors on December 5, 2011
For those still locked in the 90s and paying for cable TV, The 41st Annual Surfer Poll Awards show will air live on Time Warner Cable in Southern California and Hawaii on Tuesday, December 6, 2011.
The 2011 awards show, which will honor the world’s favorite 10 men and 5 women surfers, will take place at the Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii during the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. Awards will also be presented for top video parts, movie of the year, and many other special awards for those who have made an impact in the world of professional surfing this year and years past.
Follow the jump for the official schedule and channel listings. The rest of us will do it the old fashion way and watch it online by clicking here. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on November 30, 2011
