ADVERTISEMENT

WSL Tests Market for Pay-Per-View Model

How much is pro surfing really worth to you?

An email from the WSL may have dropped into your inbox overnight. "We're considering offering a premium paid experience with no ads in 2018! Please tell us what you think." Uh oh. I bet you were thinking what I was thinking, here comes the pay wall. Well, not before they do their homework. The WSL brass want to do their research and see how much, we the consumer, are willing to part with our hard-earned to watch the pro tour.

The survey offered, “Would you pay per event? Per event? Per year?”

For a year pass the lowest price option was $25 or under, moving up in $25 increments, topping out at $100+ for those with deeper pockets.

Now it’s no secret that a few new heads have assembled in the boardroom following former WSL CEO, Paul Speaker’s departure from the top job. New big wig, Sophie Goldschmidt, has brought on Joe Carr, formerly from the UFC, where he left his mark creating a very successful Pay Per View model. Someone sound the alarm.

In the short time the new WSL Overlords have been seated at the table, the tour schedule has been turned on its head. Trestles is gone, Cloudbreak is gone. Bye bye two of the best events that have provided highlight reels and watershed moments in our sport. Replacing them is the addition of a wave pool event at Lemoore, and Keramas is back in for now. And that’s just what’s in store for 2018.

What would you be willing to fork out to watch Kelly and John John duel at macking Teahupoo? WSL/Sloane

It looks like 2019 is when all the game-changing shit will happen. A schedule re-shuffle. Pipe in Jan, Brazil remains, the tour finishing in a battle royale in Indo. Does that mean there will be an abandonment of the Triple Crown? Will the number of surfers on tour be cut down?

Change is the perpetual theme here. And, the WSL want to make sure their tour stays outta the red and makes its way into the green.

But will the WSL make the drop?

Like other subscription based websites there’s often a “free trial period”. Content will come ad free, no roll overs, pop ups, unlimited access to articles etcetera for a month but then you gotta pay. Will you trial a “premium” site and then be spat back out into the ad abyss?

Or will “premium” access grant you behind the scenes interviews, sessions, insights and access to your favourite surfers just like the NBA, NFL and the UFC do? 

There’s still so many questions surrounding how the new world order plan to propel surfing’s global reach. However, wherever they plan to take it right now it sure as hell feels like it’s away from its core.

One WSL industry insider told Tracks that the WSL’s appetite for change is all about garnering appeal to new audiences. How? It’s rumoured, watering down the heavy-laden surf talk on webcasts so surfing is more relatable to the Average Joe.

Oddly it was only a couple of weeks ago in a conference call with select members of the surf media did CEO Goldschmidt rule out any Pay Per View model taking flight in 2018.

“Are there any plans to charge for webcasts next year, or will all events be free?” asked Surfline.  

Sophie Goldschmidt: “All of our events next year will be broadcast live and for free on our platforms.”

So, will the WSL roll out a Pay Per View model in 2018 or keep their word and shelve it until 2019? Our questions have been sent to their VP of Communications, Dave Prodan.

In the meantime, tell us what you’d pay to watch the WSL? Would you buy a yearly pass, choose specific events only, or simply let it go?   

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
SUBSCRIBE TO TRACKS
A bi-monthly eclectic tome of tangible surfing goodness that celebrates all things surfing, delivered to your door!
SUBSCRIBE NOW
HAPPENINGS
Your portal to cultural events happening in and around the surfing sphere.
Find Events
SUBSCRIBE TO TRACKS
A bi-monthly eclectic tome of tangible surfing goodness that celebrates all things surfing, delivered to your door!
SUBSCRIBE NOW
HAPPENINGS
Your portal to cultural events happening in and around the surfing sphere.
Find Events

LATEST

Last week the Gold Coast gem awoke and Lincoln Taylor found time in between his hectic schedule to score one of the waves of the day.

Owen Wright and Mark Occhilupo will be surfing in the Wipeout Dementia comp next month.

The lords of surf punk kicked off the Tracks Party Tour with a royal performance at The Prince of Merewether Hotel.

The head of the snake unleashes its venom once again.

ADVERTISEMENT

PREMIUM FEATURES

Bestowing the highest praise upon a surfer.

An edited extract from ‘The Immortals of Australian Surfing’ by Phil Jarratt.

How a land-locked mainlander chased ocean dreams to the North Shore lineups and beyond.

TRACKS PREMIUM

Get full access to every feature from our print issues, read classic Tracks issues from the 70s, 80s and 90’s, watch all of our classic films & more …

TRACKS PREMIUM

Get full access to every feature from our print issues, read classic Tracks issues from the 70s, 80s and 90’s, watch all of our classic films & more …

CLASSIC ISSUES

A threat to Angourie, the death of vibes, and a tongue in cheek guide on how to become a surf star.

PREMIUM FILM

YEAR: 2008
STARRING: JOEL PARKINSON, MICK FANNING AND DEAN MORRISON

This is the last time the original cooly kids were captured together and features some of their best surfing.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

PRINT STORE

Unmistakable and iconic, the Tracks covers from the 70s & 80s are now ready for your walls.

Tracks
Kandui Resort Interstitial