Moves to make LIVE sumo available abroad underway

[John Gunning 3,616]

In a few years sumo might have its own version of NFL Network, with live streaming of basho, documentaries, historical footage AOD, studio debate shows etc all in English.

Some major players in global media are eyeing Japan's national sport with a view to making all that a reality

[Morning 82]

Sounds like terrible news for sumo.

[Seiyashi 4,097]

Right now, NHK and Abema are being so aggressive with takedowns that anything is better than nothing. The only hope is that the powers that be are amenable to feedback. 

[Sumo Spiffy 568]

2 hours ago, Morning said:

Sounds like terrible news for sumo.

OK, I'll bite. Why would this be terrible news for sumo? 

50 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Right now, NHK and Abema are being so aggressive with takedowns that anything is better than nothing. The only hope is that the powers that be are amenable to feedback. 

I hope they decide to accept that Natto is so popular because he has useful, colorful graphics and a good way of clipping up the fights, and either copy that or find a way to improve upon it further. And by "they", I mean some intern who's more forward-thinking than the actual powers that be but who's given the task of making it all shiny and nice.

[dingo 1,265]

11 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

Right now, NHK and Abema are being so aggressive with takedowns that anything is better than nothing. The only hope is that the powers that be are amenable to feedback. 

I don't think having licenced major global players broadcasting sumo will change anything regarding takedowns. Even if the police is different, the laws aren't. 

[just_some_guy 279]

Whatever it is, I hope (and would assume) it comes with a way to watch after the fact. I'm usually asleep by the time Makushita matches are finished.

[Kintamayama 45,158]

14 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

Right now, NHK and Abema are being so aggressive with takedowns that anything is better than nothing. The only hope is that the powers that be are amenable to feedback. 

On the contrary - they will come down harder, "no need for this, now that there is a legit way to watch it live  with VOD possibilities.."

Assuming that is what will be offered..

[Gurowake 4,084]

The point is that foreign fans don't have many good options to watch sumo and only sumo, and the rightsholders seem very keen on not giving them any options.  If there's an option to pay for that includes only sumo and it's in English, that will make people not want to try to get around the rightsholders.  The best way to prevent most piracy is to simply make an accessible and affordable option.

[just_some_guy 279]

12 minutes ago, Gurowake said:

The point is that foreign fans don't have many good options to watch sumo and only sumo, and the rightsholders seem very keen on not giving them any options.  If there's an option to pay for that includes only sumo and it's in English, that will make people not want to try to get around the rightsholders.  The best way to prevent most piracy is to simply make an accessible and affordable option.

I agree with most of this but will pass on the English commentary. Apart from Murray Johnson I find them all unbearable and would prefer the Japanese commentary. I can pick out "mawashi" and "yorikiri" and whatnot well enough without actually knowing Japanese.

[Gurowake 4,084]

32 minutes ago, just_some_guy said:

will pass on the English commentary

I meant more along the lines of having the graphics and whatever else English.  The utility of commentators is going to vary depending on the viewer; certainly very experienced viewers aren't going to care at all about it, but less experienced viewers would prefer knowing more about what's going on. 

[Koorifuu 1,003]

5 hours ago, just_some_guy said:

Whatever it is, I hope (and would assume) it comes with a way to watch after the fact. I'm usually asleep by the time Makushita matches are finished.

If they bother with putting archive footage on demand, then it's safe(ish) to presume that recent streams will also be available as VODs.

Edited 7 hours ago by Koorifuu

[code_number3 706]

so will this be the "BIG!!!" version of Sumo Prime Time?

[Kintamayama 45,158]

1 hour ago, code_number3 said:

so will this be the "BIG!!!" version of Sumo Prime Time?

Well, it would be live for starters and not the offerings ala "weekend fun and only second half" we have at the moment.