The Blues' "experiment" of pay-per-view coverage of home
playoff games was a "rousing success," according to Dan Caesar of
the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. Prime Sports, which distributed the
game to local cable operators, reports 24,000 buys for Tuesday's
Game 6 against the Red Wings. At an average of roughly $16 per
sale, that translates into $340,000 in gross revenue. Industry
sources estimate the Blues-Prime combo will take in at least $10
per sale -- $240,000 minus $20,000 in production costs. KPRL
Owner Ted Koplar, whose station has carried Blues home playoff
games in recent years: "There's no way we could come close to
giving them that kind of money." Prime spokesperson Craig Kuhl:
"Welcome to pay-per-view. This is extraordinary, an amazing
number. We couldn't have asked for anything better. Based on
the success we've had, I sure think pay-per-view will be around
next year." The POST-DISPATCH's Caesar estimates that 6% of area
homes with the technical ability to buy the games did so. Prime
originally set 2-3% as the break-even point. Koplar: "I take my
hat off to [Blues President] Jack [Quinn], although I still don't
agree with pay-per-view. It still keeps the games from a huge
base of fans" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 5/17). In Vancouver,
Tony Gallagher cites the success in St. Louis and predicts PPV
coverage "could be the way of the future." Chris Hebb, VP of
Broadcasting at Orca Bay, owner of the Canucks: "We're looking
to develop our other properties right now. We have to be
convinced pay-per-view would be viable before going ahead." Hebb
also cited likely public reaction as one reason the idea is "on
hold" (Vancouver PROVINCE, 5/17).
