Wake up Martin Waymire Advocacy Communications! (Comcast hired site posing as BT fan)

Trevor Barnes · 08-21-2007, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Negotiator

Dang it, Trevor, I was working on it!

Eh, my brain's shot after a day of law school orientation rigamarole.

Seriously, this realization truly gives me more hope than I've had in a while that this might be resolved.

And for the record, whoever green lighted that bull**** viral marketing site should be fired for incompetency. It truly couldn't have been more transparent than it was. I hope they charged big bucks for that thing. What a complete waste.

mighty mouth · 08-21-2007, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Negotiator

See, what I don't get is that they were able to outlast the Yankees in their home market. If they're able to take on the Empire and win, why on Earth would they stoop to this for the BTN? The more you fight it, the bigger a deal you must think it is. Under that reasoning, Comcast must think the BTN is going to be a success. Good news, I suppose.

Maybe the difference is that the Yankees only matter to New York, as far as their regional network.

The BTN has a larger footprint...has a relationship with ESPN...a relationship with Fox...

I think Comcast wants the BTN on the higher tier so they can sell more sports subscriptions not because no one wants the network.

mentalstate · 08-21-2007, 12:34 AM

those three dudes on the website look like the type of guys I want to party with! I wonder which one of them wrote the website, and if he's the same guy who designed it. whoever it is, all three of those guys rock! they definetly W-I-N in my book

CabrerasBigStick · 08-21-2007, 12:37 AM

As much as i want this BTN (I have Comcast) i wish it never was created.

Green Ninja · 08-21-2007, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mighty mouth

Maybe the difference is that the Yankees only matter to New York, as far as their regional network.

The BTN has a larger footprint...has a relationship with ESPN...a relationship with Fox...

I think Comcast wants the BTN on the higher tier so they can sell more sports subscriptions not because no one wants the network.

I think you are right on, looking to pass the buck to the customer and fatten their bottom line

DMBSparty · 08-21-2007, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor Barnes

Didn't take Northwestern fans long to figure it out...
WildcatReport.com - Message Boards

Or UM fans...
TheWolverine.com - Message Boards

Interesting that he showed up on Rivals as "Victory4MSU20" but had Indiana site Peegs.com as his home message board.

The funny thin is this "guy" also posted on Mlive, on both the MSU and UM boards and some people thought he was real but most realized he was a spammer.

CabrerasBigStick · 08-21-2007, 12:39 AM

Also, who's the more fool? The fool or the fool that follows it.

rob · 08-21-2007, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnie

No kidding. It's dickwads like Martin Waymire Communications that then make it difficult for legitimate marketers to continue to do business without more government and industry self-imposed regulations.

That's an oxymoron if I ever read one

BleedGreen4ever · 08-21-2007, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBSpartan

As much as i want this BTN (I have Comcast) i wish it never was created.

Why? Were you one of the ones that enjoyed not being able to see games last year on espnu? Every year we get less and less games on TV that we can see, and now the BTN would give us most games, and in HD even...a HUGE upgrade once these cable empires realize they have to carry it....

Minnie · 08-21-2007, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob

That's an oxymoron if I ever read one

I have worked for many legitimate marketing companies. I am EXTREMELY proud to be employed by my current employer. I work with some of the best and brightest talent I have ever been associated with, and the agency I work for AND my client have set some of the standards for marketing and advertising within my client's industry.

rob · 08-21-2007, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnie

I have worked for many legitimate marketing companies. I am EXTREMELY proud to be employed by my current employer. I work with some of the best and brightest talent I have ever been associated with, and the agency I work for AND my client have set some of the standards for marketing and advertising within my client's industry.

Right

Keep those dinner time and early morning survey calls coming...That's why the feds had to step in and create the "do not call list"

Negotiator · 08-21-2007, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor Barnes

Seriously, this realization truly gives me more hope than I've had in a while that this might be resolved.

And for the record, whoever green lighted that bull**** viral marketing site should be fired for incompetency. It truly couldn't have been more transparent than it was. I hope they charged big bucks for that thing. What a complete waste.

Yep. Coming from a guy who practically got a BA in BS, those posts and that site reeked of it. Visually, it looked too good, and content, well, duh. It seems like a last-ditch effort. Who are Big Ten fans going to hate more, the Big Ten or Comcast (who is near-universally hated by sports and non-sports fans alike)? Whether it's enough to get people to change service, who's to say, but if it doesn't get hooked up in time for UM v Appalachian State, southeast Michigan is going to be TICKED.

Trevor Barnes · 08-21-2007, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Negotiator

Yep. Coming from a guy who practically got a BA in BS, those posts and that site reeked of it. Visually, it looked too good, and content, well, duh. It seems like a last-ditch effort. Who are Big Ten fans going to hate more, the Big Ten or Comcast (who is near-universally hated by sports and non-sports fans alike)? Whether it's enough to get people to change service, who's to say, but if it doesn't get hooked up in time for UM v Appalachian State, southeast Michigan is going to be TICKED.

That's the nice thing about having UM and OSU fans around in the conference I suppose. Let those subway alums carry most of the weight in this battle.

I love that UM's first game and OSU's first two games are on the BTN.

ctspartan · 08-21-2007, 12:54 AM

If they had a legitimate argument, one would think that the best public relations would be to post their POV and let the public decide (that's what happened in the big beef between Yankee Sports Network and Warner Cable a few years back).

The fact that they stoop to PR sleaze must mean their argument is weak. Or they think the majority of B10 fans are so stupid and/or drunk that they'll win that block and these same stupid/drunk fans will take some kind of logical action? Wow.

If this is a top PR firm in Michigan running such an amateurish campaign, what dufus would ever hire them? Sounds like a bunch of kiddies running things at Waymire & co.

Pretty soon we'll be outsourcing PR to Bangalore, too.

Minnie · 08-21-2007, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob

Right

Keep those dinner time and early morning survey calls coming...That's why the feds had to step in and create the "do not call list"

I have NEVER worked for a telemarketing company, EVER. And I applauded the Do Not Call List. As someone who makes their living in direct marketing I find telemarketing, spammers and hucksters who shill their crap via direct response media to be a scourge upon my industry. Their bs affects legitimate marketing companies, who happen to be the ones at the forefront of setting industry practices and self-regulation to make up for the douche bags that make such actions necessary.

Dr. Strangelove · 08-21-2007, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor Barnes

That's the nice thing about having UM and OSU fans around in the conference I suppose. Let those subway alums carry most of the weight in this battle.

I love that UM's first game and OSU's first two games are on the BTN.

I think you're overestimating the impact of those fans. Those OSU/UM games on in the early season usually got at best a 10.0 rating in Detroit and Columbus. That means 90% of the people didn't watch.

Now 10% is a big number, but it is within the annual churn rate of cable company.

Trevor Barnes · 08-21-2007, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctspartan

If this is a top PR firm in Michigan running such an amateurish campaign, what dufus would ever hire them? Sounds like a bunch of kiddies running things at Waymire & co.

Pretty soon we'll be outsourcing PR to Bangalore, too.

If they didn't create this, they certainly shouldn't be letting someone from inside their company promote it by spamming from their servers.

At least have the decency to use a proxy.

Trevor Barnes · 08-21-2007, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Strangelove

I think you're overestimating the impact of those fans. Those OSU/UM games on in the early season usually got at best a 10.0 rating in Detroit and Columbus. That means 90% of the people didn't watch.

Now 10% is a big number, but it is within the annual churn rate of cable company.

I think you underestimate how obnoxious even a small number of UM and OSU fans can be.

Dr. Strangelove · 08-21-2007, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BleedGreen4ever

Why? Were you one of the ones that enjoyed not being able to see games last year on espnu? Every year we get less and less games on TV that we can see, and now the BTN would give us most games, and in HD even...a HUGE upgrade once these cable empires realize they have to carry it....

ESPNU and the Big Ten are still in business together.

Ninth Annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge Matchups Set :: Will showcase first-ever meeting between Duke and Wisconsin

ESPNU is also showing at least 4 games where the Big Ten team is on the road in football.

ESPN - ABC/ESPN Networks 2007 College Football Schedule - College Football

Dr. Strangelove · 08-21-2007, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor Barnes

I think you underestimate how obnoxious even a small number of UM and OSU fans can be.

Dude, I lived in Michigan for 15 years. I know how obnoxious UM fans are. Besides that I lived next door from 1982 to 1986 to the guy who produces Michigan Replay.

FrontRow · 08-21-2007, 01:03 AM

I guess they felt all the Big 10 fans would blindly follow their lead like a bunch of lemmings. I'm insulted that they tried to manipulate me, "the average Big 10 fan" with this crap. I don't have the time to sort through all the Comcast vs. BTN details, but I don't like it when people try to disguise their true intent with BS.

Negotiator · 08-21-2007, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor Barnes

That's the nice thing about having UM and OSU fans around in the conference I suppose. Let those subway alums carry most of the weight in this battle.

I love that UM's first game and OSU's first two games are on the BTN.

Complete hypothetical, but if the BTN decision makers intentionally planned it so UM and OSU started on the BTN, probably the smartest move they could have made.

bighc2000 · 08-21-2007, 01:48 AM

That and the "strong" scheduling by the two "dominant" powers of the league.

CabrerasBigStick · 08-21-2007, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BleedGreen4ever

Why? Were you one of the ones that enjoyed not being able to see games last year on espnu? Every year we get less and less games on TV that we can see, and now the BTN would give us most games, and in HD even...a HUGE upgrade once these cable empires realize they have to carry it....

I don't mind going to the bar and watching it on a huge screen. I also have friends that have the Dish. Also i don't mind leaving my house once in a while and go to the game.

Gtarent · 08-21-2007, 03:30 AM

Wow, I actually went to the website and am a little confused. Should I be upset that I could miss games, or should I not care because none of the games on it will be worth a damn?