Versus has been doing some great things as of late, and I've enjoyed their Hockey coverage during the Playoffs, but their latest idea has fail written all over it. Former ESPN "Dream Job" runner-up, Zach Selwyn, will host a show called "Fanarchy" which features seven fans talking Sports, via webcam. At the end of each show, Selwyn will kick two off, and the next week two new "panelists" will be in their place. Via Sports Business Journal....“It’s like nothing that’s out there,” said Versus President Jamie Davis. “We said early on that Versus’ original shows were not going to be made up of guys sitting at a desk with a plasma screen behind them giving news and data.”While Sports Soup, the other original program on the network, has succeeded after some early bumps....this has trainwreck written all over it. However, if the panelists are half as insane as those on Sky Sports' Fancast, then it might be worth a viewing.
The show debuts June 7 at 11 p.m. ET, just after a WEC mixed martial arts event, which typically draw some of Versus’ highest ratings.
Eventually, it will settle into the Tuesday, 10:30 p.m. ET slot, following Versus’ other original program, “Sports Soup.”
“These shows are true and unique to the Versus brand: to super-serve sports fans,” Davis said. “We never wanted to be a network that preached to you. Now, we are developing a community.”
Thanks to “Fanarchy,” part of that community will be developed online, Davis said. Versus is devoting part of its Web site to the series (versus.com/fanarchy). That’s where would-be contestants can upload their audition videos. The site’s visitors then will vote on the contestants that should be considered to appear on the show.
Like A Good Argument? (Sports Business Journal)
It hasn't even aired yet and it is already better than Around The Horn.
ReplyDeleteIt's worth a shot. I actually do watch Versus sometimes, so perhaps this could be worth my time.
ReplyDeleteWill these "panelists" have to show their V during the show?
ReplyDeleteReally? Fail? It may be too early to tell. Sounds great in theory, but it depends on how Versus executes the show. If you have random fans espousing basic talking points that don't mean anything, there's really no point in watching. I always thought interactivity was a good thing.
ReplyDelete