Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

I just called the Bicycle Club and the floor person near the LATB set, told me ... that the show is finished ... no more broadcasting. No other information could be given but no shows are scheduled to be broadcast in the future...

Did broadcasting tournaments so often instead of live action cause an exodus of subscribers?

What's your guess or if you know what is the truth.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

They were losing money doing deep stack no limit cash games with Hanson and Tuchman commentating. I think the tournament coverage was an attempt to make Live Bike financially sustainable.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

I would have paid $100+ per month without hesitation if they would have consistently spread some higher stakes limit games. I know most people didn't like the rare LHE games, but I'm sure there are a ton of people that would have gladly paid a lot more for LATB if they showed high quality broadcasts of higher NL games consistently. And by higher I don't mean 10/20. To be honest I found Tuchman really annoying when he was doing the show but the quality dropped like a boulder after he left and it only got worse from there.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

[ QUOTE ]
I would have paid $100+ per month without hesitation if they would have consistently spread some higher stakes limit games. ... To be honest I found Tuchman really annoying when he was doing the show but the quality dropped like a boulder after he left and it only got worse from there.

[/ QUOTE ]

The quality dropped once they started charging for the netcast, ironically. A shame, as it was a great show when it was free and they'd show a 10 limit game once in a while. Ah, for the days of Shirley, Bart and Dave....

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

They used to have this thing that they would run during television programs, to make broadcasting possible. They were called commercials. Since online sites are a bit shy with cable broadcasts, sans FTP, you would think that this would be a no-brainer. No subscriptions necessary. All the US sites could be free to even say .com. Nobody listens to me. I mean, really, I thought LATB was a great, great concept. We all did. Pokerchannel at pokerzone are just ok in my mind compared to this. As a fan of poker on TV, as most of us agreed this was better than most. In my mind, I still feel like internet televised poker is more likely going to be on the rise since it is more a market-topic-specific, as the pokerstars broadcast was very nice even without hole cams.
Bart was critical to the program, no doubt, but as long as the commentators are industry-recspected, I think that the poker-viewing public is inclined to accept them, despite the fact, that most posters seem to hate every poker show and every announcer there is.
It would be interesting to see how many subscribers there really were, but if that was supposed to be the income for the show, then there is no was it could support all the staff needed to run it without commercial support. Funny how pokernetcast was the new name of the hub, and that was near the end.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

LATB has ads along the right-side of the page. And remember when the Wednesday games were sponsored by PokerBlue? Yeah, a bunch of commercials is what they needed. Why weren't they smart enough to think of that? Advertising for other companies in exchange for money - revolutionary.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

LATB began dying right after the 2006 WSOP...the games were stale and the normal 5/10 or 10/20 game wasn't innovative, people including myself got bored. The 5K whale game wasn't going anymore, nor were the high limit games or any high NL for that matter.

Regardless, whenver the subscription time came I bought two months and was very dissapointed so I cancelled it.

LATB was a great show in late 2005/early 2006...it began tapering off after the WSOP.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

they should just do it during legends.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

[ QUOTE ]
they should just do it during legends.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

It seems to me the powers that be never had much foresight in this project.

They dumped a ton of money into the show, equipment upgrades, lighting, sound....and it appears they never had a plan.

I mean, how could they eff this one up?

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

[ QUOTE ]
It seems to me the powers that be never had much foresight in this project.

They dumped a ton of money into the show, equipment upgrades, lighting, sound....and it appears they never had a plan.

I mean, how could they eff this one up?

[/ QUOTE ]

QFT

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

I find it interesting that they just gave up once bart left. I think they could have spurred some excitment by holding some sort of audition/contest to find Bart and Bostin's replacements. Nicole is cute, but she's no commentator. All the talkers on here that complain about everything Bostin says could have stepped up and taken their shot to replace him. Surely there must be a semi-pro out there that is also an actor that could do some commentary...it's LA!!! I thought Lindgren was great during the heads up tourny, someone like that would be a great fit.

It's just a great shame that the company behind the show have apparently given up on it with Bart's departure.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
It seems to me the powers that be never had much foresight in this project.

They dumped a ton of money into the show, equipment upgrades, lighting, sound....and it appears they never had a plan.

I mean, how could they eff this one up?

[/ QUOTE ]

QFT

[/ QUOTE ]

Help me out here, I haven't quite understood the QFT saying yet.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
It seems to me the powers that be never had much foresight in this project.

They dumped a ton of money into the show, equipment upgrades, lighting, sound....and it appears they never had a plan.

I mean, how could they eff this one up?

[/ QUOTE ]

QFT

[/ QUOTE ]

Help me out here, I haven't quite understood the QFT saying yet.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nevermind....QFT

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

R.I.P. LATB.

Born- Feb. 2005
Died- March 30, 2007.

You will be missed...

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

[ QUOTE ]
I find it interesting that they just gave up once bart left. I think they could have spurred some excitment by holding some sort of audition/contest to find Bart and Bostin's replacements. Nicole is cute, but she's no commentator. All the talkers on here that complain about everything Bostin says could have stepped up and taken their shot to replace him. Surely there must be a semi-pro out there that is also an actor that could do some commentary...it's LA!!! I thought Lindgren was great during the heads up tourny, someone like that would be a great fit.

It's just a great shame that the company behind the show have apparently given up on it with Bart's departure.

[/ QUOTE ]

The problem with casting for LATB is this- Anyone good enough to provide GOOD commentary would be able to beat the games for more $$ than LATB could pay them.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I find it interesting that they just gave up once bart left. I think they could have spurred some excitment by holding some sort of audition/contest to find Bart and Bostin's replacements. Nicole is cute, but she's no commentator. All the talkers on here that complain about everything Bostin says could have stepped up and taken their shot to replace him. Surely there must be a semi-pro out there that is also an actor that could do some commentary...it's LA!!! I thought Lindgren was great during the heads up tourny, someone like that would be a great fit.

It's just a great shame that the company behind the show have apparently given up on it with Bart's departure.

[/ QUOTE ]

The problem with casting for LATB is this- Anyone good enough to provide GOOD commentary would be able to beat the games for more $$ than LATB could pay them.

[/ QUOTE ]

There is some truth to this, but it's not totally true. Bart could've made more playing in the game than commentating on it, but now he has become very well known due to his stint on LATB, and could make significant bank down the road as a poker commentator from his work on the show.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

Sounds like a compilation DVD could be quite a money maker with fairly little investment.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

[ QUOTE ]
Sounds like a compilation DVD could be quite a money maker with fairly little investment.

[/ QUOTE ]

I would buy this.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

i stopped watching once they starting airing 2/5nl every week, which was like week 4. if they could continue broadcasting high limit games, theyd probably have alot of success. i think theyd be better off just broadcasting high limit games whenever they go rather than set a specific time every week and just get the word out through 2p2 forums or something.

if the bike charged people to watch the videos and actually had a good customer base, they could pay people an hourly rate to play high limit games covered by l@tb like they do for hspongsn. the bike has been having trouble sustaining games there. if they paid people a reasonable hourly rate theyd be much more likely to keep the games going there, imo.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

Live@Bike definitely helped my game. And opened me up to the plays at uncapped games. Will be missed. I am glad to have played on it the one double fist night.

Hope it comes back, maybe with fresh new announcers.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

It's a huge wasted op for the Bike. The revenue from online marketing alone can be massive which the bike/producers seemed to neglect. LATB still has huge marketing and financial potential that I'm sure someone will pick-up the concept and run with it. It may just have to be me.

-aldo

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

The show was plague by poor management. Their first mistake was the total lack of respect for the paying membership. Even as they sail off to the once was land they still do not have the courtesy to let subscribers know what has happened. again a reflection of ego and stupidity run amok.

Did anyone seriously feel that after Bart resigned the show could survive? He was not only the voice of the show he was the only one who seemed to truly care ... well of those with the decision making powers.

A great concept wasted at the wrong casino and with the wrong staff. I'm happy it is gone as I feel another more interesting room will pick up from where poker netcast left off.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

Live At the Commerce?

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

Are the people who are in charge of LATB really this stupid?

Ugh.

I hope the commerce picks something like this up.

The games they spread would instantly be a hit.

Heck, perhaps they could pick up Bart and Dave!

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

LATB died when they started charging money to watch it. At least it did for me.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

[ QUOTE ]
LATB died when they started charging money to watch it. At least it did for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

QFT.

The only really good shows aired post-subscription was during Legends with a few tidbits thrown in from time to time the rest of the year since. There wasn't value in the subscription and the management did the subscribers a huge disservice allowing the games to die off and be replaced with low stakes games or donkaments. With all the action in LA you would figure they could have attracted more regulars than they did. That was the job of the hosts, who also did the show and the casino a disservice.

Come to think of it, the entire structure where the game relied on hosts like Mo and Yosh to recruit players was horrible. If they really wanted to market this product and turn a profit, or at least bring it up to where it is self-sustaining, they should have had more control and involvement at every level, not just providing a place for the game and equipment to broadcast it.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

[ QUOTE ]
LATB died when they started charging money to watch it. At least it did for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

It truly astounds me how many 2+2ers are so intuitive, business minded, tech savvy and omnipotent when it comes to organizing, supplying, broadcasting, streaming, recording live video poker games. And to think with all of this armchair quarterbacking, not one of these "geniuses" has thought to go into competition with L@TB. Surely, if they had $15 for the subscription, they had the hundreds of thousands it took to run the broadcast each month.

And of course, they all had instant access to great staff like cameraman Ray, Graphic recorder, Ronnie, Director, Isaac, Commenattors like Bart and Dave, and of course, Evilene's job as producer was just a walk in the park.

If just a fraction of you people had an inkling of what it took to run this show, you would be thankful for all that it provided for the equivalent of less than 1 big blind per month. Yes, I played on the show regularly and enjoyed it. But, biases aside, I also saw what went into the show, the heart, soul and dedication of a great many people, for very little compensation and little praise or commendation. Remember, it was the first, and really only live, cash poker game broadcast from a local casino, with recreational players and professional production quality...barring mechanical glitches that are always unavoidable. yet all everyone could do was bitch that they wanted limit, or they wanted smaller games like they played, or the larger game, or the whale game, or final tables, or playboy bunnies, or.......

I, too, am sorry to see it go, and hopefully they will get a program together that is a win-win for everyone. The casino was "giving" the space to Joker Gaming (Poker Netcast) and now they realize that the space occupied by the game itself, production room and office, could be used to house 7-9 tables and generate more revenue. Pity, but the casino is a business and as such cannot afford to give away the farm.

Anyhow, that's my rant. I wish everyone luck in their poker careers (except maybe against me) and if you see me at The Bike, Commerce, Bellagio or Wynn, come say hello.

BDub1
Barry "Don't Call Me Greenstein" Woods

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

I only started watching the show recently (plowing through old episodes of larger NL games) and I find it fascinating. It has helped my B&M game a lot and I enjoyed watching the regulars. I'm sorry to see it go. I hope someone picks up the concept.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

Hey Big Daddy, C U N Las Vegas again this year...

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
LATB died when they started charging money to watch it. At least it did for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

Why do you guys always say that? You were loyal watchers at first right, but when they starting charging you felt the product was not worth it or something? How could you guys not support the show for $15 a month?? If this was too much money maybe you should get a job/quit poker. Do you think you should just get a quality service forever and ever without ever paying for it? Anyone serious about poker did not hesitate to pony up the money b/c the tips from Bart are invaluable. Seriously, get a clue.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

lol @ the people who paid to watch latb, pirates ftw.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

[ QUOTE ]
lol @ the people who paid to watch latb, pirates ftw.

[/ QUOTE ]

Part of the reason why the show is gone, congrats [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

who cares... 10max live low limit.... please...

the play and commenting were so bad for like 95% of the shows.

theres only so many times you can watch that mike guy butcher a hand before you want to vomit.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

I also wanted to add that management has to take the blame for the shows failure. They should of actively been searching for advertising dollars like a lot of people here have suggested and they also should of kept the customers better informed. They could of blocked out a section of the show(maybe once an hour for a few minutes) to run some ads from cardplayer and other poker magazines, online poker sites(not sure if thats legal),pokertracker/pokeroffice ads,I guarantee sites like CR would of put up some money to advertise and the list goes on and on. Management failed with the show and if Donald Trump was running the bike, they would definitely be hearing the words "You're Fired!".

This show could have been a big success with the right people in charge.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

It's too bad it flopped, but I doubt the viability of a business that was based on netcasting $500 buy-in NL games every day. The last BIG game was awesome, when corporation Mike melted down and the 2nd largest pot ever won went to set over set. Quite frankly watching that guy Mike play against his mother every night was tedious and boring, especially since neither of them is a card player (sorry Bart, but you were wrong). Some of the archived episodes, like the big game with Gabe Thaylor and Jackie Chan in it were among the best broadcast games ever done. People playing for real money is why HSP is the only poker on TV that I enjoy.

It was good while it lasted.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

Was there seriously an episode with Jackie Chan or did you mean Johnny Chan? I'm not going to be happy if I missed Jackie Chan playing poker.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

I was thinking today...there was never set over set over set on LATB, Bart wanted that so bad lol.

Re: Live At The Bike - IS DEAD
 

I don't remember the date, but there was set over set over set one time on LATB. Way back in the Denny Williams days.

It was funny because Bart and Denny didn't act very excited at all. Bart just stated very matter-of-factly, "Look at this Denny, we've got three sets on the flop here." ... or something to that effect.

The other funny thing about it was that the guy who flopped top set folded, putting someone on the flopped straight, and the guy with middle set won the hand. (Flop was 2-3-6).

There has never been three flopped flushes, however.