What would it take to get bodybuilding back on ESPN?

[Coffeed]

I'm not talking about prime time, but maybe even taking the place of one of the nine re-runs of Sportscenter on ESPN 3.

What would it take?

[Royalty]

I'm not talking about prime time, but maybe even taking the place of one of the nine re-runs of Sportscenter on ESPN 3.

What would it take?

Mark McGwire & Sammy Soasa & Barry Bonds & Roger Clemens & A-Rod turned ESPN views again steroids forever

So bodybuilding will never be on ESPN again

[SF1900]

Streamlined physiques that the average gym rat can relate to.

Further, with the advent of crossfit and other workout fads, hardcore bodybuilding will continue to fall by the wayside.

The only way for bodybuilding to get back on ESPN is if A LOT of people decided to becoming interested in competitive bodybuilding. I don't see that happening any time soon.

[Leatherneck]

They would have a much better chance getting on FS1, NBCSN or CBSSN.

[residue]

I'm not talking about prime time, but maybe even taking the place of one of the nine re-runs of Sportscenter on ESPN 3.

What would it take?

not gonna happen, cross fit beats bodybuilding in every moneymaking regard

[Howard]

The only way for bodybuilding to get back on ESPN is if A LOT of people decided to becoming interested in competitive bodybuilding.

This one statement x 100!

Right now and in recent past years, real bodybuilding has seen a steady gradual decline.
Right now, cross fit games and tough mudder races are all the rage.
Even at bodybuilding events, bikini and MPD have more entrants.

BUT, fear not, bodybuilding is down but not knocked out.
It may never be a mainstream favorite, but that's exactly what makes it go.
Just like Harley's, classic rock and vintage muscle cars, the real bodybuilders will always have a  unique appeal.

[MCWAY]

I'm not talking about prime time, but maybe even taking the place of one of the nine re-runs of Sportscenter on ESPN 3.

What would it take?

Why bother? The Internet is the best thing to happen to bodybuilding.

When bodybuilding was on ESPN, it usually aired during the wee hours of the morning and the footage was from contests that occurred 4-6 months earlier. You think that's going to fly during the Internet age?

At least with the old WBF, I found out the results of the first championship a week later (thanks to WWF Superstars/Wrestling Challenge).

Under the old ESPN days it'd be at least another two months before you saw any Olympia footage and that would be severely edited with boring commentary and your barely being able to hear the music during the routines. For example, it was spring/summer of 1994 before I actually saw the 1993 Olympia on the air.

[Azure]

Advertisers need to know people would watch and I almost feel like they have a chance with how popular competing has become but I say why bother. You can watch shows live online if you want and there's tons of content so what's the point

You need charismatic people and also it can't be so boring. There needs to be some flash and pizazz. Also of course the physiques need to change in bodybuilding

Seeing bodybuilding through the general public'a eyes is always eye opening. They don't find it interesting or exciting at all.

[MCWAY]

Advertisers need to know people would watch and I almost feel like they have a chance with how popular competing has become but I say why bother. You can watch shows live online if you want and there's tons of content so what's the point

You need charismatic people and also it can't be so boring. There needs to be some flash and pizazz. Also of course the physiques need to change in bodybuilding

Seeing bodybuilding through the general public'a eyes is always eye opening. They don't find it interesting or exciting at all.

Vince McMahon tried that with the WBF. But, thanks to his steroid scandal with the WWF, it didn't work.

The 1991 show looks more like a 21st-century production than the 2015 Olympia did.

[Never1AShow]

Why bother? The Internet is the best thing to happen to bodybuilding.

When bodybuilding was on ESPN, it usually aired during the wee hours of the morning and the footage was from contests that occurred 4-6 months earlier. You think that's going to fly during the Internet age?

At least with the old WBF, I found out the results of the first championship a week later (thanks to WWF Superstars/Wrestling Challenge).

Under the old ESPN days it'd be at least another two months before you saw any Olympia footage and that would be severely edited with boring commentary and your barely being able to hear the music during the routines. For example, it was spring/summer of 1994 before I actually saw the 1993 Olympia on the air.

I seem to recall Gold's Venice having the O results written in magic marker on a piece of white paper posted at the front desk the day after an Olympia.  My how far we've come.

[_aj_]

A mass psychotic event where all men turn gay?

[6 Reps]

Advertisers need to know people would watch and I almost feel like they have a chance with how popular competing has become but I say why bother. You can watch shows live online if you want and there's tons of content so what's the point

You need charismatic people and also it can't be so boring. There needs to be some flash and pizazz. Also of course the physiques need to change in bodybuilding

Seeing bodybuilding through the general public'a eyes is always eye opening. They don't find it interesting or exciting at all.

I think this is key.  Bodybuilding contests are deadly boring to watch.  They need to be livened up.

[CalvinH]

A mass psychotic event where all men turn gay?

This, no one cares
what you see on tv now is crossfit or the Spartan Races.

[tommywishbone]

Me in posing trunks should excite the masses.

[Azure]

I think this is key.  Bodybuilding contests are deadly boring to watch.  They need to be livened up.

Let's be honest.  The trash talking last year is why a lot of people tuned in and why this year seemed so boring.  I think it would be funny to have someone like HHH or the Rock host and go backstage and stir shit up.  It would make it way more entertaining.  This year's Olympia Men's Open was so boring to watch.  The guys didn't even look excited to be on the stage and had no personality or anything onstage.  Nobody wants to watch that.

Also they need to change the posing attire.  Poofy and Bloated guts in the current style is awful. 

[Parker]

Have celebrity women judges. Like Serena Williams, Halle Berry (who used to go to the 90s, early 2000s shows), Anna Kournikova,  and others. Give them the IFBB guidelines. And let them judge. Also try the celebrity MCs again...plus hire sports celeb interviewers.

[Howard]

Streamlined physiques that the average gym rat can relate to.

Further, with the advent of crossfit and other workout fads, hardcore bodybuilding will continue to fall by the wayside.

The only way for bodybuilding to get back on ESPN is if A LOT of people decided to becoming interested in competitive bodybuilding. I don't see that happening any time soon.

Nope, all we need is the right ESPN affiliate.
You mean to tell me, that pro BB isn't made for "the ocho" at 3 a.m. ?

[SquidVicious]

I was fairly certain Howard started this thread when I saw the title.

[Azure]

Have celebrity women judges. Like Serena Williams, Halle Berry (who used to go to the 90s, early 2000s shows), Anna Kournikova,  and others. Give them the IFBB guidelines. And let them judge. Also try the celebrity MCs again...plus hire sports celeb interviewers.

That's what we were saying at this year's Olympia. I bet the posing routines would even improve and make it more fun. I have said this for years.  I think they don't like this because it would be like admitting that bodybuilding is more a pageant than an actual sport...because it IS a pageant. Trust me I have to hear all the time about how getting up posing butt ass naked is not like getting out on the field, court, or whatever to actually perform an actual athletic feat.

It needs more showmanship and honestly better personalities.  Bodybuilding people don't even like Phil Heath so why expect the general public to have interest.  Give it to Kai...at least he's putting himself out there for more mainstream opportunities.

Women like bodybuilding under the right circumstances.  I have seen it myself whether it's people getting hunted down in gyms, at expos, or even at shows...you just have to market it right.

[MCWAY]

Have celebrity women judges. Like Serena Williams, Halle Berry (who used to go to the 90s, early 2000s shows), Anna Kournikova,  and others. Give them the IFBB guidelines. And let them judge. Also try the celebrity MCs again...plus hire sports celeb interviewers.

Celebrity MCs aren't worth much. Regis Philbin did the first WBF show. It didn't add (nor detract) from the competition one bit.

Celebrity judges? NOPE!! Way too many complaints from the past about non-bodybuilder so judging shows (Didn't Franco Columbu's wife judge a pro competition?).

Vince McMahon tried everything from dancing girls to machine guns to give "pizazz" to bodybuilding. If that didn't work, then little else will (especially with the Feds breathing down your neck).

The web is perfect for bodybuilding because it doesn't require "mainstream" media acceptance for purposes of broadcasting or marketing. It can reach those niche fans and get them involved, much as it does with fans of old rockers and rappers from decades gone by.

[Grape Ape]

Obstacle course races are not substitutes for bodybuilding.

Completely different thing.

Pro bodybuilding is just not interesting to most, and a pretty ridiculous endeavor for all the reasons that have been rehashed here..  It's a niche, that has had slight upticks in popularity, but has always been a niche.

[Azure]

Celebrity MCs aren't worth much. Regis Philbin did the first WBF show. It didn't add (nor detract) from the competition one bit.

Celebrity judges? NOPE!! Way too many complaints from the past about non-bodybuilder so judging shows (Didn't Franco Columbu's wife judge a pro competition?).

Vince McMahon tried everything from dancing girls to machine guns to give "pizazz" to bodybuilding. If that didn't work, then little else will (especially with the Feds breathing down your neck).

The web is perfect for bodybuilding because it doesn't require "mainstream" media acceptance for purposes of broadcasting or marketing. It can reach those niche fans and get them involved, much as it does with fans of old rockers and rappers from decades gone by.

When HHH hosted It went well. You have to get someone like that who understands that bodybuilding is on par with wrestling and to just be ridiculous because bodybuilding is ridiculous

If you had celeb judges chances are they would choose people along the lines of Arnold's vision rather than what you have now. Also the star power would add some sponsor interest

[Grape Ape]

When HHH hosted It went well. You have to get someone like that who understands that bodybuilding is on par with wrestling and to just be ridiculous because bodybuilding is ridiculous

If you had celeb judges chances are they would choose people along the lines of Arnold's vision rather than what you have now. Also the star power would add some sponsor interest

I would think a celebrity panel of Elton John, Clay Aiken, Nathan Lane, Ricky Martin, and Lance Bass would be appropriate.

[Azure]

I would think a celebrity panel of Elton John, Clay Aiken, Nathan Lane, Ricky Martin, and Lance Bass would be appropriate.

Good point. Add in Richard Simmons for the fitness part

[MCWAY]

When HHH hosted It went well. You have to get someone like that who understands that bodybuilding is on par with wrestling and to just be ridiculous because bodybuilding is ridiculous

If you had celeb judges chances are they would choose people along the lines of Arnold's vision rather than what you have now. Also the star power would add some sponsor interest

And Helmsley's father-in-law (who owned both the WWF and WBF) doesn't know that?

Regis Philbin was as big a star as there was in he 90s. He was the MC for the first WBF championship. He'd just appeared at WrestleMania 7 three months prior to that. And he had WBF bodybuilders on his talk show, leading up to the competition.

Lest we also forget, McMahon pulled a major coup by signing LOU FERRIGNO.

On top of that, you had the "WBF Bodystars" show in 1992 and the week-long "Family Feud" special with McMahon's WWF wrestlers and WBF bodybuilders, raising money for charity. I almost forgot about the tug-of-war between "Team WWF" and "Team WBF".

None of that led to more sponsorship or mainstream acceptance and the WBF folded a month after its 1992 championship (by which time Ferrigno had bailed back to the IFBB).