Okay, a non-doping question, because this is another interest of mine.
What is the TV braodcast situation with USA triathlon and the ITU? I ask because USATF is on a pay-to-play arrangement, and likely the American Track League, the new Track Town thing, and other innovative meets are pay-to-play to be aired on ESPN or NBC.
Universal sports, when it existed, showed international triathlon events. does the USA Triathlon organization have a plan for airing for triathlon events?
The recreational participant model has been what supports road running, the opposite of cycling or swimming. has the ITU articulated a direction for expanding its viewership? Are they aiming for more broadcasts, or bigger events in the sense of opening the event to locals/participants?
Actually, in general, I'm curious about the business model of different events. I really have no idea, and my questions stem from what I know about cycling, swimming, and track/road racing. I can't imagine there is any revenue sharing among broadcasters and athletes or sponsors; is there any push to change that arrangement like there is in cycling? Is there any organized representation of athletes or teams like has emerged from Velon or track athletes' unions?
I don't even know where to start asking questions, and maybe you're not the person to know the answer. My interest is in the way your sport has been self-sufficient without appearing to rely on viewership for its existence, a card that cycling and athletics plays often. Swimming gets away with not being on TV, and does just fine, but Triathlon even less so, unless you count the Iron Man championships. Do you think track and field should make as big a fuss as it is over viewership? Can it survive in a more condensed version like the ITU?
And I realize these posts may not be your area. I ask about anti-doping and marketing, and you are here to talk about participation and recruitment. Any info you can provide is helpful. I haven't taken the time to learn about the sport, and will be using your answers as a starting point.