Sprint paddling content creator and influencer Philip Bryde joins Paddlecast to talk about his viral video calling out the ICF for paywalling their live streams. Last weekend, paddling fans from around the world searched for how to watch the first Sprint Canoe World Cup of the year live and found that they’d have to pay £9.99 for a channel membership on YouTube. This has been a hot issue in the paddling community for several years since the ICF first introduced paywalls with “Recast”, a sports broadcasting platform that eventually went bankrupt at which point Planet Canoe moved to paid YouTube memberships.

Billy and Betsy share their own perspectives on the paywall, consider the pros and cons with Philip, and offer a few specific ideas for how the ICF could improve their approach. With the paddling season ramping up, this hot topic is reaching ever higher temperatures. Even multi time Olympians and medalists Fernando Pimenta and Marcus Cooper Waltz have expressed their views in Philip’s comments section…

How do you feel about the live stream paywall? Let’s continue the conversation, leave your thoughts in the comments below.

00:20 Introduction to Philip and the issue at hand

02:21 Billy's perspective

06:39 The ICF has been posting race videos for free after the fact, but how much of a difference does it make to watch live?

07:48 How does the paywall affect the ability to reach new fans?

11:44 Possible alternatives to a paywall, and input from Fernando Pimenta and Marcus Cooper Waltz

15:52 How much is the ICF making off these memberships, and where is the money going?

17:04 What about prize money? The SUP athletes earn prize money from ICF events, but not the canoe and kayak athletes which only amplifies frustration with the paywall.

18:56 Wrapping it up, and Philip’s one highlight from the Szeged World Cup #1

If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe to Paddlecast and leave a review. If Paddlecast isn’t enough paddling chat for you, you can also follow:

instagram.com/paddledaily

https://paddledaily.com

https://www.instagram.com/supracer 

https://supracer.com

http://instagram.com/billylikeskayaking 

And here’s a few links we referenced in the show…

Philip's Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/philipbryde1

The viral video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJwgaZssLkiSUP Racer write-up from when the ICF introduced “Recast”: https://supracer.com/apparently-the-icf-wants-even-fewer-people-watching-paddle-racing-live-streams http://youtube.com/@planetcanoe