Televised results: continue?Prev TopicNext Topic

• Jon D

  

  Los Angeles, California
  United States
  Member #103,809
  January 5, 2011
  1,530 Posts
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  Mar 9, 2011, 11:06 am

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  Here in CA, they just recently stopped showing live televised results for Mega Millions and Super Lotto Plus in Los Angeles county on KCAL9.

  I don't know if a lot of people still feel this is useful. If anything, it is for quick verification and accountability. With so many little off-air TV stations on expanded digital channels to choose from, I'm sure they can find one to host the results.

  Sure, they will later post the video to the Mega Millions website, or in the case of Super Lotto Plus, to the Youtube channel. But not the same as live, as there is a long delay in posting videos, and the calottery.com website slows down severely around 8PM, so you sometimes have to wait 10-15 minutes or more to get results.
• sully16

  

  25

  Ringleader

  Michigan
  United States
  Member #81,738
  October 28, 2009
  128,313 Posts
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  Mar 9, 2011, 12:23 pm

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  The amount of money they spend advertising and employee benefits and pensions , they could spend a little more on tv air time, maybe more people would play....gee more profit who would have thought.

   
• Raven62

  

  25

  New Jersey
  United States
  Member #17,842
  June 28, 2005
  180,983 Posts
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  Mar 9, 2011, 12:25 pm

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  In response to Jon D

  Quote: Originally posted by Jon D on Mar 9, 2011

  Here in CA, they just recently stopped showing live televised results for Mega Millions and Super Lotto Plus in Los Angeles county on KCAL9.

  I don't know if a lot of people still feel this is useful. If anything, it is for quick verification and accountability. With so many little off-air TV stations on expanded digital channels to choose from, I'm sure they can find one to host the results.

  Sure, they will later post the video to the Mega Millions website, or in the case of Super Lotto Plus, to the Youtube channel. But not the same as live, as there is a long delay in posting videos, and the calottery.com website slows down severely around 8PM, so you sometimes have to wait 10-15 minutes or more to get results.

  Their are very few Winners: The entertainment value of being able to view the live drawings may be the only thing that makes it worthwhile to buy a ticket.
  
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• ameriken

  

  Denver, Co
  United States
  Member #103,042
  December 29, 2010
  547 Posts
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  Mar 9, 2011, 9:01 pm

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  I don't watch the drawings nor would I ever, however I think accountability is an important enough reason to continue.
• Jon D

  

  Los Angeles, California
  United States
  Member #103,809
  January 5, 2011
  1,530 Posts
  Offline
  Mar 22, 2011, 11:07 pm

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  Took a while, but I did actually get a response from the CA lotto commission on this issue, here it is if anyone is interested:

  After almost 26 years on air, on February 23, 2011, the Lottery stopped broadcasting the winning number drawings for its two Lotto games, MEGA Millions and SuperLOTTO Plus, on television.
  
  
  
  
  The Lottery stopped broadcasting draws in an effort to reduce operating costs so that it can increase prize payouts to players and contributions to education.
  
  
  
  
  MEGA Millions and SuperLOTTO Plus draws can be seen on the Lottery's public website (www.calottery.com<http://www.calottery.com>). This gives players the convenience of being able to see a drawing at a time they choose.
  
  
  
  
  Some people ask if there have there been any changes in the way draws are conducted. The answer to that question is, no. Draws are conducted in the same manner and with the same equipment as they were before going off air.
• Todd

  

  50

  Chief Bottle Washer

  New Jersey
  United States
  Member #1
  May 31, 2000
  27,938 Posts
  Online
  Mar 22, 2011, 11:10 pm

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  In response to Jon D

  Quote: Originally posted by Jon D on Mar 22, 2011

  Took a while, but I did actually get a response from the CA lotto commission on this issue, here it is if anyone is interested:

  After almost 26 years on air, on February 23, 2011, the Lottery stopped broadcasting the winning number drawings for its two Lotto games, MEGA Millions and SuperLOTTO Plus, on television.
  
  
  
  
  The Lottery stopped broadcasting draws in an effort to reduce operating costs so that it can increase prize payouts to players and contributions to education.
  
  
  
  
  MEGA Millions and SuperLOTTO Plus draws can be seen on the Lottery's public website (www.calottery.com<http://www.calottery.com>). This gives players the convenience of being able to see a drawing at a time they choose.
  
  
  
  
  Some people ask if there have there been any changes in the way draws are conducted. The answer to that question is, no. Draws are conducted in the same manner and with the same equipment as they were before going off air.

  Thanks for posting that info.  Personally I think it's OK to show them on the Internet instead of on TV, but I think they should be available as a live stream AND with the ability to watch them later.  It is not very expensive to do that, so if they raise the cost issue on streaming, it's a bit of a red herring.

   

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• Longarm

  

  DFW, Texas
  United States
  Member #78,626
  August 18, 2009
  134 Posts
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  Mar 23, 2011, 4:40 am

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  I like being able to watch the draw on television.  In the 90s the Texas night draw was shown on local stations in this area.  I don't think the lottery ever paid for it, but just made it available.  No local stations show it now, but it can be streamed live on the web site, and recorded draws can be streamed or downloaded.

  Mega Millions draws have long been shown on WGN, and now that Illinois plays Powerball, those draws are shown, too.  I think it's not actually live, but about a minute delayed (close enough for me).  If you get that channel, you can still see the Mega Millions draws (and Powerball if you're interested).

  The Texas Lottery gives satellite coordinates for people to pick up the transmission directly.  I suspect most people don't have the equipment and knowledge to do that, and I don't know if California offers that, but it's a possibility worth mentioning.