A few years ago people asked me what I thought about televising racquetball online. Back then, high speed connections were not in most homes. The infastructure wasn't there to support it, so I said it wasn't feasible. I still don't today.
Two websites, theracquetballchannel.com and racquetballonline.tv are trying there best to prove me wrong. Both sites cover the Men and Women's tours individually, and both so far have broadcasted events live for free.
The biggest problem back then was getting a high enough throughput from the event to the people at home to get a clear enough picture of the ball. The ball visibility seems to plague televised events not only in our sport but in others like squash as well.
When I watch a squash match, I have no idea what's going on. I'm sure that people familiar with the game have some idea as they're more familiar with how the ball is moving the strategy of the players shots and all that. I watch a recap of the best of moments, moments that in racquetball get my blood pumping, but in squash I just don't "get it". I think it's because I don't play the game a lot. I see the players, and they seem to be chasing flies around the court.
The same issue plagues online racquetball, and that's why I don't think streaming video is "the answer" or anywhere near a part of it. You just can't see the ball, and while I, with ample experience playing the game, can follow it, no regular joe smoe is going to be able to. The televised events are restricted to then to the die hard players that want to view the latest matches in their homes. If new players are exposed to the sport this way they'll think we are a bunch of people that swat flies together for fun.