EFL send streaming back to the dark ages

[gshaw]

Shouldn't expect anything less from the dinosaurs at the EFL

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football ... s-24490150

Those who want to go to the ground are itching to get back anyway, all this decision means is those who live too far away can't engage with the matches live. Pathetic really.

[Chelmsford Swimmer]

I am sure that EFL clubs appreciate the income that they can generate from streaming. It's in no ones interest if someone can't get to a game and can't pay to watch a stream. However clubs need to maximise income and don't want people watching cheap streams at home instead off attending matches in person. I would suggest that they compromise and make streaming available but at a price nearer average price per game for a season ticket.

[EastDerehamO]

I live 100 miles away, time & distance, not to mention fuel cost, in getting to a game prevents me from attending more than half a dozen or so games over a season. Yet I streamed 45 matches last season, time & cost affordable, I want to watch my team, so the club actually got more money from me out of it than they would get over a normal season.

I understand wanting crowds back and related income. It just needs a tailored system, we all have to be registered to stream, the clubs know where we live, quick postcode distance check, the further away the more games one can stream perhaps and the cheaper it is to do so; but (say) if a person lives within five mins of the ground full ticket price to stream. It’s not rocket science, it just needs thinking through, the technology is there to support it.

[POSHO]

Good call. Use to be a season ticket holder, even then could only make a dozen games for various reasons. No one else in my family have ever been interested so I went on my home . Hardly spoke to anyone at the ground as they were with their own mates. So it's a long day. I could be over 9 hours away from home. 4 years ago I moved another 25 miles away. It takes an hour to drive to the train station, then 2 tubes and a small walk. Not the same when no-one else is interested and you are on your own. The streaming was great for me.

[goldeneye]

I live 100 miles away, time & distance, not to mention fuel cost, in getting to a game prevents me from attending more than half a dozen or so games over a season. Yet I streamed 45 matches last season, time & cost affordable, I want to watch my team, so the club actually got more money from me out of it than they would get over a normal season.

I understand wanting crowds back and related income. It just needs a tailored system, we all have to be registered to stream, the clubs know where we live, quick postcode distance check, the further away the more games one can stream perhaps and the cheaper it is to do so; but (say) if a person lives within five mins of the ground full ticket price to stream. It’s not rocket science, it just needs thinking through, the technology is there to support it.

[Real Al]

The article specifically refers to iFollow, which the club doesn't use. I don't know if there's any scope for our service to continue in a way that fans want.

[slacker]

I didn’t bother streaming at all last season, but might have done with crowds back this time round now I’m an Exile (of sorts). So I’ll be interested to see how this pans out.

[Beradogs]

As others have alluded to, the vast majority of people who will continue to stream would not attend the games anyway. It would only be a tiny fraction who would not attend if there was a way to watch live on the TV. Orient had more money out of me last season than they have had in the last 35 years. If they stop streaming lives games it will not mean I suddenly attend games as I live 4 hours away. I might get to one or two max all season. Aside from all that, isn’t it also nice for fans who live far away, perhaps have a disability, are old, don’t have enough money, to be able to still follow their team. Does everything in football have to be about the pound note. Pisses me off.

[Jack]

I can understand the disappointment at not being able to stream a game at 3pm anymore, but it will cost clubs money.

It costs over £20 to get in a ground, but half that to stream, so many people will take the cheaper option, particularly in the cold and wet winter months.

Clubs will suffer

[KVN]

Clubs will suffer financially even with the best security any streamed game is open to piracy, even more insentive for people to watch them the more the games cost to watch. Or there will be muluple people watching on one subscription. Not to mension the stadium income from food and merchandise.

[StillSpike]

As others have alluded to, the vast majority of people who will continue to stream would not attend the games anyway. It would only be a tiny fraction who would not attend if there was a way to watch live on the TV. Orient had more money out of me last season than they have had in the last 35 years. If they stop streaming lives games it will not mean I suddenly attend games as I live 4 hours away. I might get to one or two max all season. Aside from all that, isn’t it also nice for fans who live far away, perhaps have a disability, are old, don’t have enough money, to be able to still follow their team. Does everything in football have to be about the pound note. Pisses me off.

I think this reflects my feelings on the subject too.

If I'm able to get to a game, I'll go. Much of my enjoyment of the game is meeting pals, having a beer, the atmosphere etc, so the live experience is easily worth the ticket cost. IF I can get to the game.

If I'm not able to get to a game, the I won't. If, then, the choice is between paying a few quid for a stream or spending Saturday afternoon doing something else, then I'm very likely to buy the stream. But the streaming experience is not a patch on watching live.

There's no circumstances, I don't think, where I'd be weighing up whether to stream or go live based on price, so the existence of streaming is never going to reduce my live attendance. If clubs are concerned there'd be a dilution of gate income then they should work hard to improve the matchday experience.

[gshaw]

I can understand the disappointment at not being able to stream a game at 3pm anymore, but it will cost clubs money.

It costs over £20 to get in a ground, but half that to stream, so many people will take the cheaper option, particularly in the cold and wet winter months.

Clubs will suffer

Make the stream £20 then, if you live hours away it's still a better deal than the travel.

Same for away games, I watched a fair few last season giving the clubs income on top of the ST. Now it's back to them getting £0 from all but the most hardcore travelling contingent.

It's the fact they won't even trial it that really grates, such a lack of vision and innovation but then again we didn't invent the EFL chant for nothing

[moonwalk19]

I live 100 miles away, time & distance, not to mention fuel cost, in getting to a game prevents me from attending more than half a dozen or so games over a season. Yet I streamed 45 matches last season, time & cost affordable, I want to watch my team, so the club actually got more money from me out of it than they would get over a normal season.

I understand wanting crowds back and related income. It just needs a tailored system, we all have to be registered to stream, the clubs know where we live, quick postcode distance check, the further away the more games one can stream perhaps and the cheaper it is to do so; but (say) if a person lives within five mins of the ground full ticket price to stream. It’s not rocket science, it just needs thinking through, the technology is there to support it.

I too live miles away and cannot afford travelling and games cost on a regular basis. However I did watch a lot of streaming. I suppose it all depends whether away fans can still travel to games. If not the home club should be allowed to stream perhaps starting games at 1.30 or 5pm. Orient gained a lot of revenue through streaming.

[Harlow]

For me, it makes total sense to carry on streaming (that sounds like a film). I think I only missed one game last season, would definitely watch away games that I could not get to and would still keep my season card and attend most games

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Club asking for fan opinions on streaming, if you're interested.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIp ... A/viewform

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Be careful using that survey if you dont like badly worded questions, or mis-use of punctuation...

[PeterbrO]

FAO PoshO.

If you're still in the Peterborough /Stamford area, StamfordO and myself go to most games home and away. Went to Salford last week, Brizzle tomorrow. If you ever fancy a lift just get in touch. We take it in turns to drive and StamfordO can talk the hind legs off a donkey!!

[Stamford O]

FAO PoshO.

If you're still in the Peterborough /Stamford area, StamfordO and myself go to most games home and away. Went to Salford last week, Brizzle tomorrow. If you ever fancy a lift just get in touch. We take it in turns to drive and StamfordO can talk the hind legs off a donkey!!

How very dare you!

[POSHO]

Thanks peterbrO, that's very kind. I may take you up on that at some point. I now live 25 miles away in Holbeach.

[LittleMate]

Clubs need fans in the ground, otherwise they may as well hire a football pitch anywhere. Our entire existence is set up on a budget of c.5,000 fans attending as an average and other clubs have their own levels. Allowing live streaming is no income substitute.

I'm not sure systems will be clever enough for a few years whereby streaming could be allowed if it were outside, say, a 50 mile radius - but even then someone local would complain that they could not get to the ground because of something like invalidity and could not stream.....

[StillSpike]

Clubs need fans in the ground, otherwise they may as well hire a football pitch anywhere. Our entire existence is set up on a budget of c.5,000 fans attending as an average and other clubs have their own levels. Allowing live streaming is no income substitute.

I'm not sure systems will be clever enough for a few years whereby streaming could be allowed if it were outside, say, a 50 mile radius - but even then someone local would complain that they could not get to the ground because of something like invalidity and could not stream.....

'I disagree - I don't think there'd be significant numbers who'd choose to stream rather than go along to the live match, were they able to attend and had the choice. Of course there'd be some, but the experience is totally different, imo, that I can't see live streaming affecting home gates by much - going to a match is much more than watching the ball. It might have more of an effect on away travel - but I'd hope that any drop in away fans would be compensated by greater numbers streaming the match.

[gshaw]

If a fan pays the same for their season ticket as for streaming and whilst in the ground doesn't buy any food or programme (quite possible) where's the revenue difference?

[StillSpike]

My dad has had to give up his season ticket for the first time this year due to declining health. He'd love to be able to stream the games and would gladly pay for the service, I'm sure he's not alone in that regard.

[Rich Tea Wellin]

If a fan pays the same for their season ticket as for streaming and whilst in the ground doesn't buy any food or programme (quite possible) where's the revenue difference?

For me the difference isn’t the fans of today. It’s the fans of the future. If an 8 year old can stream Man City, Chelsea or Liverpool why would they stream Orient?

I’m not sure I would have fell in love with Orient if I’d had watched them on a screen at home when I was a kid.

I get why the club want to push it and personally I’d love a stream for all the games this season, but it’s a bit short sighted.

[StillSpike]

I get your point AW - I guess that's why the 3 - 5.15 blackout was introduced when live TV matches became possible

I wonder if there's a way of keeping the Saturday afternoon blackout for top flight games, while allowing those further down the pyramid to stream their games.