Club encourages fans to use a VPN

[PKM]

Don’t know what Sky would say about that, I would think less than chuffed, if everyone did it then not many takers for Sky’s UK offering re the O’s.
But it is interesting to see official Leyton Orient tweets to watch live matches ‘overseas’ followed by a one line ‘be protected on line with NordVPN’.
No doubt the club have noticed a big increase in ‘overseas’ fans and are happy to encourage that.
I use a VPN myself, prefer O’s coverage to Skys plus I think some matches are not available on Sky.
It seems Leyton Orient have gone right as far as they can go by encouraging fans to use a VPN, without actually saying here’s a nice get round for UK fans to pretend they are overseas and use our streaming service.
Thin ice?

[Long slender neck]

Grass

[PKM]

Grass

???
It’s now completely out in the open with NordVPN tagged on the bottom of Leyton Orient’s tweets for live streaming.
Wouldn’t be surprised if we ended up partnering with Nord, there’s a thought for MD.

[Long slender neck]

I would guess that Nord are a sponsor or have paid for these mentions.

The club arent saying "sign up with Nord so you can watch our International streams".

What fans choose to do is up to them.

[PKM]

I would guess that Nord are a sponsor or have paid for these mentions.

The club arent saying "sign up with Nord so you can watch our International streams".

What fans choose to do is up to them.

Exactly what I said
The club are going as far as they can, without actually saying here’s a crafty way to circumnavigate the rules.

[elO]

Concerning this, my worry is that the club could be shooting themselves in the foot. If they want to get people to the ground, then playing this game isn't the most intelligent way to go. Screw Sky by the way.

[PKM]

I would get to more home matches if I could, but not possible living in Devon.
Using the vpn is a way of supporting the club , money they wouldn’t have otherwise received.
Wonder how many ‘overseas’ fans the club are up to this season?
A fair increase, I would wager.

[elO]

Are these overseas fans British migrants abroad or just people who took a liking for the club for some reason?

[essexfootball]

I said last season when Nigel said illegal streaming was theft from the club, when for 99% of games you couldn't legally stream from the UK

[Chelmsford Swimmer]

I said last season when Nigel said illegal streaming was theft from the club, when for 99% of games you couldn't legally stream from the UK

Using a VPN in the UK to bypass GEO restrictions is not an illegal act, it may be against Orients terms and conditions if you can find them. Using other methods which bypass payment to SKY or Orient TV is indeed theft and illegal.

[O Superman]

I said last season when Nigel said illegal streaming was theft from the club, when for 99% of games you couldn't legally stream from the UK

Using a VPN in the UK to bypass GEO restrictions is not an illegal act, it may be against Orients terms and conditions if you can find them. Using other methods which bypass payment to SKY or Orient TV is indeed theft and illegal.

If I remember correctly, it (using a VPN) was specifically banned in the EFL streaming service - iFollow- terms and conditions and I think they did start going after people at one point. However, Orient's streaming service has always been independent of the EFL. As you say, there is nothing illegal about using a VPN to get round the 'overseas' thing. Neither is it ripping off the club (just the opposite) because you still have to pay for the stream which is sold directly by the club. There is an argument that it is ripping off Sky or going against the Saturday 3:00pm blackout and that Orient are having their cake and eating it. That said, it would be very difficult for Sky/EFL to prove it as presumably they would need to ask the club to provide contact details for individual users which would be against the Data Protection Act. I'm no legal expert though, so I could be very wrong there

[Cheshunto]

Concerning this, my worry is that the club could be shooting themselves in the foot. If they want to get people to the ground, then playing this game isn't the most intelligent way to go. Screw Sky by the way.

Totally agree, I don’t understand why clubs are making it easier for armchair fans to watch from home without going anywhere near the ground. We have blanket coverage from Sky and the club almost advertising VPNs ,and this is at a time that we are actively looking for a bigger ground………What for ??
Add on the International Breaks which are screwing many of our fans ……..It’s a ‘perfect storm’ .