Streaming Abdabs

[Dave Cooper please]

Because if football was available on TV, on Saturday afternoon, people would be less inclined to watch live non-league games. 

I don't think that would be a big enough factor to worry about.  Out of our 7,000 or so missing fans at Villa Park each week, how many of those are regularly going to non league games instead?  I don't think the average non-league fan is going to be too swayed by watching Premier League teams live.  Could be wrong though.

 Many small clubs (Midland Alliance and below) can't survive on just their loyal fanbase, they need the extra footfall through the turnstiles provided by those with bugger all else to do on a Saturday afternoon, give those people an extra choice of watching live PL football in the pub or at home and clubs will go under. This is fact, many clubs walk such a tight line between survival and going broke that losing ten or fifteen supporters buying a pie, pint and a programme on a Saturday will force them out of business.

[Steve R]

Sureley it will happen. Many owners, including more likely as not our own, have bought into football on the basis that at some point in the future licensed/paid streaming will happen. The amount of money to be had dwarfs whatever SKY are able to cough up. It's hard to believe that at it will not happen, sooner or later.

Whether that actually gives us a better game is a different matter. Then again, nobody other than fans wants a better game. If the last 20 years are anything to go by, it's a more lucrative game that matters.

The decision makers in the PL couldn't give a monkeys about teams in the championship. They certainly couldn't give a fuck about what it does to lower level football. You can always buy foreign players when the time comes, or rather has already arrived, that our own grass roots fottball can't produce enough quality to sustain a watchable top flight.

It probably will impact on gates. Then again, off the top of my head, Spurs, Chelsea, West Ham, Liverpool, Everton and ourselves have all been looking at ways of increasing capacity in recent years and have experienced all kinds of difficulties. If you can get a big step increase in revenues without this massive capital expenditure where is the bad news from the club owners' point of view?

Maybe we'll get to Berlusconi's prediction. There will come a time when attending a game will be free. The live audience is only there to provide atmosphere and spectacle for the electronic viewers.

The internet as a means of distributing entertainment has so many things in its favour when compared to subscription TV, not the least of which is that much of the setup cost is borne by the viewer and the infrastructure to make money making material available is either already in place or will be paid for by someone else (e.g. fibre to cabinet).

Anyway, I'm off the buy a Kindle EPL. A nice big screen, 20 buttons and a volume control. A snip at £250.

It is almost a blessing that many things that I once held dear about the game have long since been well and truly trampled on.

Maybe it would be better if the EPL (yes, I know) was relocated closer to its core markets in the far east with maybe a 39th game in this country just for old times sake.

[UK Redsox]

Because if football was available on TV, on Saturday afternoon, people would be less inclined to watch live non-league games. 

I don't think that would be a big enough factor to worry about.  Out of our 7,000 or so missing fans at Villa Park each week, how many of those are regularly going to non league games instead?  I don't think the average non-league fan is going to be too swayed by watching Premier League teams live.  Could be wrong though.

 Many small clubs (Midland Alliance and below) can't survive on just their loyal fanbase, they need the extra footfall through the turnstiles provided by those with bugger all else to do on a Saturday afternoon, give those people an extra choice of watching live PL football in the pub or at home and clubs will go under. This is fact, many clubs walk such a tight line between survival and going broke that losing ten or fifteen supporters buying a pie, pint and a programme on a Saturday will force them out of business.

To me, that is not a valid reason why should people who want to pay to watch top level football on TV/Online on a Saturday afternoon are prevented from doing so ?

People should not be prevented from watching the type of sport they want in the hope that they'll attend games lower down the pyramid.

[eastie]

Because if football was available on TV, on Saturday afternoon, people would be less inclined to watch live non-league games. 

I don't think that would be a big enough factor to worry about.  Out of our 7,000 or so missing fans at Villa Park each week, how many of those are regularly going to non league games instead?  I don't think the average non-league fan is going to be too swayed by watching Premier League teams live.  Could be wrong though.

 Many small clubs (Midland Alliance and below) can't survive on just their loyal fanbase, they need the extra footfall through the turnstiles provided by those with bugger all else to do on a Saturday afternoon, give those people an extra choice of watching live PL football in the pub or at home and clubs will go under. This is fact, many clubs walk such a tight line between survival and going broke that losing ten or fifteen supporters buying a pie, pint and a programme on a Saturday will force them out of business.

To me, that is not a valid reason why should people who want to pay to watch top level football on TV/Online on a Saturday afternoon are prevented from doing so ?

People should not be prevented from watching the type of sport they want in the hope that they'll attend games lower down the pyramid.

Its sad for he lower league teams , but i agree, people who want to watch live streams will eventually get the chance to do so legally through a subscription service i think- it is just a question of when .

[dave.woodhall]

Because if football was available on TV, on Saturday afternoon, people would be less inclined to watch live non-league games. 

I don't think that would be a big enough factor to worry about.  Out of our 7,000 or so missing fans at Villa Park each week, how many of those are regularly going to non league games instead?  I don't think the average non-league fan is going to be too swayed by watching Premier League teams live.  Could be wrong though.

 Many small clubs (Midland Alliance and below) can't survive on just their loyal fanbase, they need the extra footfall through the turnstiles provided by those with bugger all else to do on a Saturday afternoon, give those people an extra choice of watching live PL football in the pub or at home and clubs will go under. This is fact, many clubs walk such a tight line between survival and going broke that losing ten or fifteen supporters buying a pie, pint and a programme on a Saturday will force them out of business.

To me, that is not a valid reason why should people who want to pay to watch top level football on TV/Online on a Saturday afternoon are prevented from doing so ?

People should not be prevented from watching the type of sport they want in the hope that they'll attend games lower down the pyramid.

For the good of the game as a whole rather than the selfish self-interest of a few clubs.

[eastie]

Because if football was available on TV, on Saturday afternoon, people would be less inclined to watch live non-league games. 

I don't think that would be a big enough factor to worry about.  Out of our 7,000 or so missing fans at Villa Park each week, how many of those are regularly going to non league games instead?  I don't think the average non-league fan is going to be too swayed by watching Premier League teams live.  Could be wrong though.

 Many small clubs (Midland Alliance and below) can't survive on just their loyal fanbase, they need the extra footfall through the turnstiles provided by those with bugger all else to do on a Saturday afternoon, give those people an extra choice of watching live PL football in the pub or at home and clubs will go under. This is fact, many clubs walk such a tight line between survival and going broke that losing ten or fifteen supporters buying a pie, pint and a programme on a Saturday will force them out of business.

To me, that is not a valid reason why should people who want to pay to watch top level football on TV/Online on a Saturday afternoon are prevented from doing so ?

People should not be prevented from watching the type of sport they want in the hope that they'll attend games lower down the pyramid.

For the good of the game as a whole rather than the selfish self-interest of a few clubs.

I agree  but sadly though dave , money seems to be the main incentive  - clubs will go to the wall, its like the supermarkets killing the smaller shops - the rich will get richer and those who cant survive will go out of business.

[Clampy]

Because if football was available on TV, on Saturday afternoon, people would be less inclined to watch live non-league games. 

I don't think that would be a big enough factor to worry about.  Out of our 7,000 or so missing fans at Villa Park each week, how many of those are regularly going to non league games instead?  I don't think the average non-league fan is going to be too swayed by watching Premier League teams live.  Could be wrong though.

 Many small clubs (Midland Alliance and below) can't survive on just their loyal fanbase, they need the extra footfall through the turnstiles provided by those with bugger all else to do on a Saturday afternoon, give those people an extra choice of watching live PL football in the pub or at home and clubs will go under. This is fact, many clubs walk such a tight line between survival and going broke that losing ten or fifteen supporters buying a pie, pint and a programme on a Saturday will force them out of business.

To me, that is not a valid reason why should people who want to pay to watch top level football on TV/Online on a Saturday afternoon are prevented from doing so ?

People should not be prevented from watching the type of sport they want in the hope that they'll attend games lower down the pyramid.

For the good of the game as a whole rather than the selfish self-interest of a few clubs.

I agree  but sadly though dave , money seems to be the main incentive  - clubs will go to the wall, its like the supermarkets killing the smaller shops - the rich will get richer and those who cant survive will go out of business.

All the more reason why we should'nt let it happen.

[eastie]

Because if football was available on TV, on Saturday afternoon, people would be less inclined to watch live non-league games. 

I don't think that would be a big enough factor to worry about.  Out of our 7,000 or so missing fans at Villa Park each week, how many of those are regularly going to non league games instead?  I don't think the average non-league fan is going to be too swayed by watching Premier League teams live.  Could be wrong though.

 Many small clubs (Midland Alliance and below) can't survive on just their loyal fanbase, they need the extra footfall through the turnstiles provided by those with bugger all else to do on a Saturday afternoon, give those people an extra choice of watching live PL football in the pub or at home and clubs will go under. This is fact, many clubs walk such a tight line between survival and going broke that losing ten or fifteen supporters buying a pie, pint and a programme on a Saturday will force them out of business.

To me, that is not a valid reason why should people who want to pay to watch top level football on TV/Online on a Saturday afternoon are prevented from doing so ?

People should not be prevented from watching the type of sport they want in the hope that they'll attend games lower down the pyramid.

For the good of the game as a whole rather than the selfish self-interest of a few clubs.

I agree  but sadly though dave , money seems to be the main incentive  - clubs will go to the wall, its like the supermarkets killing the smaller shops - the rich will get richer and those who cant survive will go out of business.

All the more reason why we should'nt let it happen.

How exactly do you propose stopping it clampy - it is just a matter of time , that is the society we live in .

If villa are not playing do you go and watch your local team?

[Clampy]

From a personal point of view, i can't think of anything worse than sitting in the house every weekend watching our games home and away.

[eastie]

From a personal point of view, i can't think of anything worse than sitting in the house every weekend watching our games home and away.

What about people who live far away, cant afford the ticket prices, are too old or ill to get to games?

If the option is there, you  can subscribe , or go to games or go to local games - the choice will be yours.

[Clampy]

Yes it will happen which will be a shame. Hopefully not for a long time yet.

My local team is Villa. If you mean local non league team, then no.  Maybe i should though and i was invited along to a game by someone on here a while back. I used to go to Walsall when we was'nt playing but i've not done that for a while.

From a personal point of view, i can't think of anything worse than sitting in the house every weekend watching our games home and away.

What about people who live far away, cant afford the ticket prices, are too old or ill to get to games?

If the option is there, you  can subscribe , or go to games or go to local games - the choice will be yours.

Like i said Eastie, from a personal point of view.

[eastie]

On occasions even with a season ticket i have chosen to watch the game on sky when villa were at home rather than travel to villa park and watch - i loved the atmosphere and traveling home and away in the 80s and 90s but to be honest the atmosphere to me now doesnt seem the same.( from a personal point of view)

[Mr Speedy H]

I don't believe the death of lower league football will be the outcome of this, not at all.

If I were to pay £150 per season to have access to all 38 Aston Villa matches, this does not mean I will sit at home and watch them every Saturday or Sunday. I will still go out and about, do things with my other half, friends, family, etc. However knowing that when I return on that evening I can sit down and watch full games at my own accord is the key selling point. If you WANT to watch your local team then you'll go regardless.
 
As I mentioned in my other post, I am an MLB.tv subscriber, which means I have full access to every MLB game that is played. Do you think I stay up until 2, 3, 4 am watching the games? Fuck no. I'll wait until the morning and watch the full match then (as long as I stay away from social media so I don't know the score!).

The other thing to consider would be subscription levels. Again, this is taken from the MLB.tv model as they have three levels:
1) Audio commentary of every game your team play;
2) Full SD games;
3) Full HD games.

Priced accordingly this would allow those with slower connections to still listen and/or watch games.

The world is now run by the internet. How many times have you walked down a street and seen every bugger and his dog on their smart phone?

I think the hardest thing about this entire situation is the investment. Why would the FA cut the money from BSkyB and risk doing this? The initial costs would be huge!

Let's do a whip-round!

[Dave Cooper please]

I agree  but sadly though dave , money seems to be the main incentive  - clubs will go to the wall, its like the supermarkets killing the smaller shops - the rich will get richer and those who cant survive will go out of business.

But why make it easier for the 'Supermarket clubs' to force the 'local shop clubs' out of business? We should be trying to even things up a little not widening the gap further surely?

And do you think this will be good for the likes of Villa? The big clubs will negotiate deals far in excess of anything we will manage, further adding to the gap between ourselves and Man Utd and Chelsea.

[Clampy]

I agree  but sadly though dave , money seems to be the main incentive  - clubs will go to the wall, its like the supermarkets killing the smaller shops - the rich will get richer and those who cant survive will go out of business.

But why make it easier for the 'Supermarket clubs' to force the 'local shop clubs' out of business? We should be trying to even things up a little not widening the gap further surely?

And do you think this will be good for the likes of Villa? The big clubs will negotiate deals far in excess of anything we will manage, further adding to the gap between ourselves and Man Utd and Chelsea.

Quite right. There needs to be as level playing field as possible. The gap's already wide enough as it is.