Ryan Reynolds slams “inaction” of National League as Wrexham owners see proposal ignored

[BirminghamBlue]

Just seen this in the news, wonder if they would push this idea further should they get promoted into the EFL.

 

[southendkid]

The poll question's wording is a bit loaded because it implies only Wrexham should be granted streaming rights abroad, however I'm voting yes because if Wrexham were allowed to do it then we would too.

I think people ITK have said that TL was keen to let foreign fans pay to stream matches but the NL forbid it, if they let Wrexham do it then they wouldn't be able to stop us doing it too.

 

[Evening Echo]

HOLLYWOOD star Ryan Reynolds has criticised the National League for its “truly baffling” failure to consider allowing clubs to stream live matches domestically and internationally.

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[londonblue]

It's probably more a contractual issue as BT have the rights.

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

Simple really, what is in it for the league officials? They don't seem much better than Platini and co.
Contractual rights could be renegotiated and if there is more profit a deal would be made.

 

[GBJ]

Simple really, what is in it for the league officials? They don't seem much better than Platini and co.
Contractual rights could be renegotiated and if there is more profit a deal would be made.

I’d tend to agree. For years the different leagues have wanged on about protecting attendances, atmospheres etc as a reason not to go down the streaming route.

Maybe I’m cynical, but I truly believe that If the FA, Prem, EFL etc cared about attendances, atmospheres and future generations so deeply, they wouldn’t allow clubs like Fulham to charge £70 for a child’s ticket.

TV money has propelled football into a different stratosphere, whilst simultaneously bastardising the game we grew up with, and it’s all down to greed.

If they could earn even more profit from Streaming games, they would. It’s business 101.

 

[Evening Echo]

National League sponsors Vanarama have backed Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds’ call to stream matches in the competition as long as clubs and fans support the idea.

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[LeedsSUFC]

Hopefully they open up streaming for abroad......

* VPN and wallet at the ready... *

 

[Evening Echo]

THE National League will submit proposals for a “fully tested” streaming platform after Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds had criticised them for not allowing clubs to show live matches.

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[Shrimpergonzo]

The National League really seem to be quite a backward bunch looking to keep things very non-league.

I wonder if any of the larger clubs could be in secret talks with each other to approach the EFL/FA about forming a “League 3”, or even League 2 North and South, a bit like when the Premier League broke away from the EFL?

I reckon this is only a matter of time as more and more larger clubs drop down to National League level and get frustrated with the way it is run which seems to favour smaller National League North and South clubs rather than the bigger ex-league clubs.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

There’s a lot of wealth inequality in this league. At one end you got clubs like Wrexham, Chesterfield, Notts County, Oldham who are all averaging over 7000 and at the other end you’ve got Boreham Wood, Maidenhead and Solihull all averaging under 1500.

A streaming system is worth it for the likes of Wrexham, Chesterfield and Notts County who might be able to make as much out of it for an away game as the likes of Solihull and Boreham Wood make in a home game from ticket sales. But those smaller clubs won’t be keen to pay for the infrastructure to allow Solihull v Maidenhead to be streamed to just a hundred people.

Then there’s the thorny question of how to share the proceeds. Streaming does have an impact on ticket sales. Does the home team get to keep all the proceeds? Do they split it 50:50? Does the club whose platform the streaming service is purchased on take a bigger cut? Trying to get everyone to agree on what is fair is easier said than done.

And people have already forgotten what a horror iFollow was with spinning wheels of death, payments being taken but streaming not being available, appalling customer service, constant buffering. The National League isn’t the NFL and doesn’t have millions to invest in a product that actually works like NFL gamepass.

 

[ThurrockShrimper]

The National League really seem to be quite a backward bunch looking to keep things very non-league.

I wonder if any of the larger clubs could be in secret talks with each other to approach the EFL/FA about forming a “League 3”, or even League 2 North and South, a bit like when the Premier League broke away from the EFL?

I reckon this is only a matter of time as more and more larger clubs drop down to National League level and get frustrated with the way it is run which seems to favour smaller National League North and South clubs rather than the bigger ex-league clubs.

I'm really unsure as to why 'League 3' hasn't already happened. The Conference is not the semi-pro affair it was 30+ years ago, and there are a hell of a lot of teams in there these days that dwarf the support of teams in the 3rd/4th tier.

 

[southendkid]

The National League has now issued a statement saying that they've been working on a streaming service in the background and they are presenting their plan in 2 weeks to the board.

Vanarama National League Statement: Live Streaming - The Vanarama National League

Many will be aware of the recent comments regarding streaming, and it is important we set out the current position of the Vanarama National League.

www.thenationalleague.org.uk

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I'm really unsure as to why 'League 3' hasn't already happened. The Conference is not the semi-pro affair it was 30+ years ago, and there are a hell of a lot of teams in there these days that dwarf the support of teams in the 3rd/4th tier.

The Conference is made up of 3 divisions, two of which are almost entirely part-time.

Whilst League 3 may suit a handful of teams like Wrexham, Notts County and ourselves there are plenty of teams in this division who can’t compete with the big teams and don’t want that gap to widen.

If you’re an Eastleigh or a Maidenhead - or even a former league club like Barnet or Aldershot - what’s the advantage?

Will this change in ten years time once Wrexham, Notts County, Chesterfield etc have all been promoted and Col Ewe, Barrow, Sutton and Stevenage replaced them?

 

[londonblue]

Firstly, it is important to remember that we already have a Broadcast Partner, in BT Sports, who currently have the contractual rights to all National League games in a deal that has served the whole league and all its 72 clubs well.

 

[brigg blue]

The Conference is made up of 3 divisions, two of which are almost entirely part-time.

Whilst League 3 may suit a handful of teams like Wrexham, Notts County and ourselves there are plenty of teams in this division who can’t compete with the big teams and don’t want that gap to widen.

If you’re an Eastleigh or a Maidenhead - or even a former league club like Barnet or Aldershot - what’s the advantage?

Will this change in ten years time once Wrexham, Notts County, Chesterfield etc have all been promoted and Col Ewe, Barrow, Sutton and Stevenage replaced them?

The same thing that tempted so many clubs to join the premiership and the superleage. Money.

There are enough big clubs to form a breakaway and could tempt the likes of Macclesfield & Bury to join the league 3 along with any team that wants to remain professional and benefit from streaming and a good TV deal potentially with an international market. The world has changed and people now expect to be able to stream their club wherever they are in the world, any league not providing that will get left behind

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

The same thing that tempted so many clubs to join the premiership and the superleage. Money.

There are enough big clubs to form a breakaway and could tempt the likes of Macclesfield & Bury to join the league 3 along with any team that wants to remain professional and benefit from streaming and a good TV deal potentially with an international market. The world has changed and people now expect to be able to stream their club wherever they are in the world, any league not providing that will get left behind

I think you may be overestimating the long term demand to stream non-league football. Wrexham won’t be in this division for long. How many people are going to pay to stream Halifax v Woking or Altrincham v Barnet?

Non-league football’s selling point is that it’s local and you get to watch in person. If you encourage streaming you’re going to dissuade people from watching in person. And if you’re watching on telly how many are going to chose Boreham Wood v Torquay over Arsenal v Bournemouth?

 

[southendkid]

Non-league football’s selling point is that it’s local and you get to watch in person.

And for teams like Altrincham that will still be the case, it's not like if they offer streaming everyone local to them will decide to watch on their phone when the ground is 10 minutes down the road.

And if you’re watching on telly how many are going to chose Boreham Wood v Torquay over Arsenal v Bournemouth?

You're looking at it as people flicking through channels on the TV, the only people that will look at streaming services are people committed to the club. Anyone that cares more about televised football isn't going to care if we're on a streaming service or not, they'll be watching Arsenal either way.