[Jemmo]

Workington v Doncaster Sunday 30th May 2.00 pm : Tue May 25, 2021 2:15 pm  

Just had information from Workington, their local authority has only approved home fans to attend the game this Sunday. Therefore Dons fans should NOT attend the game

[Jemmo]

Re: Workington v Doncaster Sunday 30th May 2.00 pm : Tue May 25, 2021 2:42 pm  

The game is not currently listed as a game for the OurLeague app, but I have asked for clarification if there is an intention for it be now away fans can't attend.

[Jemmo]

Re: Workington v Doncaster Sunday 30th May 2.00 pm : Tue May 25, 2021 2:55 pm  

Update, the game will not be streamed

Re: Workington v Doncaster Sunday 30th May 2.00 pm : Tue May 25, 2021 3:39 pm  

I believe that the decision as to whether to live stream games is down to the home clubs. I think Our League charge clubs something upwards of £2k to cover each game.

How many Dons' fans would pay the £4.95 to watch next Sunday's game? If 200 households paid, the loss to Workington would still be upwards of a grand. The other issue would be: How many Workington fans would live stream and not pay to attend? That could also cost Workington money. The issue is a rather complicated one but I would like to think the RFL will have done a full cost and benefits analysis and have answers to these questions!

Personally, I think live streaming offers an opportunity to reach new fans as well as getting more money from people like me. I can't get to away games due to lack of time but I'd certainly be willing to pay for a season ticket of away live streams.

I'm the world's worst when it comes to marketing but I feel there is an opportunity here. It might not make money in the immediate short-term but it could be a means of reaching out to a new audience, something all clubs have struggled to do in recent years.

We struggle to persuade new fans to come to the Keepmoat but what about giving a school a 'free pass' for all its pupils to live stream a Dons match one weekend? Could that get them hooked? Could it get it get them hooked enough to want to come and watch live matches or hooked enough to continue to pay to stream games in the future?

Looking at the bigger picture, supporters would no longer need to be limited to the locality. We could tap into fans from all around the world. Watson Boas fans from the Southern Hemisphere could join in, for example. Imagine if a player from abroad had a personal fan base of 200 who would pay £5 per match to watch them. That would bring in £1,000 per match.

I hope the clubs and the RFL are giving this some serious thought.

What do you reckon? Am I barking up a wrong tree or is this an opportunity where technology can help reach out and find the fans of tomorrow?

I would never stop attending the Keepmoat as 'being there' is the best experience but how many ex-Dons' fans might there be who can't easily get to the ground but would like to be 'armchair fans' if they could?

All food for thought....

[Jemmo]

Re: Workington v Doncaster Sunday 30th May 2.00 pm : Tue May 25, 2021 4:11 pm  

Yes I wasn't surprised they weren't showing it, for the same reason we didn't on Sunday. Loses too much money.

I'm always certain there must be cheaper ways of doing it though, just a single camera streaming on facebook or something is very cheap if not sophisticated (broadcast rights aside)

Re: Workington v Doncaster Sunday 30th May 2.00 pm : Tue May 25, 2021 4:24 pm  

All games are filmed by clubs anyway. You'd have thought it could be cheaper than Our League charge.

The elephant in the room is whether streaming income would be greater than 'turnstile losses'. A proper analysis of this needs to be done by the powers that be.

The game has got to grow and bring in new fans (and possibly bring old ones back) to cope with the challenges it will face over the next ten years.

Re: Workington v Doncaster Sunday 30th May 2.00 pm : Tue May 25, 2021 4:41 pm  

You can listen to full live commentary of the game on BBC Radio Cumbria either on a Internet Radio or BBC iPlayer Radio Sports Section.
BBC Radio Cumbria provides home & away live commentaries for the three Cumbrian Teams.

[Jemmo]

Re: Workington v Doncaster Sunday 30th May 2.00 pm : Tue May 25, 2021 4:58 pm  

Double Movement wrote:

All games are filmed by clubs anyway. You'd have thought it could be cheaper than Our League charge.

The elephant in the room is whether streaming income would be greater than 'turnstile losses'. A proper analysis of this needs to be done by the powers that be.

The game has got to grow and bring in new fans (and possibly bring old ones back) to cope with the challenges it will face over the next ten years.

The income would be nowhere near the current cost, interesting whether if there was no cost they would make a loss. I would buy pretty much every away game if we could, and don't intend to go to that many away this year

Re: Workington v Doncaster Sunday 30th May 2.00 pm : Tue May 25, 2021 6:03 pm  

Can't blame Town for not footing the streaming bill, its a shame because a good few Dons fans (and others no doubt) would have paid for it. But Workington like other clubs will be wanting to maximise the revenue from this game to attempt to make up for the past fourteen months financial nightmare.

Its a big game for them (no not because its the Dons) but first one back for the fans, they are top of the League and playing well. I think we are in for a torrid opening spell and some sore bodies next week. If we can keep the score to something like I will be happy.

The weather at least should be good on the day, some rain this evening in Worky and then dry up to Monday. Pitch hopefully should be in good nick.

Re: Workington v Doncaster Sunday 30th May 2.00 pm : Wed May 26, 2021 9:32 am  

I'm sure i heard that it costs around £1500 for clubs to stream games on the our league app.

Given the outlay i cant see the number of traveling fans amounting to anywhere close to that amount.
Town will be wanting to encourage as many local spectators as possible to attend, so I would guess the reason there is no live stream.