Is Live TV Killing Football? Or Can The Game Benefit? Does Swedish Football Have Answers?

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3 Comments

David Carney on October 22, 2018 at 3:00 pm

The only threat to football is yesterday’s thinking. TV, mobile platforms and whatever is being developed is the future for football – like it or not. Clubs cannot be successful solely relying upon gate receipts and the cost of a few lost people during the midweek is a small price to pay. But crowds need not be lost because the TV audience is larger and more diverse which should bring a far larger supporter base to just about every club. There is a large and increasing supporter base that can only grow beyond the few massive clubs like Manchester united, Real Madrid, Juventus in the massive markets of China, Japan, the rest of Asia (including India), North and South America.
Look no further than Bournemouth that receives more than 100 Million in TV revenue. It presumably has a growing overseas supporter base, but if it relied upon gate receipts it couldn’t afford the players wages.
The future is to have good Stadiums that provide a good TV audience atmosphere (nice size 17,500 popping up in Lionel Road), that will be full or close to full at all times and have good corporate (think sponsorship) facilities.
Clubs such as Leeds feature regularly because their supporter base is not limited to Leeds, therefore advertisers get a bang for their spend because they know the audience will be large.
It’s not rocket science, just thinking forward and having a sound football structure for success. Benham has done that and he would know better than anyone else that to be successful the majority of Brentford supporters will not be living within walking distance of Lionel Road in a few years. The income stream of Brentford will be much bigger and the attendance around 17,500.

David Anderson on October 22, 2018 at 5:31 pm

David, approaching tomorrow’s football issues with yesterday’s thinking is the exact weapon we’re trying to dodge here.
This isn’t an exclusive issue around revenue streams, it’s ticketing, atmosphere, TV broadcasting of empty stands and recognising how revenue streams and the power of technology can be harnessed to positively impact the future of the match day experience, instead of fighting against it.
Distributing subsidies to fans is a powerful tool to start with but we should absolutely be looking at a 360 degree solution to sustain and grow the in ground experience while we approach head first, this daunting period of advancement in TV and viewing accessibility. But if we continue to think in the way we have previously, that game going fans are an afterthought, we’re fast-tracked to a situation where fans are going to attend matches less and less. We’re creatures of convenience and cheaper alternatives. Why can’t attending the match itself be the low-priced substitute?
The Swedish model has shown a working example of TV, Online Streaming and attendances functioning positively together, the huge caveat in that example is the fall in ticket prices.
We have to think differently, filling a 17k plus stadium demands it.
If the EFL product is to sustainably grow, do you not think it’s time for some joined up thinking between the fan, TV and club boardroom?

Greville WATERMAN on October 23, 2018 at 9:02 am

Totally agree with DA, we need to change our thinking because we are on a slippery slope to disaster. Sky’s red button live midweek coverage is a brilliant (on their part), cheap and cynical move which has undermined the spectator experience and has been shown is beginning to affect the way we view matches. The fact that Besotted is running its podcast tomorrow form a pub watching the game on the red button rather than making the long, onerous and expensive trip up North simply highlights the problem.

We are all pressed for time and money and will understandably always look for the cheap, easy and simple solution. Sky (and indeed IFollow) have now provided it although I was appalled by the paucity and lack of quality of the Ipswich coverage which almost rendered it unwatchable.

What makes matters even worse is that I understand it is the AWAY team that is compensated rather than the home team which, if I have got my facts right, beggars belief.

As far as Brentford are concerned I am unsure what can be done. Hopefully improving the match day experience and cheaper ticket prices as nothing can beat actually being there.

I am sure that Sky will continue the experiment, maybe chuck a few more million at the Championship clubs and then improve the quality of the coverage. Should that happen then that will be that.

Sky have already shown their contempt for fans by switching games to ridiculous kick off times and I suspect they have no real interest in helping to maximise live midweek attendances.

All we can do is make them pay through the nose for doing their best to ruin the live match day experience as I am certain that attendances will continue to plummet.