[Albion] Premier League investors hold 'informal discussions' to end 3pm blackout

[The Colonel]

I can't think of any other industry where the market leader is banned from operating at a peak time in order to give free business to its smaller competitors. Remove the blackout and let every club sink, swim or adjust.

 

[loz]

Your idea about Wednesday nights is a good one. There needs to be some answer.

But equally, what if we protected some other time for non-league clubs? Say, 3pm on a Saturday.

I'm being flippant, but a lot of non-league players do play mid-week games already. Also, a lot of non-league players have other jobs and might not appreciate the larger burden of their playing time being pushed into evening kick offs.

I'm sure this will happen, and as this people of this country are so anaethetised to being kicked by the money men we'll do nothing about it.

The cost of staging just evening games would out way any extra revenue. Plus the older fan might find it inconvenient, the younger fans could not go either.

Football is not just about the premier league, there is so much more below that.

Sorry but it’s a terrible idea for those of us who like our non league football.

 

[loz]

I can't think of any other industry where the market leader is banned from operating at a peak time in order to give free business to its smaller competitors. Remove the blackout and let every club sink, swim or adjust.

Would you be saying that is BHA were still in the 4th tier ?

 

[Commander]

The cost of staging just evening games would out way any extra revenue. Plus the older fan might find it inconvenient, the younger fans could not go either.

Football is not just about the premier league, there is so much more below that.

Sorry but it’s a terrible idea for those of us who like our non league football.

Well I like non-league football, and it would get me going to almost every game. So there.

 

[Hamilton]

I can't think of any other industry where the market leader is banned from operating at a peak time in order to give free business to its smaller competitors. Remove the blackout and let every club sink, swim or adjust.

But it's not business is it.

It's culture.

 

[cowburn86]

I vaguely remember reading somewhere about the idea of moving lower league kick-off times to midday which would save them the cost of floodlights and giving them the possibility of showing the 3 PM PL games in the clubhouse, which would generate more income for them. I think the majority were in favour of the idea.

Yup, this is how it's done here in Germany. Most Bundesliga 2. and 3. games are played at 13:00, most Bundesliga games at 15:30. Televise the whole lot with the "Konferenz" (basically a live Match of the Day, very popular) for the Bundesliga games. Since Hertha got relegated can go watch them at lunchtime, then watch the goals from all the games at 15:30 before watching the Top-Spiel (often Bayern or Dortmund) at 18:30. Have to change your routine a little as a lower league fan but not really a problem, I'd assume pubs would make more money from opening earlier and showing more football too.

 

[BNthree]

I vaguely remember reading somewhere about the idea of moving lower league kick-off times to midday which would save them the cost of floodlights and giving them the possibility of showing the 3 PM PL games in the clubhouse, which would generate more income for them. I think the majority were in favour of the idea.

That’s a great suggestion

 

[BNthree]

With respect, I'm only mid 40's! Not dying out yet. Not keen on clunky, illegal streams, and I wouldn't think I'm in the minority as I often attend non-league games with mates of a similar age and their kids. But if it was above board on Sky/TNT at 3pm, I would definitely watch, to the detriment of local football.

But to confuse things I’ve got a firestick set up and also get good quality streams on my phone but still go to 2 or 3 non-league games a month. I think the armchair fans are always going to be armchair fans and those that enjoy going will always go.

 

[BNthree]

Do you see children at these games?

I went to 2 nonleague matches last week alone and there were hordes of teenagers at both of them. For 15/16/17 year olds there isn’t much cheap entertainment for them where they can hang out with mates so a lot of teenage boys seem to be turning to nonleague as cheap way to have fun.

 

[mikeyjh]

I vaguely remember reading somewhere about the idea of moving lower league kick-off times to midday which would save them the cost of floodlights and giving them the possibility of showing the 3 PM PL games in the clubhouse, which would generate more income for them. I think the majority were in favour of the idea.

I have a tweak for that idea, nice all the PL games to 5:30? More than double the amount of fans attend games outside of the PL than it so maybe that should be considered?

 

[beorhthelm]

But it's not business is it.

It's culture.

the culture is football starting at 3pm. well mostly. the business are you're thinking is TV rights. it's not changing the culture if the business changes to allow 3pm showing. the arguments for keeping it a disappearing and again to point out the EPL wanted to change in the last round of rights.
if you believe in the cultrual appeal of non-league, that should persist beyond the threat of a game on TV at 3pm. there are plenty of other distractions for people these days, not least lower league game. i'm not convinced a change would make people stay away from non-league.

 

[The Colonel]

But it's not business is it.

It's culture.

£5bn+ in UK TV rights alone says it's very much business.

 

[loz]

I went to 2 nonleague matches last week alone and there were hordes of teenagers at both of them. For 15/16/17 year olds there isn’t much cheap entertainment for them where they can hang out with mates so a lot of teenage boys seem to be turning to nonleague as cheap way to have fun.

Yup same with my local team, loads of girls and boys between 12 and 16, £1 to get in and hang about buying soft drinks, chips and stuff.

Premier league is out of their league so they have lost interest, a couple I know who are West Ham fans were telling me that their lad who is 17 and a few of his mates have started to go to AFC WIMBLEDON cheap and a good fun.

Have a look around the Amex next game how many unaccompanied 16 to 20 year olds do you see in little gangs the prices are out of reach for most.

 

[dazzer6666]

I vaguely remember reading somewhere about the idea of moving lower league kick-off times to midday which would save them the cost of floodlights and giving them the possibility of showing the 3 PM PL games in the clubhouse, which would generate more income for them. I think the majority were in favour of the idea.

This happened during the 'energy crisis' but seems to have stopped again.......def something that clubs should be allowed to do if both agree (bearing in mind potential travel issues etc)

 

[Hamilton]

£5bn+ in UK TV rights alone says it's very much business.

And when Harrogate Town get through to 3rd round of the FA Cup it becomes about bringing pride to the town. It's about community cohesion.

When the Albion get into Europe, it's not just about the money it brings to the football club, but the money it brings to the town and how it enhances our reputation on the world stage.

When fans get to visit grounds they have never visited before then it is about traveling, going places, seeing new things, new experiences.

There's a reason why football is part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and not the Department for Business. It is so much more than business and should not be ruled by money - ever.

Football clubs were founded in the 19th century to give the newly enfranchsied men something to do on their Sunday off. Even then the grubby money men who owned the mills were looking for ways to take the same pennies they had paid the working man back off them. Nothing has changed, and nothing will until we say - NO!

 

[dsr-burnley]

I can't think of any other industry where the market leader is banned from operating at a peak time in order to give free business to its smaller competitors. Remove the blackout and let every club sink, swim or adjust.

Tesco would make more profit if every other shop went bust. Man City wouldn't. Even the richest PL clubs still have a tiny bit of residual knowledge that a strong lower league is better for the game.

 

[dsr-burnley]

I vaguely remember reading somewhere about the idea of moving lower league kick-off times to midday which would save them the cost of floodlights and giving them the possibility of showing the 3 PM PL games in the clubhouse, which would generate more income for them. I think the majority were in favour of the idea.

Before the fuel crisis it cost about £20 to put the lights on for a PL game. (Might be a more for older light systems that don't have LED.) The saving isn't great.

 

[clapham_gull]

I can't think of any other industry where the market leader is banned from operating at a peak time in order to give free business to its smaller competitors. Remove the blackout and let every club sink, swim or adjust.

Sunday trading although not it's intention effectively does that though doesn't it ?

 

[Weststander]

My one concern ..... will 3pm gates in the EFL, non-league and Scottish leagues crash?

 

[Beanstalk]

I know it would annoy many on here, but the answer is probably keeping the blackout and moving all PL games away from that slot.

It's not like the generation of new fans that we're all talking about here aren't already watching Premier League games at 3pm on a Saturday by other means. If you really want to safeguard the EFL then give fans the opportunity to consume both, not to have to choose between attending and watching.