Hello, as a season ticket holder I like many others am frustrated at the possibility we may not get to a live game in the unforseable future so I was wondering is it conceiveable or possible to stream the home games live on something like Poolsworld at say £5-00 a game. I'm sure if this was possible 2,000 people took up the option that is £10,000 per home game the club would otherwise be missing out on and the game could be watched by Pools fans world wide. I am interested in what your thoughts are on this suggestion, assuming you haven't already considerd this option.

Regards Hartleblue. ( Bunkerite).


What do you all think?

I think it’s a good idea but £5 could be a bit steep. If it was advertised well on the official site, Facebook and the Hpool Mail then we could get more than 2,000 when you think of how many fans we have who live out of town who can’t get to games. There’ll also be away fans. Would the home team get the cash from the away fans? I think so, would be a bit daft having a home camera crew and an away one both at The Vic. Would mean we would have to pay other clubs to watch us at their place though.

Won't happen.
The new capacity and prices will mean live streaming won't be needed.
Plus it kills a clubs future support.
Then there's the IPTV providers who will probably latch onto it like they've done for the top 4 divisions knocking games out for next to nothing.
Won't happen.

The other issue is that the club themselves can't make the decision. As BT have National League broadcast rights, they're the ones who would have to sanction it.

I assume this would also mean BT would most likely require/expect a cut of any profits made.

Time to recall cam hat man? Living out of the town, I do really appreciate the radio commentary so hopefully that will be available from the start of the season anyway.

it would only happen if games were played behind closed doors for home games. the mechanics of streaming live is a subject i know sod all about. if away fans are banned then doing this for away fans could be looked at via their clubs. doubt many pools fans would pay a big chunk of cash to say halifax to watch their away fixture at the vic.

More than likely. I know with the SPFL starting on Saturday, Sky as rights holders allowed clubs to sell virtual season tickets to stream games. There is also the option to buy viewing tickets for individual games, going as high as £20 a game in the case of Livingston.

The other issue you'd have with such a move is that you would require servers that could handle traffic of several thousand people logging on at once to stream something.

Think it a good idea but BT is the problem.
If BT woke up and had something like the NOW boxes they could do something in conjunction with the clubs.
I can see many clubs going to the wall this season unless greedy companies like BT Premier League etc come up with something to prop up our level. And what worth will BTs rights be worth then?

Could work if BT choose the matches they want to put on each week and say that specific game isn’t allowed to be streamed by the club if it’s chosen for BT. They would still want exclusive rights to the highlights show though I suppose so that could prevent them allowing streaming as nobody would watch the highlights.

I think it is a very good idea and should be explored as much as possible. Once the Club has sold as many season tickets as restrictions allow they should also be allowed to sell virtual season tickets or game day virtual tickets so those unable to attend can stream the games. Yes it may require input and agreement with BT and others but it could make the difference between clubs surviving or not. I would happily buy a virtual season ticket.
I have been watching loads of various musicians streaming performances from their living rooms during lockdown inc, some great stuff from the Bellowhead gang so why not pools games ?
How can we generate some groundswell to try and make this happen ?
I would also happily pay to stream any preseason friendlies. Club needs to explore all possible revenue streams.

Very happy today to have received in the post from the club shop a H'angus soft toy and a couple of "Team H'angus" mugs though somewhat disappointed at how many items are out of stock

Still had no reply from the club, come on Pools, communication with fans in these times is important!

At the moment, it’s illegal to stream/ broadcast any football in the UK between 3-5pm on a Saturday irrespective of who owns the broadcast rights. Maybe the Government will soften on that if the Covid situation limits attendances.

But anyway, at the moment it would be illegal even if the club wanted to do it.


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Yes but dont play on a Saturday why not Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday with less top flight games to compete against.
Clubs sponsors have got to start to think out of the box on every matter.The old rule book needs throwing out of the window.

The thing is though that 3-5 TV block is intended to help the lower league clubs such as us, it’s there to try and ensure people go to their local ground and watch live football instead of sitting at home watching whoever. I can see merits in dropping it for this season where numbers will be reduced or even maybe zero, but after that no.

Who knows what the plan is? If there’s no fans allowed I think the season just won’t start at NL level.

If some fans are allowed then will the ones at the game want to go on a Thursday night so it can be streamed for those who can’t?

I’ve really no idea how this is going to work. A couple of weeks ago I’d have thought we’d be good for an October start with fans present. Now I’d say that looks a bit less likely.


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That restriction was relaxed a while ago to accommodate the premier league restart

That restriction was relaxed a while ago to accommodate the premier league restart

It will be interesting to see whether that temporary relaxation is extended if the whole pyramid is back with some fans in attendance.

Double edged sword really. Be good to have the games streamed but who’s to say people wouldn’t watch Man Utd instead on Sky rather than an amateurish production of Pools v Altrincham or something if they had the straight choice.


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[quote="wandrererreturns"][

Double edged sword really. Be good to have the games streamed but who’s to say people wouldn’t watch Man Utd instead on Sky rather than an amateurish production of Pools v Altrincham or something if they had the straight choice.


its all over my head for a start but just wonder if there is a possibility to sign up for one club and one club only to receive their games. manchester dung will have a lot more fans who cannot attend their games as well as pools.

This still looks like the only way forward to bring in revenue or risk going to the wall.

So will the season ticket holders be refunded?

Nothing will push the club into administration quicker than demanding season ticket refunds. Let's see what the National League agrees to do about season 20/21 first - they're meeting on Thursday.

Is there a plan? i just dont think so.

You are correct Mr Hogans - but in any type of business, taking money for something which you can't deliver is immoral and illegal. Now if Mr Singh said, "sorry guys, cash flow issue, any chance of you donating this to the help the club" or something similar, then I might be understanding.

As folk have said elsewhere, communication needs to be improved.

And apologies before the PC Brigade hit me..........

You are correct Mr/ Mrs/ Miss/ Ms Hogans...............

I take my hat off to all who bought season tickets given all the uncertainty and i hope the club rewards them in some way in the future.

Blyth didnt have any problem streaming friendly the other week, was decent quality and if it were Pools I would pay a tenner to watch it. Obviously BT are the stumbling block, but if lack of revenue means clubs go to the wall, then that doesnt help BT, no clubs , no games to televise. This is BTs chance to put something back into the game, arent we all supposed to be in this together? British patriotism and all that. A chance for some good PR on part of BT.

We prefer to be known as 'they.'

It’s going to have to be a league wide initiative. Up until the meeting this Thursday the league have said the season won’t start without fans in the grounds, so at the moment by that there will be no games to stream anyway. But games behind closed doors and streamed might be the only way to get through this season with minimum damage. Again though it’s going to have to be a league wide thing that is likely organised by the league, and unfortunately can’t see that coming to fruition at short notice.

No doubt there will be disagreements before anything is agreed with the bigger clubs moaning that they should get a bigger slice of the cake etc

The sports bulletin on BBC Radio 4 this morning saying that the government is likely to give the National League and women's football direct funding to get through the winter. Gvt not going to give the Premier League a hand out because of all its television revenues and instead wants the PL to give £200 million to support the EFL.

Radio 4 normally very reliable with political stories, so fingers crossed.

leagues 1 and 2 are live streaming games on i follow. season ticket holders get a number to key in to get it free, others pay a tenner. surely the national leagues could follow this.

So It can be done, and it's the only way Pools can survive, season ticket refunds to follow no doubt. let's hope they don't drag their feet and are looking into it right now.

Yep, a NL version of EFL follow is surely the way to go until crowds are allowed back. Plus check out or google "Watch loi" a similar streaming service introduced by the League of Ireland even though Eir Sport TV has TV rights for a weekly game in the same way BT has for NL. Plus as mentioned earlier games don't all have to be at 3pm on Saturdays. Think outside the box and every one needs to muck in and work together especially TV companies, Gov, NL etc. Based in NI I would love to be able to watch Pools games each week and would happily buy a streaming season ticket or £10 or do per match.

[quote="BigJeffy"]Yep, a NL version of EFL I follow is surely the way to go until crowds are allowed back. Plus check out or google "Watch loi" a similar streaming service introduced by the League of Ireland even though Eir Sport TV has TV rights for a weekly game in the same way BT has for NL. Plus as mentioned earlier games don't all have to be at 3pm on Saturdays. Think outside the box and every one needs to muck in and work together especially TV companies, Gov, NL etc. Based in NI I would love to be able to watch Pools games each week and would happily buy a streaming season ticket or £10 or so per match.(couple of typos corrected)[quote]

Yes could play at any time so not as to clash with other big matches/events. Weekday nights would be great when cabined up in winter. Could be sponsored by say Just Eat" with adverts.
As someone said its time to start thinking out of the box.

Who would you think would produce the stream and how would you reckon they’d split the revenue?


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Thats up to the NL, BT and the clubs to decide along with any commercial sponsors/partners.

The games are already televised/recorded to some degree hence the NL/Vanarama highlights show. Next step to stream them should surely be do able if Blythe can stream friendlies. Over here in NI even local Gaelic football matches (amatuer sport) are available to stream at £6 a game.
Revenue from streaming games is surely a no brainier until fans are fully allowed back in. Come on NL get the finger out.

Yep - pretty sure it’s the clubs themselves that record the games in the most part and send to BT by a certain deadline. This gets to my point really. If BT and the NL sort it, the clubs will be doing well to get 50% of the revenue. Assuming the NL has the same rules as for the NLS/NLN (I don’t know this bit to be fair, maybe it’s different rules) the club might be better sorting their own service out like Darlo/Gateshead/South Shields etc and having the revenue stay with the club.

Just a thought.


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Notts County Chairman pushing for the NL to start on 3rd October as planned and to get live streaming of games going at the same time. I'll be surprised if today's meeting of NL clubs doesn't agree. This is what he says about streaming:

""Uefa have relaxed Article 48 which has given clubs a great opportunity to raise important revenue by streaming their home matches. By allowing home clubs to retain all revenue from their games, the league have potentially helped the clubs who attract lower crowds to achieve a greater return from away supporters than had they been allowed to attend in person, as a live stream has greater scope to reach more people.

"Further income can be generated through creative matchday sponsorship and advertising opportunities, whilst savings will be made on normal matchday costs.

"Surely clubs will be better off fulfilling fixtures given that player and staff wages will need to be paid regardless. We are not denying that there will be a shortfall in usual matchday revenue, which is where external financial support is required, but fail to see how not playing matches would paint a healthier financial picture.

"Having discussed this issue with several other clubs in the league I am confident that there is overwhelming support to get the season underway"

Fair play Notts Co chairman, he talks a lot of sense. Plus if clubs can get set up to stream home games to raise much needed revenue and the likes of BT or NL try and take a slice then they should be ashamed of themselves.
I see Pools are planning to stream tomorrow nights friendly for free and will will test things tomorrow. They will announce tomorrow lunchtime if they can. Fingers and everything else crossed

Friendly v boro cancelled. One of our players has tested positive for Covid. You couldn't make it up

Yet strangely we are now playing Consett, hopefully to be streamed, what a fookin shambles

think the problem maybe the national league north and south clubs. think every club in our league show their highlights of games. its doubtful that some of those N and S league clubs with their 300 fans on a good day have a facility to do this. in our league we are in limbo somewhat. there are ex league clubs who have fallen on bad times and larger traditional non league outfits that think they have a realistic chance of being league clubs one day. below our league especially in the S section most are happy just where they are and cannot realistically go further as clubs. the only way things will improve at pools level is for our league to be separated from the regional leagues and the latter run in conjunction with the evo stick and southern leagues.