WHAT IS LIFE AFTER THE LENS?
ALMOST 60 years ago, Burnley chairman Bob Lord successfully campaigned that attendances would be negatively impacted if matches were televised at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon. Article 48 of the UEFA Statutes allows any association to decide on 2.5 hours on a Saturday or Sunday, during which any transmission of football may be prohibited within the territory.
In England, this is applied at 2.45pm to 5.15pm on a Saturday across the football pyramid.
The blackout is aimed at keeping casual fans attending matches at the lower levels rather than watching the top-flight at 3pm on TV.
Many Premier League supporters will visit their local club when their team is playing away, but would they do the same if their game was being televised?
During the Covid pandemic, when fixtures were being played behind-closeddoors, National League games and FA Vase and Trophy ties were allowed to be streamed.
It meant ‘exiled’ supporters, based in another part of the country, could watch their team each week. However, many clubs found that the streaming figures were down on their average attendance having already priced the virtual tickets at a lower amount than usual.
Would casual fans stay away and take advantage of a cheaper price by watching at home?
We’ve reached out to the Non-League community for views from supporters and clubs on whether the Saturday TV blackout is vital for the lower-league game to survive or outdated with new streaming capabilities available.
WHEN games were played behind closed doors and the waiver was in place, I thought the streaming of matches was a great idea. Clubs were able to show a live game, make some money and fans were almost able to be there.
However, now that fans are back into grounds, and as long as it’s safe to do so, my view has changed a little bit.
We have to protect the integrity of the product and protect the live game. It’s akin to what we say about kids playing sport. Rather than sitting at home on computers playing a digital version, try get them out playing.
We debate about armchair supporters so let’s try and encourage them to get to a ground.
It’s okay paying £5-£10 for a stream but clubs will miss out on the revenue for the 50-50 draw, for example, beer or half-time chips.
Also, a lot is made of mental health — it’s people’s opportunity to get out and socialise as well.
Therefore, I would be more inclined now to encourage people to go to grounds. Spend a fiver at the gate, £2 on a programme, £1 on a coffee and then they are interacting with others. Especially in Non-League, people know each other. There’s so many benefits on so many levels.
When I was a kid I’d be able to come back and talk about the great goals I’d seen, or a dog had run on the pitch — I always had a story to tell.
You can argue a case for things like penalties when people film them in games and put them straight on social media. I can see why associations and leagues are a bit wary of that going out while games are on. It’s protecting the integrity of the game.
It’s another way media can chip away from the live game. It can work hand in hand, I just think there needs to be a balance.
At South Liverpool, there are clubs we haven’t visited in nighon 30 years. But because of the BBC streaming games on the red button in the early FA Cup stages, a lot of these clubs are familiar to people. So it can work the other way and bring that warmth and familiarity.