A big future for official streaming football

Tonight sees the FA streaming their second online broadcast of an FA Cup tie. The previous was Leeds United’s 2-0 victory over Oldham Athletic on 7th November last. That reportedly received 176,000 plays.

Official streaming of football isn't new, it's just receiving more publicity. Last season ITV broadcast an early qualifying round of the FA Cup on the Internet. Can't remember which one. Let's surf it up. Ah, Wantage Town v. Brading Town. Several seasons ago I watched Australia beat Uruguay one morning on my laptop. It was a World Cup play-off, free to view globally from SBS. There have been England U-21 matches, and the Milk Cup international youth tournament from Northern Ireland, and numerous club friendlies.

What's different about the FA entering as a provider is the unwillingness of Tv broadcasters to stump up the money to show the games. Probably the FA are using these games as loss leader. There is little to no advertising revenue coming in for the match but they can trumpet the viewing figures and hope someone will bid for future games.

On a personal note tonight's match is the pilot night for my new cinema room. I've spent a couple of months slowly redecorating a room, even bought new curtains. A Tv is going to be connected to the laptop and that is going to have a Ethernet cable to the router. Hopefully it will all work, well it should do as modern flat screen Tv's have video inputs from computers.

My new streaming cinema project is called "Cinema Pongol" after the French footballer - it's a mis-spelling of his name, just liked the sound of it. Next season official streaming football will be a regular part of entertainment so why be hunched over a small screen. Get it onto the big widescreen, sit back and enjoy.

Setanta all over

Followed the Setanta slow demise for the last couple of weeks. Scanning every source of news on the web. Well it's finally all over. Actually not quite - Liverpool Tv, and Arsenal Tv were still broadcasting tonight but Celtic Tv and Rangers Tv is just a black screen.

That's four clubs who'll be looking for a digital slot. There is also the FA Cup games, England's national team games, and for those who need the money the most the Blue Square Conference sides.

We've been here before when On Digital collapsed in May 2002. From that we the viewers got Freeview, a free digital service and the football clubs in the Championship got a big hole in their accounts.

There is going to be a lot of debt left around after this. Is there a lesson from all of this? The number of people who actually take up subscriptions to pay-tv is a small number at current prices, though BSkyB will be happy they will reach 10 million by next year. If that is a true figure given the amount of churn and other factors with getting a true picture. Put it this way oil companies don't know how many filling stations they have or how big their oil reserves are.

Maybe the big cash cow for football from Tv is going to get a little slimmer over the next few years.

Football Hurts TV

Spotted a billboard advertising a football programme called "Football Hurts". Described as "a unique grass roots football docu-drama about every fan's favourite second club: AFC Wimbledon." It's on Thursday 2200h, repeated Saturday 2100h, Sunday 2200h, Monday 2130h. There are some clips on the Football Hurts website so you know what you'll be letting yourself in for. In my case, people talking in strange accents rather than the blood, sweat and cheers it mentions. Sky 207; Freeview 42.
Nuts TV

Munich Memorials on Tv / Radio

"On February 6th 1958 Manchester United changed forever as tragedy shaped both the history and future of the club." That's quoting the Sky website. I've compiled a list of Tv & radio programmes coming up that may of be interest. Any changes, or if you know of any I've missed - I'll do the updates here. [last updated Sunday 3rd February]

Saturday 2nd February
Archive Hour - (2000h-2100h :BBC Radio4) - listen again available

Monday 4th February
Five Live Sport - interviews (2130h-2200h : BBC 5Live)
Nation on Film - Munich Remembered (2200h - 2230h : BBC4)
Nation on Film - Sir Bobby Charlton Remembers (2230h - 2300h : BBC4)
A Game of Two Eras 1957 - 2007 (2300h - 0000h : BBC4)

Wednesday 6th February
MUTV (Sky 406 and free for today). The Service at Old Trafford is being shown live from 1430h (repeated at 2300h). The whole day has tribute and memory programmes from 1000h - 0000h.
BBC Radio Manchester - Terry Christian (he's a lifelong United fan) live from Old Trafford from 1400h - 1800h. Available on FM, DAB, Online
One minute silence at England v. Switzerland k.o. 2000h (BBC1 from 1930h)
Nation on Film - Munich Remembered (2200h - 2230h : BBC4 repeat)
One Life - featuring Harry Gregg (2240h - 2325h :BBC1)

Friday 8th February
Nation on Film - Munich Remembered (1930h - 2000h : BBC2 repeat)

Sunday 10th February
United v. Manchester City (k.o. 1330h Sky Sports 1)

ChannelM (Sky203 and Channel 36 in Manchester)
Greater Manchester Football Show (Episode 25) - Saturday 2nd, Sunday 3rd , Monday 4th
United Debate Show - Monday 4th, Tuesday 5th
City Debate Show - Monday 4th, Tuesday 5th, Wednesday 6th
Schedules are at channelm.com, the shows are repeated several times and are later available online. There will also be stories in the ChannelM news 1700h - 1900h, 2100 - 2200h, and ChannelM breakfast 0600h - 0900h throughout the week.

UK History (Sky 537, 538) are repeating Surviving Disaster - Munich Air Crash: a dramatisation of the fateful crash first shown on BBC1 in January 2006
6th Feb 16:00, 21:00; 7th Feb 06:00, 12:00. Haven't got a subscription to this channel but I saw it when it first broadcast. Good in parts, bit cheesy but still worth watching.

Dodgy FIFA & Coe

"What chance does England have of hosting the World Cup in 2018? Bringing the tournament back, may be the only chance of winning it. But when England tried seven years ago, the bid failed amid allegations of dodgy deals and bribes among FIFA's leaders."

BBC 1; Panorama; Monday 22nd October 2007 at 2030h. Story.
Repeated BBC News 24; Thursday 25th October 2007 at 0430h.

We got the Olympics, and let's face it the IOC has a murky recent past.

United Fixture Changes

This is what you have to look out for, the round 2 of fixture changes as requested by the TV paymasters. The December schedule has been announced.
Monday 3rd December, Fulham (H) Setanta - 2000h
Sunday 16th December, Liverpool (A) Sky - 1330h
Saturday 22nd December, Everton (H) Setanta - same day, but a new time possibly 1715h

I can't be the only person who plans their weeks, holidays and work commitments around football schedules. But unforeseen events turn up - I've missed two United Cup Finals with weddings and what have you.

It's not sultana nor Santana

Still following the developments of football clubs having their own TV channels - digital and online versions. Earlier post "Broadband Telly" in July.

Arsenal TV is to appear as part of the Setanta package in December. Liverpool TV is there already on Sky 448. Wondering what will happen when United Reserves play Liverpool Reserves, will it be available on both MUTV and LFCTV. MUTV costs £6 a month whereas Liverpool is part of the better value Setanta £9.99 package - though beware there is a £10 connection fee and 30 days notice to cancel, err you've just spent £30. We'll see on Thursday 11th October when the game is played. UPDATE - it's on both channels, the Liverpool FCTV schedule should you ever need it is here.

Plans for the Ryman TV have collapsed - ambitious lower league down south. Haven't watched any of online NPL TV (Unibond Premier) even though they have to occasional free live game. Doesn't work on the Mac, and the Windows machine is playing up. I'm told on good authority that they only use one camera - can this true be true?

If you want to watch highlights of old football matches, and obviously the broadcasters of club channels think you do then go to ESPN Classic Sport. Use the TV guide on the website to see if your club is getting on air. Just watched United v. Chelsea April 2000, won 3-2 with a cast of Beckham, Yorke, Bosnich, Berg, Giggs, Dennis Wise, Flo...quality. I've read, ESPN Sport are to have a second channel later this year. Real Madrid TV (Sky 446) were showing a basket ball game at the time...I ask you what's that about? You'll be better off checking out Horse & Country (Sky 280) for a bit of show jumping.

406 MUTV (£6 pcm)
421 Chelsea TV (£6 pcm)
436 Celtic TV (Setanta package)
438 Rangers TV (Setanta package)
442 ESPN Classic - (basic Sky package)
446 Realmadrid TV - (basic Sky package)
448 LiverpoolFCTV (Setanta package)

Squeeze Those Rights

No broadcasts of FC United on Channel M this season..."Despite a frantic round of last minute talks regarding next seasons FCUM.TV show, Channel M have unexpectedly pulled out of the deal citing exposure to legal challenges."

Channel M needs all the viewers it can, and I was one of them every Monday night (Sky 203) watching the highlights, I'd then check out the schedules to see if I was missing anything else like Frank Sidebottom. Well not this year, won't be watching anything now.

Every last bit of filming and audio rights are being licensed to various small time operators to squeeze another few quid out of the football fan. FC United and FCUM.TV are a refreshing exception - online match commentary and video clips on the web all for free. Say unlike the Ryman League who want you to pay for a 60p a minute phone call to hear an interview with the manager of Wealdstone. They've also put an end to Dons Online service (AFC Wimbledon) with their plans to maximize revenues from your credit card.

If you're a long suffering fan of a lower league team you are expected to fork out another four or five pounds a month. That's just for the not so comfortable privilege of sitting in front of a small picture on a computer screen. Nor can you listen to online commentary even though the BBC local radio are at the match, doing an excellent job with our license fee.

Ways to watch

They might announce which football match is scheduled for a TV broadcast months in advance but some only get a finalised days before hand. Take the Liverpool and Arsenal UEFA Cup ties for this Wednesday. You couldn't find them in any listings guide? You then find out they are to be shown the day before. Both on Setanta 1 at 1715h, and 1945h on the . Celtic are on Setanta 2. It makes Wigan Athletic v. Middlesboro chosen by Sky Sports to be a 4th choice for an armchair viewer, unless you are a supporter of those two clubs.

You know the lesson - keep checking, and keep checking. A good place to visit is Live Football on TV which is updated pretty quickly, possibly daily.

Sadly the Portsmouth v. United is not being shown. So that leaves either radio commentary, which I like, or the unofficial options of a pub receiving foreign transmissions, or the unreliable P2P streaming services on Sopcast, TVAnts...

It's not working

So you think you'll watch the United v. Inter match on your PC. Not gone to the match, not subscribed to MUTV, check the forum threads to find the P2P channel...success, then it goes off, then on, then off, everyone on the forums is bleating.

"its so annoying all the games i dont want to see are working but the flaming game i wanna see doesnt know whether its coming or going Mad Mad Mad" MUFC4Life, Madeira
"anyone know how to find the score at least?" Stain
"aah see it 2 - 3" forestkev, Derbyshire

Not even on MUFC Match Day Radio 1413kHz AM, or Century FM 105.4. That's about it, settle down all going smoothly then nothing. Frustrating, infuriating. Flick over to TG4.tv who have Cork City v. Sunderland crisp but no audio. Going to give this P2P business a miss it's just too unreliable.

Kick it like

Received an invite to submit some video footage to Deutsche-Welle TV (Sky 801 in the UK) about being a football fan. Not seen this show 'Kick It Like', but hey this is the famous DW, if you haven't heard of them, have you heard of the BBC World Service, which you pay for?....So I went to the site...bit puzzled 'cos the videos are of people actually kicking a ball and we're just the crowd watching the pitch. Get the camera we're up for it. It might get on the telly or just the web, and somebody might like it. Kick it like

Broadband Telly

Bit of work in progress. Been checking out the cost of watching TV on your PC (can't use my Mac for this). Not live football, but packaged highlights and recorded matches - on demand on your little screen. Lots more possibilities opening up this season but it comes at a price. New providers from ITV, BBC iPlayer (will Match of the Day be available?), and Channel4. The BT Vision sports packages starting at £4 a month for all the Premiership games (if you have BT Total Broadband).

Premium TV World Extra £59.99
(access to 80 clubs - 13 Premiership, 6 SPL etc, Championship down to Conference)
Celtic £59.88 (Channel 67, £4.99 a month)
Arsenal £45.00
Manchester United £40.00
Everton £40.00
Liverpool £39.99
Rochdale £39.99 (a Premium TV channel)
BarcaTV £33.00 (E 49.95)
Tottenham Hotspurs £35.00 (new service coming)
Newcastle United £34.99
Sunderland AFC £34.99
Blackburn Rovers £34.99
Manchester City £? (new service)
Chelsea £29.99
Real Madrid £24.44 (E 36.00)
MLSLive.TV £7.36 (U.S. Soccer league USD 14.95)
Ryman TV £?
Unibond Premier £?
FC United £0.00 (still free)

Should be able to put together a more comprehensive list, if I can be bothered. If you just want to watch some football games you'd be better spending the money on Sky and Setanta. If you're a devoted fan and your team doesn't appear on TV very often then it might be the only way to re-live the moments.

Football in Manchester

A 6 part series on Channel M (it's on Sky 203, or in Manchester on analogue Channel 36) called "Football in Manchester". Missed everything so far but there is a repeat on tonight, Thursday 26th July.

It's all archived and available online - go here. Not just United and City but your Wanderers, Shakers and Latics...

Third Return

The return of the annual AFC Wimbledon v FC United fixture - there have been two previous ones so a third counts as a tradition.

Hopefully this will be available on internet radio. Not so sure WDON the Wimbledon station is still going because the site hasn't been updated since 2006. Maybe FCUM-TV radio will be reporting the match - in their unique style.

Also The Dons video highlights will not be showing this year. New kid on the block called Ryman TV filming that league. It's one of those you have to register, and no doubt have to pay. Mention of £3.95 to watch a live game. But for £9.99 a month you can have Setanta and watch the Premiership, Conference, SFL & etc. Still if it's your club involved, you want to watch, so out comes the credit card.

Someone is going to come up with a way of hacking into live streams. Maybe they have and I'd like to hear about it.

Contract Lost

The news that BBC and Sky have not been awarded the coverage of the FA Cup from 2008-09 season was a bit of a blow. Instead it's gone to ITV and Setanta Sports. The FA obviously opted for the 25 million GBP extra money.

Setanta TV I've never seen. It's more expense (55 GBP per annum) and up until now they don't show my teams. But they will be soon with some Premiership games next season. If it's only a few games I'll go down to pub - no point in shelling out on top of the Sky package. Their web pages are little more than phone numbers of how to subscribe.

ITV I do know about. Not a good track record. The ill-fated over-bid Online digital which they reneged on. Lower league clubs got no cash. Then they had the Premiership highlights. MOTD was off the air but the ITV evening show I remember as poor and full of advert breaks. Also ITV still doesn't fill my wide screen telly when it's showing football on their digital channels ITV2, ITV3 etc..why are there still black sidebars...are they waiting for some equipment both Sky, BBC and Eurosport have. Also the ITV doesn't have the web style or content of the BBC. It's a light weight. It won't do the FA Cup promotion, and it does need promotion, witness the falling attendances.

Chelsea on YouTube

Not that I'll be watching but it's a great idea...
"Chelsea today launched a football branded Channel on YouTube, a first on the site.

www.youtube.com/chelseafc will include Chelsea FC content, daily news and archive video footage as well as other innovative content including feedback and contributions from fans."

Can't see United doing this, it's free for a start, and they have their own video on MUTV Online. There are no football action clips as yet, they'd have to pay for those.

Granada Soccer Night

When I lived in Sussex the regional football programmes had no interest for me. It's not like living in the North West of England where there are 15 clubs in all the divisions. Someone is always fighting relegation, a place in the playoffs, or has it's eye on a trophy. Just couldn't get Granada Soccer night on ITV Meridian. We don't know how lucky we are living in the north. So every Thursday at 2300h the regional round-up. A compact football programme with clips, forecasts and guests.

If you have Sky you get all the regional ITV1 stations. See Wildsat Astra satellite transmissions. Tune in "Other Channels" for example : ITV1 Granada on Symbol Rate 22.0, FEC 5/6, 10758V