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Post by Hit Wicket on Jul 2, 2024 12:20:41 GMT
As a boy, until I started venturing to my local ground, my cricket-watching was confined to home Test matches, JPL, plus hurrying home from school to devour whatever remained of a Gillette Cup/B&H Cup broadcast on TV. On at least one occasion in the seventies HTV Wales inexplicably broadcast the Roses County Championship match. I remember my surprise at seeing a slip cordon and a couple of gullies as, raised on a diet of one day fodder, I'd naively assumed only Test teams fielded thus.  Which brings me to cricket-watching in 2024. I'm sitting watching day three of the Derbyshire match and at Chesterfield they seem to have a multiple camera operation. And it's completely free of course. I'm just astonished, given the poor crowds, at the availability of such a service. The camerawork/direction is a little jumpy hence I assume this service is provided by volunteers? Do the counties provide the technology and rely on willing souls to operate them? I feel slightly uncomfortable receiving this access for free. |
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Post by newby on Jul 2, 2024 12:30:08 GMT
I think a lot of the funding comes from the ECB. Now whether this is them helping to grow the audience, or an insidious plot to cut the numbers of people attending so they can point to the poor attendances and therefore reduce the fixtures in future years would depend on your viewpoint.
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Post by kennyshovel on Jul 2, 2024 17:44:55 GMT
Derbyshire's livestream cameras are manned by sports journalism students from the University of Derby. No idea of the finances involved, or if other county clubs have a similar arrangement.
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Post by karma on Jul 2, 2024 19:35:30 GMT
I understand our live blog of a game on YCCC's OS is done by a freelance journalist.
My personal view of Livestreams is that they should be charged , as another income stream , (particularly by YCCC who are in financial difficulties) , either as part of membership or pay as you go / separate annual pass.
I realise this would be unpopular by those who are used to having it provided for free. I don't think it's provision encourages many additional paying customers. I do think however it discourages many who are able for getting off their chairs and making their way to the ground. I appreciate some who like to surf a number of games and some who find it difficult to get to games, either through lack of finance, or being disabled, carers or living too far away might strongly object to having to pay.
I personally don't have an objection to paying, did it a lot through 'Covid' when I saw a number of lower league football games, either by paying a set amount or making a voluntary contribution . Lower league clubs suvived by money through the turnstiles or livestream payments. Very occasionally I will pay now to watch a livestream of a National League away football match at a fraction of the cost of 'being there' ( which I'd prefer to see in person , if it was practical)
My concern if there was a charge, is those supporters who cannot afford it.
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Post by newby on Jul 2, 2024 20:35:22 GMT
I wouldn't mind paying but if they can get it to pay for itself by sponsorship or prominent advertising, defabet and Vitality for instance, whose logo's are almost always on screen.
If it does come to paying a subscription I'd like it to cover all the first class counties. Of course it's Yorkshire first but I enjoy watching chunks of other games too.
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Post by tykemania on Jul 2, 2024 21:34:05 GMT
If it were to become a chargeable service, my only point would be that it should be bilateral - so you either buy an access all areas ECB pass, or one for all games of your chosen team.
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Post by byased on Jul 2, 2024 21:46:30 GMT
I wouldn't mind paying, but I suspect there are a lot like me who just dip in for half an hour or so here and there. Do you charge for the game, or per hour of use or whatever. Probably too messy, otherwise they may have tried it.
If the cost is too low, then the admin might swallow up all the income.
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Post by newby on Jul 3, 2024 19:43:31 GMT
Dipped in to the coverage from the Kia Oval today. They do their own and don't use the BBC commentary, although they were employing Simon Mann from TMS as part of their team.
No obvious advertising although the camera did linger on some of the advertising around the ground between the action. It was very good, except that Surrey won of course.
Being Surrey I expect they have well heeled sponsor/members falling over themselves to fund it.
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Post by newby on Aug 9, 2024 8:02:04 GMT
Full article behind a paywall, but it appears 'several' counties have had a meeting and Leicestershire are to trial a paywall for the remainder of the season for home matches.
Their home cricket coverage looks pretty good judging by a few You tube clips.
We of course play them at the Upton steel ground in early September so I might need to think about it then. The main consideration, at least for me, is the ease of getting to watch it. A quick and easy and reasonably priced on-line transaction perhaps through Paypal or something I wouldn't mind.
A lengthy sign up procedure requiring bank details, passwords, DOB and all that gubbins and I'll stick to the BBC commentary.
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Post by newby on Sept 25, 2024 19:15:04 GMT
Good test for the popularity of this service tomorrow, Leicestershire's game against Derbyshire has nothing riding on it for either team at the fag end of the season.
I'd love to know how many sign up and if it brings in more than whatever arrangements they have made to facilitate the payment system actually costs them.
Talking of Leicester I did read somewhere that their giant young bowler, Alex Green, has signed a 3 year contract.
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Post by slowleftarmer on Sept 26, 2024 10:42:41 GMT
they should give him a 10 year deal... he looks to have serious wheels as they say. I would mark him out for a better career than Josh Hull who was announced as their young player of the year despite taking 2 CC wickets only!
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