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The League of Ireland streaming service is in jeopardy as only around 11,000 customers paid to watch games on the platform.
Last week the FAI informed the clubs that WATCHLOI, the partnership with RTE in collaboration with GAAGO, was not a commercial success and would not launch for a full season.
That’s due to the disappointing recovery from the shortened schedule that allowed the 2020 campaign to end behind closed doors.
RTE is believed to have incurred total production costs in excess of € 300,000 during the middle of the season, while FAI contributed to the cost of the signal.
While the 85-game service consisting of the Premier Division and selected FAI Cup matches recorded a small dividend for the FAI which was divided among 19 clubs, RTE has told Abbotstown that higher spending to cover all matches of the FAI Premier in a season (180 games before FAI Cup, First Division and Women’s National League are taken into consideration) does not make financial sense given the sales returns.
The Irish Independent has learned that about 4,700 buyers purchased a season pass that was originally priced at € 55 for Irish customers and € 69 for foreign users, with the remainder of a figure close to 11,000 consisting of occasional buyers who paid. by the accessories chosen match by match.
In September, former FAI Acting Executive Director Gary Owens said the numbers were “disappointingly low” but in line with budget projections.
No firm targets were set, but it is believed that privately around 20,000 buyers would have been seen as a justification to proceed along similar lines by 2021. The FAI was initially confident that they could advance in the foreign market.
Aside from the 11,000, season ticket holders left out of pocket by the lockout had the opportunity to use WATCHLOI for free as part of a compensation agreement with the FAI and the clubs and it is understood that around 6,000 fans throughout the country they made use of this option.
But it is accepted that those spectators cannot be used precisely to measure the viability of the project because they will be the first in line when the stadiums reopen, even in a restricted way, and the contingent includes people from the same household.
In fact, a relevant figure is that As of September, the average viewership of each game on the platform dropped to approximately 2,600.
It is recognized that the lack of a title race created by the success of Shamrock Rovers did not help, while the high-profile matches were broadcast on RTE or Eir Sport.
Uncertainty hangs over where the 2021 season stands in terms of viewer access and the FAI said last week they were looking at seven different options for streaming and broadcasting.
WATCHLOI is not dead in the water. It is understood that RTE indicated that they are willing to cover about a third of the Premier Division season on the platform, somewhere in 50-60 game territory, and that would be in addition to the 15 or more matches they show on terrestrial television.
It is not clear how the offer would work in the event that the lands are opened later in the year and if accepted the service may be weighted towards the first few months after the start of March, but covering all games is firmly a failure
Eir Sport also had an agreement to cover 15 games in 2020, they did not meet that commitment due to the pandemic, and their future status is unclear with speculation that Premier Sports may enter the fray for a smaller package, But the existence of a streaming service is not attractive to subscriber-dependent television stations.
The FAI is looking for third-party alternatives.
Individual clubs would favor a service that allows them to take money from games where they have to be home, and smaller entities will see this as an opportunity to replicate the momentum that comes with hosting a team with a larger fan base. . .
Online editors
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