New digital platform - ForestTV!

[TommyT]

So some very light digging reveals our OTT partner is https://streamamg.com , looks like they offer scalable services to a number of clubs from The Shaggers to AC Roma... from my understanding though they will merely be Content Managers - offering the solution and architecture for Forest to get their content online and streaming.
They won't be delivering or creating content or handling any promo, programming or marketing strategy for us...They will probably offer templated systems for the web player / basic design, whilst having reactive scaling to account for large amounts of users and nothing more.

What I think is happening is that the streaming service will probably be pretty robust moving forward (pinch of salt edit: AMG have some dodgy looking reviews on Google from Wolves fans from 2018 ) BUT if Forest haven't got their act together at the content creation and delivery end then it's irrelevant!

Hopefully we also have a decent production partner in place who's working round the clock on an epic launch!

(FURTHER EDIT!) Looks like streamAMG have been our OTT partner for a few years - so whether the new 'ForestTV' brand also means a change in OTT partner remains to be seen...

 

[TommyT]

StreamAMG seem to be partnered with https://urbanzoo.io/ detailed here https://lbndaily.co.uk/urban-zoo-signs-deal-nottingham-forest/
Again I don't think they are on the production end, but look like they run the e-comms for Liverpool FC and look like they build CRM services https://urbanzoo.io/gamechanger

But Forest still need to deliver the actual content, will keep digging

 

[nffclsr]

Don't anyone hold their breath for content involving former players often. Over the years many Forest old boys have commented at the poor treatment they receive compared to other clubs.

I personally don't care about HD streaming either, I'd much rather have lower quality but reliable streams.

I've never understood the lack of access to players and behind the scenes either. Surely Forest have marketing people at the club with half a brain who would realize those sorts of pieces sell merchandise, advertising and tickets. It barely takes any time either, if I was local to the club I'd offer to do it in my spare time for nothing!

What is unbelievable is the lack of information about what is on offer for streaming this upcoming season as Strummer keeps pointing out! When Greek interests took over our club they made great noises saying things we all wanted to hear, and we were told they are all good football people with lots of experience running clubs. The proof hasn't pointed to that so far I don't think.

 

[brian1783]

I did a quick check on EFL website about Ifollow, they have returned to the pre pandemic format regards to overseas coverage and are charging £140 for the season.
If Forest think I am going to pay £10 per match they can think again.

 

[brian1783]

I am a cricket fan and have enjoyed the coverage of Nottinghamshire C C C on YouTube in all three formats 4 day,20 -20, one day cup.
I suggest somebody at Forest TV walks across Radcliffe Road and finds out how they can provide up to 8 hours coverage daily world wide, free of charge.

 

[General Lee Hicket]

I did a quick check on EFL website about Ifollow, they have returned to the pre pandemic format regards to overseas coverage and are charging £140 for the season.
If Forest think I am going to pay £10 per match they can think again.

ESPN+ is $75/yr = 55 quid/yr. Ignoring the mass of sports that can be seen using this service just for the Championship they carry half a dozen games/week. 140 quid would be poor value to fill the gaps.

 

[FBS]

Another thought: It is now getting close to the first game of the season and the club should be posting about how fans outside of Nottinghamshire can listen to the match via the app/website.
But nothing. Silence.
So are we to expect there will be no commentary (audio and/or video) this season?
Do we have to get tin cups and bits of string?

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

 

[brian1783]

ESPN+ is $75/yr = 55 quid/yr. Ignoring the mass of sports that can be seen using this service just for the Championship they carry half a dozen games/week. 140 quid would be poor value to fill the gaps.

I live in Thailand and there is no EFL coverage here, so a bad deal is better than no deal. Both Ifollow and Forest tv offer poor service as you cannot watch any games that do not involve the team you specify, no highlights programs etc.
I agree that it is poor value compared to the NFL package which allows me to watch all games live or on demand and costs very little more.

 

[Notcher]

I live in Thailand and there is no EFL coverage here, so a bad deal is better than no deal. Both Ifollow and Forest tv offer poor service as you cannot watch any games that do not involve the team you specify, no highlights programs etc.
I agree that it is poor value compared to the NFL package which allows me to watch all games live or on demand and costs very little more.

If you get a VPN then you can get around that. Selecting a different host country (e.g France) will enable you to watch it.

Sent from my MAR-LX1A using Tapatalk

 

[Strummer]

If you get a VPN then you can get around that. Selecting a different host country (e.g France) will enable you to watch it.

Sent from my MAR-LX1A using Tapatalk

Not always.

Many streaming services now use geolocation to identify the Internet address your traffic appears to be coming from, and will block their stream if you appear to be using a VPN connection from a different country.

The allocated netblocks of IP addresses used by all the major VPN providers are public record anyway, so it is not difficult for streaming platforms to do this (or more accurately, use a commercial rights-management service that does it for them).

Most VPN providers offer a „trial“ period nowadays so it is well worth testing whether services work before parting with your cash.

 

[Notcher]

Not always.

Many streaming services now use geolocation to identify the Internet address your traffic appears to be coming from, and will block their stream if you appear to be using a VPN connection from a different country.

The allocated netblocks of IP addresses used by all the major VPN providers are public record anyway, so it is not difficult for streaming platforms to do this (or more accurately, use a commercial rights-management service that does it for them).

Most VPN providers offer a „trial“ period nowadays so it is well worth testing whether services work before parting with your cash.

Good point to raise. That's the reason I don't use one of the "big" VPN providers. I use much smaller one for £30 a year and never have any issues. As you mentioned I've seen people with the bigger providers still having content blocked. Use a smaller VPN provider and get a trial if possible. That should be enough to get you the content access.

Sent from my MAR-LX1A using Tapatalk

 

[It's Baggio]

https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2021/august/Forest-TV-streaming-services-for-2021-22-season/

- Streaming arrangements revert to as before the COVID lockdown
- No streaming service to UK/Ireland based supporters for Saturday league matches or Sky Sports live matches
- Streaming services available to supporters in international countries at £10 per match. International season passes are £169.99 (or £24.99 per month).

 

[Thomas]

America isn't a List A nation? Useless, just cus the cucking match is on bloody ESPN+

 

[It's Baggio]

America isn't a List A nation? Useless, just cus the cucking match is on bloody ESPN+

Yeh, List A countries are basically the ones without a deal to broadcast EFL matches.

Good new for brian1783, at least.

 

[Strummer]

https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2021/august/Forest-TV-streaming-services-for-2021-22-season/

- Streaming arrangements revert to as before the COVID lockdown
- No streaming service to UK/Ireland based supporters for Saturday league matches or Sky Sports live matches
- Streaming services available to supporters in international countries at £10 per match. International season passes are £169.99 (or £24.99 per month).

So….

The price goes up by €30 or so compared to previous seasons.

And still the same restrictions.

And they want €200 now for a season. Or €10 a match.

I am really, really, struggling to justify the cost here folks. Please convince me otherwise.

That price is …. Sheesh. Very expensive for what you might get (given there are currently zero details about what this service actually does better than iFollow).

They want €29.35 a month or it’s €16.66 (€200/12) if you pay it in one gulp. DAZN is €12. Sky Sport at the moment is only €20!

I am underwhelmed. Massively. This looks like something thrown together in a panic at the last minute. Am i missing something?

 

[It's Baggio]

I've just checked a few clubs still with iFollow and it's coming up as €166.00 for a season's video pass.

I wonder how Forest will justify the extra €34.00? They need to get their finger out considering our iFollow was already miles short of what other, similarly sized clubs were offering.

 

[TommyT]

Here's the announcement
https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2021/august/Forest-TV-streaming-services-for-2021-22-season/
- not much to report, but there will now be less games available to UK fans to stream as they revert to a pre covid model - I think it's as you were for international fans -
Reading between the lines it seems they are still working on the ForestTV model (presumably in house) as StreamAMG continue serving any streaming content as normal with the new addition of UrbanZoo looking at synchronising e-comms and digital offering

EDIT: Just saw much of this has already been detailed and posted !!

 

[brian1783]

Yeh, List A countries are basically the ones without a deal to broadcast EFL matches.

Good new for brian1783, at least.

yes but it is still a lot for you receive
I have just renewed my BEINSPORTS CONNECT (Thailand) package for the next year 599bht (£13-50), for that I receive every game from all three European competitions ,every FA CUP game from the 3rd round, T.he A league, MLS, SPL plus French football
My premier league package from TRUE Tv costs 399bht(£9) per month.

 

[TommyT]

So….

The price goes up by €30 or so compared to previous seasons.

And still the same restrictions.

And they want €200 now for a season. Or €10 a match.

I am really, really, struggling to justify the cost here folks. Please convince me otherwise.

That price is …. Sheesh. Very expensive for what you might get (given there are currently zero details about what this service actually does better than iFollow).

They want €29.35 a month or it’s €16.66 (€200/12) if you pay it in one gulp. DAZN is €12. Sky Sport at the moment is only €20!

I am underwhelmed. Massively. This looks like something thrown together in a panic at the last minute. Am i missing something?

You're not missing anything and sorry to see it's gone up by such a figure. Hitting international fans in the pocket like that, in times like this is a f***ing kick in the bollocks, the dedication to the cause of an underperforming Championship club by the likes of you Strummer....Well, the club doesn't deserve it.

Shambles.

 

[Strummer]

My back-of-beer-mat maths says that’s a 15% increase.

How can the club justify this?

 

[DB1702]

So….

The price goes up by €30 or so compared to previous seasons.

And still the same restrictions.

And they want €200 now for a season. Or €10 a match.

I am really, really, struggling to justify the cost here folks. Please convince me otherwise.

That price is …. Sheesh. Very expensive for what you might get (given there are currently zero details about what this service actually does better than iFollow).

They want €29.35 a month or it’s €16.66 (€200/12) if you pay it in one gulp. DAZN is €12. Sky Sport at the moment is only €20!

I am underwhelmed. Massively. This looks like something thrown together in a panic at the last minute. Am i missing something?

Its shameful really compare what you get for your money with what you get vs NFL Game Pass PRO

NFL Game Pass PRO in the UK is £147.99 Annual and that gets you subject to certain blackouts (normally the Sky Sports live games 6pm and 9pm)

Preseason Games LIVE

All 270+ Games LIVE

All Playoffs Games LIVE

Super Bowl LVI LIVE

You also get NFL Network 24/7 and Red Zone

Forest approach to customer service seems to work on the basis of blind loyalty and fans being abroad means you cannot really get to many games if any - they take advantage of that.

Thankfully the NFL work their model on a quality product rather than taking advantage of fans loyalty they reward loyalty with a great product at a fair price.

 

[Strummer]

I replied to their announcement on Twitter, wonder if I’ll get a reply?

 

[TommyT]

Forest approach to customer service seems to work on the basis of blind loyalty and fans being abroad means you cannot really get to many games if any - they take advantage of that.

Thankfully the NFL work their model on a quality product rather than taking advantage of fans loyalty they reward loyalty with a great product at a fair price.

You've completely nailed the problem and the solution right there. If the club got it's act together it could serve quality, story rich content that would engage fans on a meaningful level and actually generate ancillary income.
And none of it has to be done at such an insultingly high price point.

I was hoping we'd see improved content and a progressive approach with Jonny O on board and his epic pre match film should serve as a benchmark for this... and Keane Pearce Shaw's kit reveal film is excellent - but in isolation these one off hero films don't seem to have translated to a well curated platform.
Keeping fingers crossed, but regardless of content improving throughout the season, the price is nothing more than insulting.

 

[Strummer]

As a comparison; my local side‘s offering works out at €4 a month. And that’s a top-flight team now, of course.

And that’s packed with content, news, interviews, exclusives and more.

 

[EmmersonForest4]

Im gutted I cant buy the games here now. Going to forest live is a hassle for me from Chester. Its a 2 hour journey there and I have a dog with a missus who works nights. I am going to miss out on footy now, I know its going be like the before the pandemic but I am gutted.