With the UK taking its first steps down the road map to normality, it remains to be seen how things pan out.
It is fair to say that life, for many, over the past year has been far from normal.
I doubt there is any one out there who, back in January 2020, would have believed that, apart from a brief spell when an initial 2000 were allowed back inside Kenilworth Road, we would not venture into our favourite haunt for such a long time.
Thankfully, we have still been able to watch the Hatters in action courtesy of media coverage.
Some games have been televised live by Sky Sports, who continue to promote EFL football to the best of their ability, and on iFollow.
Suffice to say it has brought us some calm amidst the ongoing pandemic storm.
A couple of weeks ago, I utilised the poll to ask a pertinent question that relates to ongoing TV coverage of Championship football.
I asked:
Should The EFL Continue With Pay-Per-View?
I offered just two answers, YES or NO, wanting to avoid anyone sitting on the fence.
When it came to reviewing the poll, a massive 68% went for the YES option with only 32% going for the NO option.
There is no denying that the road map back to normality could be fraught with hiccups and nobody can predict, with any accuracy, when Kenilworth Road will be packed to the rafters again, it could be a case of numbers be gradually increased over the first few months of the 2021/2022 season and depend on spectators having received both COVID-19 vaccinations.
Therefore, to me, it would make perfect sense for the iFollow coverage to continue, allowing everybody, who wants to, to view the action live.
But it was also pointed out to me, that when Sky Sports televise a game live, apart from via the red button, it has complications for some, with the iFollow coverage only available outside the UK, can anyone confirm that?
Of course, iFollow also allows Luton supporters outside of the UK watch the game, which is another positive point, but could there be a huge negative?
Have we reached a situation whereby armchair TV could become the norm with spectators having got out of the habit of attending fixtures?
Your views, in the comment facility below, would be most welcome on what is a controversial subject.
COYH’s
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morning MH, for me it’s certainly the other way round, the more games i watch on TV the more i miss being at the ground and the whole match day experience. Clueless Sky commentators with their poorly researched facts and piped in atmospheric sounds have become hard to listen to. Pitts does a great job on ifollow alongside knowledgeable co-commentators like Beno but nothing comes remotely close to being a few feet away from the action plus i’ve really missed Norms goat curry 🙂
COYH
good point about the piped in atmospheric sounds, they get on my bl**dy nerves as well
Generally if Sky televise a game its not available on iFollow in the UK but there is the odd exception to this rule. Going forward iFollow has recently sent out a big survey on all aspects including how the wider availability of its service in the UK next season may affect actual attendance (balanced against the revenue brought in by match passes). So it may be available in the UK as a service next season, possibly on a one-season trial basis and there’s even talk of being able to by a kind of ifollow season ticket which would give access to all EFL matches in the season (not just your own clubs).
Hi Chris, thanks for the information it is greatly appreciated. As a shift worker, iFollow is ideal for me, sat in the office, all alone, tuning in was a dream come true, so much better than listening to the radio or following a text feed. I hope, for people in similar circumstances it does continue.