Forest Player - or not.

[goatboy]

I do hope the club are reading this.

When I grew up I lived in Lincolnshire, far side of Lincoln from Nottingham, but I could still get Radio Nottm commentary of Forest games. Living in Manchester even the right wind wouldn't get me a signal, but then I could get the commentary streamed on the internet, through the Forest site or the BBC site. Then, of course, Player came on board and 'monetised' it. Four quid or so a month for the commentary and a bunch of other stuff I'm really not able to pretend I give two shits about. I just want to follow my club for the matches I don't get to see.

At the time, this was called unfair by many, I didn't disagree as my stance is this - we pay our licence fees, these go on local area news, sport, etc. Once the 'rights' of this or that start getting brought into it everything goes to shit, I'm stuck with Hull commentaries these days and nothing else. What do I care about Hull? They're not my team. Forest wanting to make money is one thing but presently I'm too skint to keep up my player subs, so I have the twenty second's coverage from the Football League Show to go on to keep me interested.

If 'Matchday on Radio Nottingham' (yes, it's not as if Forest can be arsed to produce their own coverage either) was something that left me feeling happy and rewarded then it'd be another story but in seasons like this, charging to listen to something you'd think they'd be grateful anyone would want to listen to is a bit rich. Especially over such a tiny amount of money (to a club).

When I'm shortly back earning, I'll be able to afford Player subs many times over, but I might just not bother. I'm happy to give up my sunny (or not so) Saturday afternoons, my weeknight freedom too sometimes, to sit by my computer listening to Colin Fray tell me how shit my team is. And in turn the club I put money into when I can is never far from my thoughts. But having had a few weeks without it, I can't say I'm any less happy, nor that the news I get makes me feel as if I'm missing anything. And game by game I'm finding myself less arsed about the next one because I know less about it, our form, etc. Are Forest cutting off their nose to spite their face here?

I think the point I'm making is that it's quite shit supporting most clubs most of the time and the margins from 'Player' can't be so huge that the long term gain is greater than having an open door to the supporting diaspora, keeping them part of the flock. Even if we weren't paying for audio coverage, it still wouldn't be free, as you have to f*** off your barbecue, day in the park, evening down the pub etc and just sit there.

On the other hand, I'd pay a fair amount to WATCH all our games live on the internet. All those cameras at every game, just for the tiny bit at half midnight on a Saturday? What a waste.

 

[RedTom]

I do hope the club are reading this.

When I grew up I lived in Lincolnshire, far side of Lincoln from Nottingham, but I could still get Radio Nottm commentary of Forest games. Living in Manchester even the right wind wouldn't get me a signal, but then I could get the commentary streamed on the internet, through the Forest site or the BBC site. Then, of course, Player came on board and 'monetised' it. Four quid or so a month for the commentary and a bunch of other stuff I'm really not able to pretend I give two shits about. I just want to follow my club for the matches I don't get to see.

At the time, this was called unfair by many, I didn't disagree as my stance is this - we pay our licence fees, these go on local area news, sport, etc. Once the 'rights' of this or that start getting brought into it everything goes to shit, I'm stuck with Hull commentaries these days and nothing else. What do I care about Hull? They're not my team. Forest wanting to make money is one thing but presently I'm too skint to keep up my player subs, so I have the twenty second's coverage from the Football League Show to go on to keep me interested.

If 'Matchday on Radio Nottingham' (yes, it's not as if Forest can be arsed to produce their own coverage either) was something that left me feeling happy and rewarded then it'd be another story but in seasons like this, charging to listen to something you'd think they'd be grateful anyone would want to listen to is a bit rich. Especially over such a tiny amount of money (to a club).

When I'm shortly back earning, I'll be able to afford Player subs many times over, but I might just not bother. I'm happy to give up my sunny (or not so) Saturday afternoons, my weeknight freedom too sometimes, to sit by my computer listening to Colin Fray tell me how shit my team is. And in turn the club I put money into when I can is never far from my thoughts. But having had a few weeks without it, I can't say I'm any less happy, nor that the news I get makes me feel as if I'm missing anything. And game by game I'm finding myself less arsed about the next one because I know less about it, our form, etc. Are Forest cutting off their nose to spite their face here?

I think the point I'm making is that it's quite shit supporting most clubs most of the time and the margins from 'Player' can't be so huge that the long term gain is greater than having an open door to the supporting diaspora, keeping them part of the flock. Even if we weren't paying for audio coverage, it still wouldn't be free, as you have to f*** off your barbecue, day in the park, evening down the pub etc and just sit there.

On the other hand, I'd pay a fair amount to WATCH all our games live on the internet. All those cameras at every game, just for the tiny bit at half midnight on a Saturday? What a waste.

Do you have an iphone?? or an android??

There are a few apps you can download which have every fm radio station on..

Iv just downloaded something called tunin.fm and im listening to wham on bbc radio nottingham as I am typing this.. just waiting for the footy to come on, I dont like wham honestly

 

[chib-e]

I do hope the club are reading this.

When I grew up I lived in Lincolnshire, far side of Lincoln from Nottingham, but I could still get Radio Nottm commentary of Forest games. Living in Manchester even the right wind wouldn't get me a signal, but then I could get the commentary streamed on the internet, through the Forest site or the BBC site. Then, of course, Player came on board and 'monetised' it. Four quid or so a month for the commentary and a bunch of other stuff I'm really not able to pretend I give two shits about. I just want to follow my club for the matches I don't get to see.

At the time, this was called unfair by many, I didn't disagree as my stance is this - we pay our licence fees, these go on local area news, sport, etc. Once the 'rights' of this or that start getting brought into it everything goes to shit, I'm stuck with Hull commentaries these days and nothing else. What do I care about Hull? They're not my team. Forest wanting to make money is one thing but presently I'm too skint to keep up my player subs, so I have the twenty second's coverage from the Football League Show to go on to keep me interested.

If 'Matchday on Radio Nottingham' (yes, it's not as if Forest can be arsed to produce their own coverage either) was something that left me feeling happy and rewarded then it'd be another story but in seasons like this, charging to listen to something you'd think they'd be grateful anyone would want to listen to is a bit rich. Especially over such a tiny amount of money (to a club).

When I'm shortly back earning, I'll be able to afford Player subs many times over, but I might just not bother. I'm happy to give up my sunny (or not so) Saturday afternoons, my weeknight freedom too sometimes, to sit by my computer listening to Colin Fray tell me how shit my team is. And in turn the club I put money into when I can is never far from my thoughts. But having had a few weeks without it, I can't say I'm any less happy, nor that the news I get makes me feel as if I'm missing anything. And game by game I'm finding myself less arsed about the next one because I know less about it, our form, etc. Are Forest cutting off their nose to spite their face here?

I think the point I'm making is that it's quite shit supporting most clubs most of the time and the margins from 'Player' can't be so huge that the long term gain is greater than having an open door to the supporting diaspora, keeping them part of the flock. Even if we weren't paying for audio coverage, it still wouldn't be free, as you have to f*** off your barbecue, day in the park, evening down the pub etc and just sit there.

On the other hand, I'd pay a fair amount to WATCH all our games live on the internet. All those cameras at every game, just for the tiny bit at half midnight on a Saturday? What a waste.

Cheer up Charlie!

 

[bradyo]

You sir, are severely technologically impaired.

 

[Shippo]

RedTom is the commentary still on through the app or has that annoying bint told you 'Due to contractual reasons etc etc.' god I hate her so!!

 

[Alexandro Garibaldi]

Cheer up Charlie!

I thought it was a noble rant.

 

[RedTom]

RedTom is the commentary still on through the app or has that annoying bint told you 'Due to contractual reasons etc etc.' god I hate her so!!

well at 7oclock instead of match night coming on, I was treated to 'Country with Mick Smith', so I went to sit in the car and listen to it.. Find it hard to understand how 2 different things can be broadcasted on the same frequency?!

 

[Alexandro Garibaldi]

well at 7oclock instead of match night coming on, I was treated to 'Country with Mick Smith', so I went to sit in the car and listen to it.. Find it hard to understand how 2 different things can be broadcasted on the same frequency?!

Don't tell me I'm missing Country with Mick Smith! My radio only picks up the damn football!

 

[Deleted User]

well at 7oclock instead of match night coming on, I was treated to 'Country with Mick Smith', so I went to sit in the car and listen to it.. Find it hard to understand how 2 different things can be broadcasted on the same frequency?!

I got that with tunein too. It was pretty good actually though. I had a feeling the app wouldn't allow the broadcast anyway though.

I'm with goatboy on this. Living way north I've got no chance of commentary and having had forestplayer in the past I don't miss it too much consifering what it cost me. I doubt it makes too much money for the club individually but alongside the premium tv website shite I reckon it must make it worthwhile. Thats why clubs do it and perhaps the contract states that paid commentary cannot be opted out.

It does leave a genuine fan isolated for sure.

 

[TheMissplacedPassword]

I agree with the OP - they have it sewn up tighter than something tight in a tight spot - anyone outside the immediate nottingham area are screwed unless they subscribe to forest player - so the club makes 4 quid per person minus what they have to pay Radio Nottingham for the rights (so it cant be that much profit) on top of that there are the overheads for the rest of forest player - thing that really bugs me is as a non local they have you over a barrel but it is short term thinking: how can they hope to attract a fan-base anywhere beyond Eastwood or Long Eaton?
It aint as if we are looking likely to get anywhere near the Premiership for another 8 years or so is it?

 

[Anatoli]

I agree with Goatboy as usual.
As a fan that lives away from Nottingham, I should be encouraged rather than charged to follow my team on the radio.

 

[winnits]

well at 7oclock instead of match night coming on, I was treated to 'Country with Mick Smith', so I went to sit in the car and listen to it.. Find it hard to understand how 2 different things can be broadcasted on the same frequency?!

Your iPhone doesn't have an FM receiver so what you are listening to is streamed through the internet.

 

[Strummer]

Forest themselves have the online rights (streamed through the internet) so that only is available on Forest Player.

If you stream Radio Nottingham through the internet, as Winnits notes above, you won't get the football.

If you want to listen to Forest matches online (legally...) then Forest Player is the only way to go. Unfortunately.

And remember - Radio Nottingham are paying Forest for the rights to broadcast the games *on the radio* only, not online. The online rights are retained by the club, who sell them as part of Forest Player. They either pay Radio Nottingham for their commentary, or take that in to account when selling the Radio rights initially.

I've tried Forest player, but never subscribed (as a Season Ticket holder who attends some away matches, I'm not sure I'd get value for money...)

If I didn't live local to Nottingham, or within the catchment area of Radio Nottingham, I'd have to consider it otherwise it would be no coverage at all!

 

[Col]

I'd give Forest player a go, they're doing a 14 day free trial at the moment. Means I'll see the Boro goal & some shitty post match interview. Hurrah!

 

[Flaggers]

well at 7oclock instead of match night coming on, I was treated to 'Country with Mick Smith', so I went to sit in the car and listen to it.. Find it hard to understand how 2 different things can be broadcasted on the same frequency?!

They weren't, by the sounds of things!

Anyway, there's lots of ways, the simplest being time-division multiplexing. You can get lots of different things on the one frequency if you really try.

(serious hat on for a mo) I wish the BBC would get to grips with this digital radio malarkey.

Radio Nottingham has 3 FM frequencies, which generally broadcast the same thing, hence 1 DAB radio stream.

When the frequencies split, e.g. for football, is it beyond their wit (in exactly the same way that Radio5 diversifies and carries 5LiveSportsExtra on digital) to have DAB Radio Nottingham (Forest), DAB Radio Nottingham (Notts) and DAB Radio Nottingham (Stags) as secondary and tertiary content channels so that I can listen to Fray digitally, as appears to be their preferred method of delivery these days?

No wonder they can't shift masses of DAB tuners, if you can't get on Digital what you can get on FM...

EEjits...

 

[Carvel]

The match highlights are worth the fee. You get a good 10-15mins with Radio Nottm commentary.

 

[deleted]

I'd give Forest player a go, they're doing a 14 day free trial at the moment. Means I'll see the Boro goal & some shitty post match interview. Hurrah!

I seem to remember that someone did this before and then had an awful lot of trouble unsubscribing before the 14 day period was up !

Good luck.

 

[winnits]

I had a free account for 12 months as part of a Virgin TV promotion. It was still active about 3 years later lol

 

[earthworm]

Move back to the East Midlands you soft bastard! lol

Seriously, I've been lucky to get the radio fine in Direby. When I lived in Cambridge, I did miss it.

A nerdy answer, that I was half tempted to try daahn saarf, is to get an FM tuner for a PC. If your folks or mates are still in the area, put it in their PC, tune it to Radio Nottingham, and stream it over the net to yourself wherever you've moved. You could probably set that up in half a day.

 

[Bonalair]

The match highlights are worth the fee. You get a good 10-15mins with Radio Nottm commentary.

I agree, its worth the fee for the extended highlights alone. I've subscribed for quite a few years now. Wish I could get commentary through my iphone too though....

 

[goatboy]

Android users on 2.2 should now be able to use Player on their phone. Again though with reference to extended highlights, Forest should be grateful for anyone who gives enough of a shit to want to watch the last four or so game's highlights, let alone be charging for them.

At a time where I'm sat watching the Hull game and am finding it more interesting to chat about Brian Laws with the Hull fans than I am watching the match itself, Forest need to be doing all they can to keep people in the fold. I'm not talking free t-shirts and mobile phone season tickets here, just something to make the club's media presence larger than a number in a table twice a week.

Also, no-one has tackled the highlights issue - if it's being filmed, why not stream it? After 33 years I've still not got a season ticket, still only make the odd few matches each season. Why not get a fiver a game from me and others like me for live coverage?

 

[earthworm]

If it affects the gates, they're not going to do it. There'd then be people who could only just afford to go who started deciding not to bother. We could actually lose a thousand off the gates some weeks by doing that?

 

[Lee]

Are the highlights even up yet? they weren't earlier.

 

[goatboy]

There'd then be people who could only just afford to go who started deciding not to bother.

The reality is that's about to start happening anyway. If a thousand stop attending you might make 4/5 less from them per match but you then save on Stewarding, policing and the deficit is potentially wiped out by the likes of me forking out more.

 

[bakeri666]

A nerdy answer, that I was half tempted to try daahn saarf, is to get an FM tuner for a PC. If your folks or mates are still in the area, put it in their PC, tune it to Radio Nottingham, and stream it over the net to yourself wherever you've moved. You could probably set that up in half a day.

I did that for a while last season with icecast, except I just plugged a cable from the headphone socket of a radio into the mic socket of my laptop... worked quite well.