Been told that after initially agreeing to this that Workington have had a change of mind and will not allow the live streaming of the game on Sunday. They say this is because it will affect the number of Bradford fans making the journey. They're supposedly expecting around a 1000 of us where we normally take between 3 to 4 hundred. i went up twice last year but cant make it on Sunday and was looking forward to watching the stream. Cheers Workington, I hope all the fans who are able to travel take there own pop and crisps. Will I go up next time, probably not. Bulls cash cow for every away game we play when we get a hundred fans at most from other clubs when we are at home. Greedy Workington, will any fans who were not planning to travel have change of mind and travel up because of the lack of a live stream? I very much doubt it.

I was looking forward to the feed as can’t travel due to disability/illness. Oh well, hopefully we won’t play them again.

Seriously?

Because they won't let it be streamed I'm just going to get in my car, do a 300 mile round trip and watch the match live....

Ummm.... No, I won't.

Mixlr commentary on Sunday

BCB radio guys. Listen to somebody make a fool of himself

I've tweeted leon. Wonder if he will respond.

It's the first game I'll miss so won't be able to watch it live or via live stream. I'll be tuning in via radio where possible.

Seems a bit petty to not allow a live stream since being there is obviously preferable and most that can go will go.

They'll be charging us more next like they did at Fev.

So will we just do like the cup games and show it at 8pm in the evening instead?
They can't stop us recording it, probably just the 'live' element of it.

I'll just wait until it's up on BullsTV on the Monday/Tuesday instead.

Poor form from Workington either way though, miserable gets.

To be honest, I thought it was a strange thing for the Bulls to allow at Odsal in the first place, so I fully understand Workington's position. As a first class way to put off some who weren't super bothered about games, it seemed a great idea. If there had been some payment required (I accept that this may be in the pipeline and they are seeing how it goes) then fair do's but as a freebie? I can see little incentive for clubs to take it up.

Being at the game is way better than watching a stream so I'm not sure how many people are persuaded to become couch potatoes by its availability.

As for getting couch potatoes to the game I think it'll take us getting promoted to drag some more of the floaters back.

A live stream would have benefitted those who wouldn't have gone anyway. I had no intention of going to Workington so would have enjoyed the stream. Not allowing it ain't going to make me part with my money and decide to go.

Same here.

Im being selective with the matches i come and watch at in this league many are a greater distance away, coupled with that i have quite a few out goings this year has made me more choosy with what i spend my money on.

Which is a shame as the buzz around the club has been brilliant this year, just cant justify the spend week in week out including the travel from Manchester.

I don't think there is any chance of attracting 'couch potatoes' to go to the game, it's the attraction in the other direction which would be troubling to clubs; that is the numbers who may well have gone but decided against because of the free feed. Like I said, as a freebie, I just can''t see what the incentive is to the home club (or the Bulls, come to that) to allow it. I can only assume there is some intention of a paid service when a) the potential audience is ascertained and b) the considerable glitches ironed out.

I think the idea is that it has the potential to reach people who haven't been to a game before or perhaps even had an interest in RL.
They find out there's a free stream of a game, maybe they watch a couple and like what they see.
This is how you attract new spectators, this is how you grow the sport!

Obviously the directors at Workington don't see it that way. I guess they are completely happy to just tread water and remain as they are with the support they currently get, not forgetting to cash in as much as possible on the Bulls' visit.

I'm actually surprised they didn't put the prices up a bit

Perhaps Workington are worried that their own fans would stay home and watch it on Facebook?

Same here but I bet someone does before the season is out.

Truth is I couldn't believe that Propersport were showing live feed from games. As I am now 100 miles from Odsal I was very grateful. The coverage has been good and so had MIck's commentary. Will it make Bulls supporters travel to Workington that were not originally planning to? I doubt it. But someone made a valid point about Workington supporters not turning up and watching on FB instead.

Agree with this. The fans deciding not to go because they can stream it will be minimal IMO. The last few years as turned a lot of our support away. This is a way of getting them back, keeping them interested. Once people stop going, they find something else to do, stop reading up on articles, social media etc and lose interest.
Allowing them to view the game for free in their hiatus, keeps them interested. We got 4k for the Oldham game so i don't think its keeping fans away, probably encouraging some to come back.

Streaming is replacing the traditional way of viewing sport. We can either move with the times or get left behind. For once we appear to a head of the game. The next Sky deal will reflect the changing times and it will probably result in less money IMO those who want to make short term gains by fleecing other supports by charging and extra £2 for big teams, or blocking streaming, or thinking that support is unconditional and you.should buy a season ticket even of you can't make half the games will get left behind.

I think the live streaming of games is a smart move on the club's part.
I've never really subscribed to the idea that showing the game on TV reduces the crowd numbers in a significant way.

But we've got a decent squad, a coach who knows what they're doing and we're playing well. So if someone who's stopped going starts watching online, they might get the buzz back and then end up coming back and paying to watch the team play and so by tiny drops do we begin the rebuilding of the fanbase

I can't go to the game because my son is playing at Wakefield game again. I was hoping to watch game poor do if Workington has put a stop to it.

Typical of the lack of foresight in our game unfortunately. Flat cappers and greed always rule the roost especially as we have found since dropping out of super league. I don't buy into the worried Worky fans will watch it at home its a complete hotbed of rugby up there. I've been to places like Millom in the worst of weather and they are still out in there hoards supporting. Wonder if it is the chairman or Leon trying to get a bit of one upmanship

The last couple of years there has been issues with the radio commentary at Derwent Park. I remember when I visited I could see Mick and Hobbo sat opposite where we were stood, like they were just sat with the fans. I'm pretty sure there are issues there with the connectivity, which has meant they had to provide coverage through the 4G on one of their phones, which lead to a poor coverage cos it kept cutting out on radio.

The point I'm making here is that the decision might not have been taken to mobilise fans, they might not be equipped to live stream the games with the current setup available.

Well I wasn’t able to go anyway. But now I definitely not going to. That will teach them.

Workington not even allowing the game to be streamed AFTERWARDS. Farce and these penny pinchers will kill the game. This could backfire massively on Workington, fans aren't stupid and know when clubs are being greedy and trying to shake every last penny from fans. Doubt many will be buying programs, burgers etc but hey I'm sure they'll be plenty of fans who will decide to go...not.

I feel silly for trying to rationalise their decision before. It's ridiculous that they won't even let the game be aired afterwards. Which clown thinks that's in the best interests of their club or rugby league in general?

Have we done owt to irritate them in the past?

My decision not to go to Workington since the first season hasn't been based on them being greedy, it's been based on my first visit and discovering that it's a total sh*thole.