AFANA Footy BBS

After chatting with the AFL.com Editor Manager and found out that I could have access to all footy games on audio and video with the Legends package I changed my stance on the matter and signed up. For $25 U.S. dollars I don't think this is that bad of deal after all.

I like the deal mainly because you can watch every match on a 24 hour delay or whenever you like. With FoxSports World this season we'll probably get a highlights show and a "Match of the week" on a WEEK delay like in past years. Along with the fact that FoxSports World could be going away (if Comcast takes it over) I'm actually glad this package as come along.

Once you figure in the cost of having the FoxSports World channel compared to the cost of the Legends package and getting all the games anytime day or night I think this is a no brainer.

Already I have watched the streaming video of four matches from round one of the Wizard Cup. The video was good and I haven't had any problems accessing them.

At least this guarantees we can get footy 24x7 this year.

> After chatting with the AFL.com Editor Manager and found out that I could
> have access to all footy games on audio and video with the Legends package
> I changed my stance on the matter and signed up. For $25 U.S. dollars I
> don't think this is that bad of deal after all.

> I like the deal mainly because you can watch every match on a 24 hour
> delay or whenever you like. With FoxSports World this season we'll
> probably get a highlights show and a "Match of the week" on a
> WEEK delay like in past years. Along with the fact that FoxSports World
> could be going away (if Comcast takes it over) I'm actually glad this
> package as come along.

Mike,

As you will note from my other posts here we have found out most of the details of the packages. I'm glad you found it to your liking but I suspect you will be in the minority. It's easy to forget that about 85% of North Americans still do not have the option of high speed, high bandwidth Internet connections at reasonable cost which is essential to making video an option. I'd also note that the video, unlike the audio will still be 24 hours delayed. Since that is the case, you simply won't have the concurrent demand for a video feed you will for the audio. It remains to be seen how they will deal with the server load when thousands of fans are all trying to listen to Carlton v. Collingwood.

I'm all for technology but if fans still write us to complain that $10 a month for digital cable (to get FOX Sports World) is too expensive, they are going to decline to pay A$49.95 for this.

My objection to the audio situation is that I would prefer to see some of the audio, perhaps one match per week, free. The AFL needs to grow the game outside Australia and new fans won't pay squat to listen. You've lost them and the opportunity for them to learn the game.

I also want to correct something... Comcast is NOT taking over FOX Sports World... they trying to buy AT&T's broadband and cable operations. We don't want anyone to get confused about that.

Mike, I hope I'm wrong about this and fans flock to the coverage but I suspect AFANA's mailbox will be jammed with complaints real soon now...

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

AFANA home page

Yes, I realize the video is on a 24 hour delay. That's still better to me than watching a highlights show on FoxSports World on a week delay. Plus, you can watch any game you want plus games over the past five years or so.

The audio isn't that big a deal to me as is the video. I've always had a hard time listening to games late at night. The cost for the Legend package is $49.95 AUD dollars which translates to about $25.00 in the U.S. So, U.S. fans shouldn't let the $49.95 scare you off. You do however need a high speed internet connection.

I do agree that it would be in the league's best interest to have at least one game available free each week to help draw in new fans. I asked the AFL.com manager editor if there might be a game for free from time to time and he said that was a possiblity.

I guess it comes down to a money issue or just how bad do you want your footy.

> Mike,

> As you will note from my other posts here we have found out most of the
> details of the packages. I'm glad you found it to your liking but I
> suspect you will be in the minority. It's easy to forget that about 85% of
> North Americans still do not have the option of high speed, high bandwidth
> Internet connections at reasonable cost which is essential to making video
> an option. I'd also note that the video, unlike the audio will still be 24
> hours delayed. Since that is the case, you simply won't have the
> concurrent demand for a video feed you will for the audio. It remains to
> be seen how they will deal with the server load when thousands of fans are
> all trying to listen to Carlton v. Collingwood.

> I'm all for technology but if fans still write us to complain that $10 a
> month for digital cable (to get FOX Sports World) is too expensive, they
> are going to decline to pay A$49.95 for this.

> My objection to the audio situation is that I would prefer to see
> some of the audio, perhaps one match per week, free. The AFL needs
> to grow the game outside Australia and new fans won't pay squat to listen.
> You've lost them and the opportunity for them to learn the game.

> I also want to correct something... Comcast is NOT taking over FOX
> Sports World... they trying to buy AT&T's broadband and cable operations.
> We don't want anyone to get confused about that.

> Mike, I hope I'm wrong about this and fans flock to the coverage but I
> suspect AFANA's mailbox will be jammed with complaints real soon now...

> -Rob de Santos
> AFANA Chairman

If your thinking about subscribing to the Legends Package at the new AFL web site you might want to wait until they get the kinks worked out.

People have experienced problems with getting the match video's to load. So far afl.com.au have not had the game video's on the site 24 hours after the matches are completed. And even if they do, when you click on the link to load a game about 90% of the time you will get an error message saying, "the page cannot be display." Sometimes I get the message, "unknown video type."

I have contacted the web site and they have responded back saying that they are aware of the problems and were looking into it.

Personally, I would wait closer to the home & away season to subscribe if your thinking about doing so. When the video problems do clear up I will post it here.

http://afl.com.au/