Reading Mr. McWilliam's comments it's interesting to note that the 3pm blackout was apparently brought in sixty years ago to protect small clubs.
There was no Internet, no means to charge per view and a tiny range of broadcast options (2). People lived far closer to their place of birth, travel was slower. Outside of the top half dozen teams football was played in shitholes on mud for half the season and was a pretty dire spectacle outside Division 1, outside of which players enjoyed the working conditions and remuneration of pit ponies. It was watched by hardy devotees who would put up with insanity facilities, risk of violence (more in the 70s and 80s I guess) and general boisterousness.
None of these (except the last on good days) apply today.
As an exile who rarely missed a home game for 10 years, and probably spent more last season on iFollow as my season ticket the previous season.
I believe there are now loads of people displaced across the country who still will watch their team either through home membership or going to away games with their mates (see u at 'Nam). Outside the P's**t and Champeenship we struggle to watch the games we don't go to. Which loses a source of revenue and visibility our div 3 and 4 clubs need. It obviously also disadvantages oufc in attracting day trippers from the geographical hinterland too, who would know the players better when they don't go to their 4 seasonal matches.
I suspect this is why Plymouth are in favour, for one.
It's disappointing that oufc has backed the medieval blackout when the club is supposedly moving to a new stadium that will provide a better all-round experience, investing in an exciting team that will rise up the pyramid.
There is a world of media, of ways of enjoying football, of revenue, that can be explored with membership, videos, live-streaming that can be used to retain and reward fans. Supporting or facilitating the next Ultras, allowing fans to watch online when they want.
I'd be for that.
