National League announces forthcoming launch of streaming platform

Wrexham fans look likely to be able to stream games in a few weeks time after the sluggardly league have announced a ‘soft launch’ of a platform in eight days time. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In a statement on the league website, below, a ‘soft launch’ of the system on December 10th will take place with a fuller launch at the end of the month. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

No details have been released on the pricing models, revenue splits or how it will work for fans or clubs and if there will be a difference for those following locally or abroad. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Previously Wrexham AFC have said it would donate any profit made from the streaming of games to the National League for them to distribute, as the local desire is to “grow our fanbase on the back of our documentary, Welcome to Wrexham, not financial gain”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is easier to win a tour of a chocolate factory than see the reds, with Wrexham games now regular sell outs. Many local and international fans have been calling for some way to view games having used the systems set up during the main thrust of the pandemic with ease. The club have long lobbied for progress, however reluctance from the league has meant fans – and clubs – have missed out this season so far. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wow! The second half of this season is going to be exciting! So great that the @TheVanaramaNL will have a way for us to watch and share with the world! 💥 pic.twitter.com/SdTD5tdlkO ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

— Rob McElhenney (@RMcElhenney) November 19, 2022 ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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The league statement: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The National League Board is pleased to be in a position to provide a streaming update following a Board meeting on Wednesday 30 November.
As you are aware, the National League Board recently announced its intention to pursue the implementation of a streaming platform in the second half of the current season. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A huge amount of work has been ongoing behind-the-scenes with the League now in a position to announce a soft launch of the streaming platform on Saturday 10 December with a full launch two weeks later. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The first phase of the launch will see streaming introduced for National Division clubs only while the League works with North and South clubs running pilot events in the second half of the season to ensure logistically it can be delivered for North and South Divisions for the 2023/24 season. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The National League would again like to reiterate its commitment to providing a quality streaming platform that benefits all 72 Member Clubs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Thanks must go to BT Sport and title sponsors Vanarama for their continued support. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Further updates around pricing and sign-up activity will be announced shortly. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Top pic: How fans of a small club in Flintshire could be following us soon! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​