GATE RADIO

[Wellsie]

For news about the GATE RADIO live service see www.margate-fc.com.

[Cookie]

What seems to be the problem Wellsie? Are you not getting the amount of visitors you were getting when it was for free.? Is that what this is all about? If so is that THAT important?

The commentary is great, no-ones disputing that but I still maintain we are getting some that once sat at home, through the gates now, paying the full admission price.It may not seem that way with the attendance figures but that's down to poor home performances & that will keep people away anyway,Gate Radio aside, because thats how some people react.

Edited September 14, 2011 by Cookie

[Wellsie]

Couple of things really Tony. Having established the service, I'd love it to continue but only in a way that generates some revenue for the club, although I'm not particularly wedded to a single idea. If the charges have encouraged a few more through the gate, that's great, but I'm not usre it has and I know there are some out there for whom it is almost impossible to get to a game. They have stopped listening.

 

Also, I'm happy to invest the time in prepapring for each broadcast if there is a reasonable number of people listening. But the way things have gone since the charges have been introduced, it's just not worth me spending the time.

 

So that context, with the need - if we intend to continue - to make new provision for internet service to the PA box, makes the live stuff uncertain at the moment. Of course it may well be different in the new stadium, where we are making provision for appropraite communications and data services.

[Cookie]

Ummm, seems you have your work cut out trying to finding a solution to benefit everyone.

Just one thing, if some are now not listening then why do you think that is?. Maybe it's because they have to pay now, albeit a very modest sum, to do just that. THOSE are the people who are taking advantage of a once "free" service & THOSE are the ones that I wish would either attend the matches in person or continue to listen in at the small cost.

I'm sure some of these are supporters that once attended matches reguarly on a regular basis. Those that cannot attend,for whatever reason,I sympathise with but if they really wanted to know what was going on "live" then they should be willing to pay the unbelievably small amount of £3 to do so from home or wherever they may be.We also have the away supporter that might usually travel to follow their team but because of the "free" radio coverage prefer to stay at home instead thus denying the club of greatly needed revenue.They too should be more than willing to pay the £3 if indeed their decision to stay at home is because of the "live" commentary on offer.

One things for sure we don't want to lose the live commentary altogether even if it means you reverting back to the "free" days & despite i.m.o. the club losing out financially & despite my personal thoughts about this. Even the recorded commentary alone would be a great loss so if you can find that solution then good on you & good on you for having commentated so professionally in the past,at the present and also for wanting to still to continue doing it in the future.That,& and for putting your time & hardwork into this to please others.

Edited September 14, 2011 by Cookie

[Wellsie]

My gut feel - although unproven - is the cost is puttiong poeple off. Even at £2.50 a time for regulars - £12.50 for five games of the listener's choice).

 

Will certainly try to find a solution and will keep providing highlights.

 

And thanks for your support Tony - much appreciated.

[Broadstairs Dave]

Steve

In the past especially for the evening games I have noticed that over 100 people are logged on the the update thread on this forum so is there a way of converting that audience into listeners to your excellent service ?

 

I will ask a higher authority ie one of my sons if there is a way of doing this by pay on demand.

 

I am also sure that sucess on the pitch will bring in extra listeners so over to you guys the players

[JohnKirby]

I think the problem for me is being an exile, my love for Margate football club is a very singular experience, and that essentially I'd be paying money to spend two hours by myself. I did listen whenever I could when it was free, but it would be a second half here, an odd game there when my family weren't at the game to keep me up to date.

 

With the cost now of gate radio I just rely more on updates from the website, twitter, and phone calls from the game, which can be just as enjoyable and is free.

 

Thats not to say I didn't enjoy gate radio before. I just feel that for whatever cost, I'd rather do things my way, and then spend money on more solid, physical items in the club shop, such as the programmes from previous games.

 

Unfortunately I feel it may be a case that everything with the club today marketing, is so well done, previews, reports, images, programmes, twitter, that gate radio suffers. If all other information strands weren't as good, maybe people would tune in more.

 

not that thats what I want. Just musing.

[Cookie]

At the end of the day its your service Wellsie & you must do what you think fit despite what others think or might say,me included. At least you tried & no-one can knock you for trying.

Edited September 14, 2011 by Cookie

[Eastside Urchin]

Just as an outsiders view,if my club hornchurch,had a once free similar service and now charged for it,I personally wouldn't pay £3 to listen if I couldn't attend a game and I am the chairman of our Supporters Association,so I doubt very much that supporters who go to games a lot less would pay to listen.

If it was listened to more frequently when it was free then it can only be the cost which is stopping people from listening.

 

Why not contact all the local business' that are open for trading on saturday afternoons and offer them the service free on a saturday and get them to play it in the background while the game goes on,it may help promote the club

Edited September 14, 2011 by Eastside Urchin

[michael]

I think the quality of service/broadcast is second to none.

However-i never listen to the live commentary-i'm busy on other stuff for one thing,but even with time,i would not listen in;and that has nothing to do with the cost.

 

Frankly-i'd pay £10 if it guaranteed a margate win.

I don't listen because no matter how good the commentary-i can't get a perspective of what is happening-and how close a shot is.

Above all,when i have listened briefly-it turns me into a gibbering wreck.

On the rare occasions when we are winning, with a minute to go-i hide behind the sofa-can't stand the tension;and put my hands over my ears.

 

Apart from my personal nuances, i think its a great service-and i do take advantage of the highlights/recorded commentary-great to listen to in the background when you know we've won;and i love the interviews-so glad these are retained-but on a purely personal note-my nerves won't take the live commentary.

I'm a bit weird though ,so i hope it is revived iwhen we get more supporters back in the era on blue square south in two seasons time.

The commentary then should get the audience it desrves;so simply hope this is a postponement of live broadcast only.

[Eastside Urchin]

I think you should keep the radio broadcasts,it's a good media tool,one that many clubs do not have,it's relatively easy go do.Stopping the service is giving up,it just needs a little tweak by the sounds of it

[P.W.]

The Win-Win answer would be to try & get someone to sponsor/subsidise the service to the extent that a charge of say 50p or £1 a match would be acceptable to those who can only catch the odd 15-20 minutes of a game they couldn't attend.

There are two snags to that argument 1) To get a sponsor for a really small target audience 2) To get a more reliable method of 'instant' payment for the listener, so a listener who unexpectedly gets the opportunity to listen can get access to broadcasts 'on demand' rather than pre-booking (as is the case now). Point 2) would not be a cheap to implement.

[michael]

This may be available currently-but could you 'block book'

 

For example-pay £10 (one games admission ) that enabled you access to say the next 10 broadcasts whenever you wished-dip in and out as you wish !! - (and listen to the radio commentary as well ! )

[Wellsie]

Thanks for all the comments and thoughts. Certainly the sponsorship idea is one I'd like to explore. And with this, the sponsor's logo would feature alongside all the links to recorded content as well - so lots of coverage for the sponsor. Anyone interested?

[DomBlueBoy]

Basically it's ridiculous to charge people to listen to the radio. You can tune into premiership football commentary on Talksport for free so how we charge for Ryman League ? Also, the two home game losses so far this season and the majority of home games last season were so poor to actually watch , then how bad were they to listen too ? Also, more than a few times the PA announcer at the ground announces the goalscorer at the far side wrong. Or gets subs off and on wrong. For people that are at the ground this is annoying, it must be even worse for People listening into commentary who can't actually see it! If the commentary was free then the odd mistake is not a big deal and even funny, but if they are paying to listen then mistakes are unacceptable.

 

Maybe by not charging for commentary the club could pick up a few extra fans though the gate. imagine the casual fan who maybe goes to the derby on boxing day or looks out for Margates results in the gazette but doesn't turn up to watch - what would encourage him to come to games more ? The ability to listen to free commentary which will grow his interest and he will come to watch games, or charge him for commentary which he won't do and so he is not encouraged to come to watch. If he doesnt want to pay £10 to attend a game, why would he pay £3 or whatever to listen to commentary ? If the club want to reach a wider community then surely offering commentary for free is a good way of doing this ?

 

If the club was top of the Blue Square Premier, never losing a game and winning 5-0 everyweek then people would happily pay to listen if they couldnt come to watch. But let's face it Margate are not going to be in that position any time soon !

[Wellsie]

the PA announcer at the ground announces the goalscorer at the far side wrong.

 

That's me and will be much easier when the stadium is redeveloped as the PA position will be close to the middle of the pitch. As for subs - often the away bench do not show the boards towards the PA box.

 

So no apologies for things outside of my control - just explanations.

[Blue Banshee]

the PA announcer at the ground announces the goalscorer at the far side wrong.

 

That's me and will be much easier when the stadium is redeveloped as the PA position will be close to the middle of the pitch. As for subs - often the away bench do not show the boards towards the PA box.

 

So no apologies for things outside of my control - just explanations.

 

 

I have said before - I actually enjoy the little slip ups, makes it even more entertaining :-)

[Benjammin]

the PA announcer at the ground announces the goalscorer at the far side wrong.

 

That's me and will be much easier when the stadium is redeveloped as the PA position will be close to the middle of the pitch. As for subs - often the away bench do not show the boards towards the PA box.

 

So no apologies for things outside of my control - just explanations.

 

 

I have said before - I actually enjoy the little slip ups, makes it even more entertaining :-)

 

Agreed

[Wellsie]

LOL! Will stop trying to get it right then! Seroiusly, if I see what's really going on from my new position in the new stadium I'll just have to make stuff up!