Blue Bombers Forum

See the new DAZN-paradigm-in-2027 thread
https://forums.bluebombers.com/index.php?topic=57199.0

DAZN will get exclusive broadcast rights to CFL on Saturday nights, and for 2 playoff games, a total of 23 games a season.  DAZN is a for-pay streaming service that seems to specialize in NFL.

Will you pay what they are asking to see just these Saturday games?

The reason for the price range is we don't yet know if the CFL will be part of DAZN regular (the lower price) or DAZN+ (the higher price).

They'll get the $ out of me.  Because how could I not?  I'm not going to quit the CFL altogether (though it is an option for some).

I will grumble and groan, though.  And I will only do the month-to-month thing and quit the day after those 2 playoff games.  I'm not happy about it, but nemesis Johnston can consider me a win.

I bet the league will now make a schedule that evenly distributes those Sat games across all teams -- just so no fan base is off the hook.  Because if WPG got zero Sat games I would almost certainly NOT pay DAZN.  I love watching every CFL game, but to save $210+ I can miss a few other-team games and do yard work instead.

Maybe WM can request an entire season of Thu-night games -- even away games?!  ;D  ;D  ;D

Cameron said in The Huddle yesterday that maybe there are whispers that WFC will do something for STHs regarding a deal on DAZN.  He said he shouldn't be saying it, so who knows how it will pan out.

Perhaps when we get the final $$'s (which might take 6-10 months!) it might be lower and we can redo the poll.  As always, people will be price sensitive, and more people at the margin will be on board as the price goes down.

I would proffer the advice that they should figure this stuff out right now, and announce it right now, to deflect the massive blowback coming their way.  Not only would people be happier hearing they'll have to pay $15/mo instead of $25/mo, but it would appeal to the "Winnipeg Cheap".  (Just making up those $$'s by the way, no one has said squat about prices yet.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLXQTDi4Wfo

This actually makes me more upset. Stew said something about how "it's too early" to talk about pricing and if there will be a CFL-only subscription for DAZN that will be cheaper.

It was the same thing with the rule changes. Announced a bunch of things before the rules committee even figured out the details. It's so bush league.

I'm also starting to honestly enough with myself that if it wasn't for the field changes and the fact that I hate Stew, this wouldn't bother me as much. I might be able to see the good for the league angle more. But the Americanization of our field and potential for more changes is keeping me from looking at it that way.

Ultimately, I think I'll pay the subscription, especially if it's a reduced rate of some kind - because I really can't afford to keep adding subscriptions - but I'm really questioning if I'll still be a fan forever, which is not something that's ever entered my mind before. I'm not going to endure too many more impacts to the game itself.

Quote from: Jesse on Today at 10:37:25 AMI'm also starting to honestly enough with myself that if it wasn't for the field changes and the fact that I hate Stew, this wouldn't bother me as much. I might be able to see the good for the league angle more. But the Americanization of our field and potential for more changes is keeping me from looking at it that way.

I agree.  We're Canadians, we're 35-85 year old CFL fans... we're used to a much slower rate of change in the CFL.  Unca Brosie basically only did one thing in like 8 years.  Cohon did almost nothing.  Orrige was barely a blip.

I'm now getting the sense that the pace of change will be this fast as long as Johnston is here.  Or faster.  This risks alienation of the core fans.

However, I did try to separate the hated rule changes from this money announcement in my mind, which is why I admitted I will pay.  However, even I may reach my limit with this guy, where I can no longer compartmentalize.

Quote from: Jesse on Today at 10:37:25 AMbut I'm really questioning if I'll still be a fan forever, which is not something that's ever entered my mind before. I'm not going to endure too many more impacts to the game itself.

It's disturbing a fan such as yourself is forced into such thoughts.  Clearly you are not alone.  CFL needs to take this into account.

It's all well and good if you get $23M more for the league, but if you did it by bleeding dry every last hardcore fan, then it'll eventually hurt ticket sales, and perhaps lead to ruin by next TV contract time, where that $23M evaporates because you cut your base in half.

A new venture like DAZN who is just using you to juice revenue/numbers to get their magic IPO will not necessarily be there again in 5 years.  Is there any world in which they can increase cap by $1M one year, then take it all away 3 years later?  They better be thinking about these things and stash the money for a gradual cap increase where they can have some assurance they can keep that higher cap even if the sweet streaming deal disappears.

Right now I'd pay double that to keep the status quo.

Quote from: Jesse on Today at 10:37:25 AMThis actually makes me more upset. Stew said something about how "it's too early" to talk about pricing and if there will be a CFL-only subscription for DAZN that will be cheaper.

It was the same thing with the rule changes. Announced a bunch of things before the rules committee even figured out the details. It's so bush league.

I'm also starting to honestly enough with myself that if it wasn't for the field changes and the fact that I hate Stew, this wouldn't bother me as much. I might be able to see the good for the league angle more. But the Americanization of our field and potential for more changes is keeping me from looking at it that way.

Ultimately, I think I'll pay the subscription, especially if it's a reduced rate of some kind - because I really can't afford to keep adding subscriptions - but I'm really questioning if I'll still be a fan forever, which is not something that's ever entered my mind before. I'm not going to endure too many more impacts to the game itself.

To be fair, most companies can't or won't tell you what their prices will be in May 2027. And in this case, it's not even the company itself, it's the person who just entered into an agreement with that company.

Of course he can't say, probably doesn't have any control over it and certainly isn't the one to announce and position it even if he did.

In reality, bush league would be the commissioner riffing off some prices for you and angering his brand new customer who gets to set their own pricing strategy for the new thing they just bought.

Quote from: Jesse on Today at 10:37:25 AMThis actually makes me more upset. Stew said something about how "it's too early" to talk about pricing and if there will be a CFL-only subscription for DAZN that will be cheaper.

It was the same thing with the rule changes. Announced a bunch of things before the rules committee even figured out the details. It's so bush league.

I'm also starting to honestly enough with myself that if it wasn't for the field changes and the fact that I hate Stew, this wouldn't bother me as much. I might be able to see the good for the league angle more. But the Americanization of our field and potential for more changes is keeping me from looking at it that way.

Ultimately, I think I'll pay the subscription, especially if it's a reduced rate of some kind - because I really can't afford to keep adding subscriptions - but I'm really questioning if I'll still be a fan forever, which is not something that's ever entered my mind before. I'm not going to endure too many more impacts to the game itself.

I've had these same thoughts myself. Eventually there is a straw that breaks the camels back. I eventually gave up my Jets tickets when I realized the league was aligned in such a way that a small market Canadian team like the Jets was for the most part, not able to compete with the good weather low tax states. I saw hockey as a Canada's national sport that had essentially been sold out to curry favour with Vegas and Carolina in the hopes of juicing the American market. Tampa and Vegas manipulating the LTIR rules was the last straw for me.

I'll still be at PAS this year, and still watch on TSN. But I actually don't miss following the Jets. People move on, when the sense that the business they are patronizing no longer really cares about their concerns or their interests. For me right now, the saving grace is how well the local team, the Bombers is run, and the sense that Wade really does care about the fan. We'll see.

I'm retired on a fixed income with no company pensions. I just paid my property tax yesterday. It went up $500 this year and $1,000 over the last 3 years. Obviously they are many other inflationary issues for everybody.

At least I'm a home owner with no mortgage. Others may not be and having to pay rent.

While I'm not trimming anything yet, I don't know where or when there might be a tipping point.

I do remember the old days when not every game was televised and I tried to hear radio news of games in progress. Then all games were broadcast which made it much easier to watch all games of every team.  That builds fan interest IMO. Now they will lose some.

Actually I have trimmed out going to the stadium to watch games live after being a season ticket holder in the past. Every city has different cost profiles but in Vancouver, sitting on the goal line is about $75 and sitting at the 40 yard line is about $135. Parking is $30 - $40 a game.

That said, part of the reason for not attending is age related to large crowd size.

i have been a DAZN subscriber since launch - i pause my subscription in february and fire it up again in september.  the plan i have allows 2 concurrent streams. i can have redzone on one tv and every steelers game on the other or have the steelers game on tsn if available and put redzone on the upstairs tv so i dont miss anything...or have it playing on a tablet while i cook supper in the kitchen

they struggled with quality their first year but they have that all figured out now.

If they were smart, they would offer a CFL package for 9.99 a month.

It depends, if I would be willing to pay or not......

If I didn't have season's a game day ticket to go live for a Saturday home game isn't much more than a month of DAZN, couple it with a couple beers and free ride to and from a lounge like BP and to me I would take the live action 10/10 times

A Saturday away game, if a lounge like Silver Heights or BP was to have the game on I look at it, like 35-55/mnth  vs. the same cost as an appie and couple beers, but get the live experience of a evening out.....again I would take the live action 10/10 times.

If a situation arose where multiple games within one month were on Saturdays, I might consider the DAZN cost...

For me it's not so much about the money, but rather the experience. To me if I can sit at home watch a single away game on DAZN on a Saturday and pay 35-55 plus some appies and beers at home for a total of $70-100 and then have to clean up after myself, and cook my own food, pour my own drinks versus go to say lounge like Silver Heights, or BP, have someone else cook my food, pour my beers and clean up after me for close to same amount or a few dollars more it's an easy choice, as to what I'm doing......