What does the New Streaming Platform Mean for Non-League Football?

The addition of a dedicated streaming platform for non-league football is imminent. It means fans will be able to purchase passes to watch their team play home and away in respect of the Article 48 blackout, which means 3 pm games will not be able to be broadcasted.

It will initially offer the ability to stream Vanarama National League games which is the highest tier of non-league football. There is a view to expanding the platform to cover both National League North and South games shortly.

Why was it needed?

The main development that sparked the creation of a streaming platform was Wrexham’s takeover last year by Hollywood stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, which was a surprising move by the North American actors. The takeover has subsequently increased global interest in non-league football, especially in the United States and Canada, and there is now a genuine demand for worldwide streaming.

ExpressVPNs Sports Streaming infographic shows that the traditional sports in the USA, such as Baseball and American Football, are the most popular. Still, football is quickly making up the ground behind. The fact people from a completely different continent are interested in the fifth tier of English football is remarkable. It is a clear indicator of the growth of football in the US and the global reach of the National League as a brand.

Welcome to Wrexham Season 2: Charles in Charge. pic.twitter.com/TrwPkIMCzX

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) December 9, 2022

The benefits of the platform

The National League’s clubs will benefit financially from the new deal to broadcast games worldwide. A matchday will cost £4.75 to purchase viewer rights, meaning millions of extra revenue will be generated per season, which will be filtered between the different clubs. They will also benefit financially from the clubs’ growth in global support. Wrexham’s recent upturn has shown that people from North America are willing to follow non-league clubs, and other clubs can undoubtedly follow suit.

It also benefits domestic-based supporters who cannot attend games or occasionally miss some games as they can stream from home and not miss any of the action while still aiding their club in terms of revenue. The streaming service could also open doors to people who prefer to watch games at home. In modern times some people do not favour the experience of watching football outdoors in cold and rainy conditions and opt to watch from home. This would have ruled watching the National League out in the past, but now this is not the case. 

The league has taken its viewership from having a clear limit to somewhat unlimited potential.

Thanks to the push from Ryan Reynolds, people from all corners of the world could be watching fifth and sixth-tier English football, which can only benefit the entire pyramid in terms of competitiveness.

📺 National League TV is Live!

The Vanarama National League is delighted to announce a two-week trial phase of its new streaming service National League TV
#TheVanarama #NationalLeagueTV #NLTV

— The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) December 8, 2022

Clubs in non-league will be more financially stable and could bring in higher-quality players. Clubs below the sixth tier could view the National League North/South as a financial landmark to reach, as they can receive a segment of the streaming revenue.

There are a few cons to the National League’s streaming platform, as clubs are set to benefit in terms of their support as well as financially following the inauguration of the service.