England Ukraine game's internet only access gets Rio Ferdinand's backing
It'll be interesting to see how the first ever internet only England World Cup qualifier against Ukraine will do.
After, all you wonder if the average football fan is technology savvy enough to arrange to see the game on his or her computer screen. (Although don';t forget meanny people watch games online for free via foreign websites to avoid paying for Sky)
It has certainly got some interest going - England defender Rio Ferdinand has described it as: "A good step forward".
He added: "I read that online advertising has taken over from TV, so that tells you something about where it's going in terms of the digital world.
"So I'm sure it'll be the way forward and in the future it'll probably be the reality. I think it's a good way to gauge how many people are interested."
The match will represent the first time in recent history that British-based viewers will not be able to watch an England match live on television.
Watching the game online will cost £4.99 for early subscribers.
Fans spokesman Mark Perry said the fact the match was available only on the internet was "disastrous and an outrage."
"A World Cup qualifier should be available for everybody on free-to-air TV," Perryman said.
Anyone interested should go to http://www.ukrainevengland.com/
Charges rise to £9.99 for those who subscribe on Thursday and Friday, and £11.99 on Saturday.
So is Rio right? The figures will show, but in the past his judgment has included reviving the career of model Francoise Boufhal, pictured below, to front his magazine after she 'impressed' him during her interview. I leave you to draw your own conclusions about his judgment (perhaps though it might be said that it 'understands' what works on the internet).
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Ben Hurst
Well done Rio Ferdinand. Thanks for thinking of the fans.
I am staggered you support something that takes away the national game from its massive TV fanbase and instead beams it to a tiny proportion of people with the necessary computer technology to receive it, so denying the majority chance to watch their heroes.
I can only assume you have headed far too many balls and its affected your thinking.
May I suggest in future you stop trying to sound like you have your finger on the pulse by quoting some half-baked bit of research(if you do some proper work during all that time off you have after training you'll see that limitations in the study) and instead stand up for the fans who can't afford to travel abroad but still want to support the national team.
If you find that too difficult may I suggest that in future you just SHUT UP.
Nice illustartions though Ben
I have the capacity to watch the game via the internet, SHOULD I? Not on your life. As an Englishman born and bred i have the right to watch my national teams wether it be football or any other sport for that matter on free to air terrestrial T.V.
Rio you may be able to afford to pay out for such luxuries without batting an eye lid, but for the average joe in the street that has to pull in 50 hours a week hard graft to earn a pittance and then have to pay extra to watch a match that should be free to all that want to watch it in this country is just down right wrong.
Then the F.A will be complaining that kids aren`t interested in playing football anymore, they`ld rather be playing it on their Games consoles or Computers..
Oh i wonder who suggested using a computer to get entertained by football.