Overseas fans get to see games LIVE next season
There are big changes coming your way on the official website and Yellow Player.
This summer will see the club’s online presence completely revamped with a new-look website and Yellow Player being replaced by ‘iFollow’.
The official website is currently being built and will be launched in the next couple of weeks. With over half a million hits each month, the official website continues to grow and the new site will feature a much-improved layout, be easier to navigate and allow us to feature video and a whole new range of features.
Meanwhile, Yellow Player, our subscription service, is about to change to iFollow, which will enable Oxford fans based outside the UK and Ireland to watch their team during the regular League 1 season.
Kicking off at the start of the 2017/18 EFL season, overseas subscribers will pay the equivalent of £110 per season for the service, which will provide coverage of up to 46 live games per club. That works out at less than £2.50 a game.
Fans based in the UK and Ireland will still also have access to live audio commentary, highlights packages and exclusive content as part of the new offering, rebranded to replace Player HD.
US-based company NeuLion, a market leader in online video delivery whose clients include the NFL, NBA and the Premier League, have developed the integrated streaming service alongside UK company Realise, who have built the club websites. The two suppliers were appointed by the EFL in July 2016 following a competitive procurement process.
Chris Williams, Oxford United’s Communications Manager, explains:
“This is something that has been in the pipeline for a year now. The websites have been the same for a few years and were looking dated and not very mobile friendly. We wanted to address that and also have the chance to move away from the same templates that all clubs had, while also optimising the commercial opportunities.
“We have been hard at work building the pages and adding new sections and we think fans are going to like the new look site.
“Well over 1,100 fans subscribe to Yellow Player HD now and research tells us that there are hundreds of fans living abroad who would love to see the games live. From August that becomes a reality. Every game, home and away, will be live for overseas subscribers.
"We can’t offer that in the UK due to rights issues, but those fans will still be able to listen to every game live thanks to our friends at the BBC. We will continue to add video interviews before and after every match, as well as extended highlights, which have proved hugely popular this season.
“This is new technology and to start with the live video stream will have full crowd noise so you get the atmosphere, but not the commentary. That may well change as we move forward, but right now we can’t sync the two feeds.
“It opens up so many possibilities for the club online and we can’t wait to go live and get started.
“It’s not too late - if fans have ideas for the new site or iFollow then get in touch.”
If you would like to contact us about the new site or iFollow then email: cwilliams@oufc.co.uk