With the new season starting on Saturday, I thought I would try to get information about the new ForestTV service now that the iFollow contract has expired.
For context, I was so pleased when iFollow started because I been waiting since the potential for showing games over the net became apparent to me in '98/'99. I first started using the internet in '93 and became a small ISP in Canada in '95.
Using IRC (Internet Relay Chat), I quickly made 'friends' with Forest fans around the world and set up my server to relay an audio stream from a buddy in Nottingham of the Forest matches (in the days of Darren Fletcher at Century radio). Access to this stream was through WinAmp. It was all very belt and braces stuff and also illegal but soon built up a small following. I only had a T1 (1.44 Mbps) from my server to connect to the internet so the number of streams I could provide was limited. I do recall that even Nigel Doughty connected to the stream whenever he was on holiday in the Caribbean!
I had to discontinue the service when I left Canada in 2001 to come to live in Spain, but the seed had been planted.
I was delighted when iFollow appeared, for it meant that I could continue following the team I had supported since I was 3 years old (I am now 69).
Now, iFollow wasn't perfect, but it was a start.
Fast forward to today. I went onto the Forest website and clicked on the ForestTV subscription link. There, I was presented with one option: Audio streaming of the games at £4.50/month. Over a season (10 months), that is £45, which seems a little pricey to me.
I dashed off an email to the provider (foresttvsupport@streamamg.com) asking why they are only providing audio streaming of the games.
They responded with a stock email, part of which states:
"Live video is available to UK and Ireland users for certain eligible games only. UK and Ireland users can sign up on a pay per view only for eligible live video broadcasts. Standard EFL geo restrictions apply.".
They also state that for UK and Ireland viewers they will provide a PPM video streaming service at £10 per match. Which works out for a maximum of 46 games at £460. You can buy a season ticket in the BC stand for £350!!!
OK, so I am geoblocked from video streaming but I feel that this is a retrograde step by the club but I am sure that they are going to lose a lot of international fans because of this.
Sorry for the rant, but I am bleddy angry.
Back to the future?
posted on 3/8/21
Tbh....until CH goes, I don't want to pay for games anyway. I'm certainly not going back to Audio, I am too old for that.
A few workarounds would be to get a VPN and say you are in the UK and / or go to the other clubs website (who won't be as backwards as Forest).
Forest for me now are like an ex-girlfriend. Great-ish memories, but won't work long-term.
She'd probably have to get a mate or two involved to get me interested again. That would certainly involve a live-stream and not a voicemail.
posted on 3/8/21
From the Bournemouth website El Bosque:
The club will stream league games in line with EFL rules and regulations across the 2020/21 campaign. UK-based supporters can access match passes for £10, while international supporters can watch for £7.
So....in a surprise to zero Forest supporters...it can be done (legally), just Forest can't be bothered to.
posted on 3/8/21
Fair bit of pessimism on here pre-season so I'll try to offer a couple of reasons to be cheerful.
Vrentzos is gone and a whole new hierarchy is running things. It will probably take a while for them to get up to speed, but they have good credentials and they can't be as bad as vrentzos can they.
We have had a whole summer for some of our players to get properly fit and refreshed which they weren't last season - Grabbs, Lolley, Colback. They are still better than average players I hope.
Gabriel, Johnson, Mighten, and still a possibility we may have Garner.
I know there is a possibility that we may have to sell before we can buy (quality) but the players we have been linked with have the right profile. i.e. On an upward curve and are playing at a decent level.
Stay possitive guys and let's see who we bring in.
posted on 3/8/21
comment by Redfor60yrs (U2973)
posted 2 hours, 35 minutes ago
Fair bit of pessimism on here pre-season so I'll try to offer a couple of reasons to be cheerful.
Vrentzos is gone and a whole new hierarchy is running things. It will probably take a while for them to get up to speed, but they have good credentials and they can't be as bad as vrentzos can they.
We have had a whole summer for some of our players to get properly fit and refreshed which they weren't last season - Grabbs, Lolley, Colback. They are still better than average players I hope.
Gabriel, Johnson, Mighten, and still a possibility we may have Garner.
I know there is a possibility that we may have to sell before we can buy (quality) but the players we have been linked with have the right profile. i.e. On an upward curve and are playing at a decent level.
Stay possitive guys and let's see who we bring in.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We have no left-back or right-back with Championship experience and our forward line scored less than 10 goals last season.
We have signed one player and have five days to the start of the season.
Our pre-season has been derailed by COVID.
After Coventry, I have to go another clubs websites to watch my team play.
Our manager has the worst win record since Montanier. The football was woeful last year.
I’m not sure a few off-field appointments and a hope we sign players and don’t lose a few is a positive.
I think we’ll beat Coventry, and Derby at the end of August...and lose rvery other game in August. Let’s hope i’m wrong.
posted on 5/8/21
comment by Morninchile (U18154)
posted 1 day, 20 hours ago
comment by Redfor60yrs (U2973)
posted 2 hours, 35 minutes ago
Fair bit of pessimism on here pre-season so I'll try to offer a couple of reasons to be cheerful.
Vrentzos is gone and a whole new hierarchy is running things. It will probably take a while for them to get up to speed, but they have good credentials and they can't be as bad as vrentzos can they.
We have had a whole summer for some of our players to get properly fit and refreshed which they weren't last season - Grabbs, Lolley, Colback. They are still better than average players I hope.
Gabriel, Johnson, Mighten, and still a possibility we may have Garner.
I know there is a possibility that we may have to sell before we can buy (quality) but the players we have been linked with have the right profile. i.e. On an upward curve and are playing at a decent level.
Stay possitive guys and let's see who we bring in.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We have no left-back or right-back with Championship experience and our forward line scored less than 10 goals last season.
We have signed one player and have five days to the start of the season.
Our pre-season has been derailed by COVID.
After Coventry, I have to go another clubs websites to watch my team play.
Our manager has the worst win record since Montanier. The football was woeful last year.
I’m not sure a few off-field appointments and a hope we sign players and don’t lose a few is a positive.
I think we’ll beat Coventry, and Derby at the end of August...and lose rvery other game in August. Let’s hope i’m wrong.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair comments 'chile. I'm glass half full, and I think you are glass half empty.
Gabriel is our right back, could go either way. Mbe Soh at LB is a big gamble and Cov will target him. To be honest I would go three at the back.
Only one signed and we won't have anybody in time to start against Cov (unless its Garner). But I would sooner buy nobody than repeat the panic buying of previous windows. Hopefully some youngsters would then be given a chance.
Everybody's pre season has been derailed by Covid.
CH had a ppor season last year, but he did achieve his objective by keeping us up (by adopting Dougie Freeman style of play)
Our new CEO has already stated that the transfer strategy will be to sign younger players. That has to be a positive compared to no strategy at all.
I also think we will beat Cov and the sheep but will pick up another couple of points at least. I'll come back to you at the end pf August on this point!
posted on 5/8/21
I rate Soh, would have definitely played him over Figs last season. He's a goal threat. Tbh, him and Fernandes up front are probably our two best strikers.
Not sure letting Yuri go was CHs idea, but he was the best LB we had...albeit drained in confidence as Bong and Blackett got in front of him.
I'm happy Christie is gone, I didn't see the fuss as he was regularly caught out. Never rated Jenkinson in a Forest shirt.
I'm actually very happy that we are playing the youth. There is just a high-chance CH will get in a last minute past it LB and RB on a two-year contract. Then a season of hovering around relegation.
Gabriel and Soh get injured, then what? In every aspect of life I am an optimistic realist, but with Forest....the heart can only get you so far against the grim reality of truth...repeating itself over and over and over again.
Blackburn, Derby and Sheffield United. They are the only teams that have signed less players. Derby is obvious of course, it's a hole and they can't.
I wish I saw DFs brand of football. That was the season I was back in the UK. I thought DF did a brilliant job with what he had and had he had the same squad as CH I have no doubt we'd have finished higher than CH.
Yes, everyone's season has been derailed...not sure Coventry have had games cancelled...or Bournemouth, Blackburn, Stoke and Derby etc...
Our new CEO is a positive long-term step. I'd believe in more miracles if CH was given the boot, that's for sure.
Let's see how we go then Red.
Cheers
posted on 6/8/21
I rate Mbe Soh. He needs game time and may need to go on loan to another Champ club or maybe Scotland. He won't displace Worrall or McKenna, but he should be ahead of Figs and Blackett. Playing in the Championship for another club with a recall available is I think best for club and player.
3-4-3 is surely worth trying but CH doesn't seem that adventurous
Samba
Soh-Joe-McK
Gabriel-Yates-Johnson-??
Lolley-Grabban-Mighten
posted on 6/8/21
If anyone wants a good laugh i thoroughly enjoyed this:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c49YQUlnGmk&t=2s
The Post’s Forest predictions, in case you were hoping for a bunch of scantily clad midgets.
I’ve had a bottle of wine, so i might do the first match thread with no objections?
I like that team Red. Based on pre-season i might even promote Fernandes to midfield. Looks a real tough MF.
Not sure i’d go 3-4-3, but McKenna left-footed and Soh a CB/RB makes sense.
Apparently Colback used to play LB...so...based on your 3-4-3...
Samba
Soh Worrall McKenna
Johnson Yates Cafu Colback
Lolley Grabban Mighten
Horvath, Fernandes, Richardson, Gabriel, Fornah, Carvalho, Taylor
I’ll save the rest for the match thread!
posted on 7/8/21
comment by Morninchile (U18154)
posted 1 day, 1 hour ago
If anyone wants a good laugh i thoroughly enjoyed this:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c49YQUlnGmk&t=2s
The Post’s Forest predictions, in case you were hoping for a bunch of scantily clad midgets.
I’ve had a bottle of wine, so i might do the first match thread with no objections?
I like that team Red. Based on pre-season i might even promote Fernandes to midfield. Looks a real tough MF.
Not sure i’d go 3-4-3, but McKenna left-footed and Soh a CB/RB makes sense.
Apparently Colback used to play LB...so...based on your 3-4-3...
Samba
Soh Worrall McKenna
Johnson Yates Cafu Colback
Lolley Grabban Mighten
Horvath, Fernandes, Richardson, Gabriel, Fornah, Carvalho, Taylor
I’ll save the rest for the match thread!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep you do the match thread Chile! and by the way Forest have made another signing this morning, a certain Philip Zinckernagel on a season long loan from Watford. Does this mean that James Garner isn't coming back? I can't see his coaches wanting him loaned to Derby just because of Roony's connections.
posted on 7/8/21
I will be happy for you to do the match thread ‘chile. Not sure I’ll be contributing too much; weather permitting I’ll be spending the day at the World Famous Trent Bridge.