Further to the announcement last Friday (September 16) by the National League, in respect of the ambition to deliver a centralised streaming solution in the second half of the 2022/23 season, the Club asked several questions following receipt of this information.
That announcement lacked specific detail and the Club have been informed that we will have to wait until a project update is issued to all Clubs, when the finite details are agreed, to receive the answers.
The most important detail outstanding is when in the second half of the season clubs will be able to stream games.
The National League have, however, confirmed that it was their Board in partnership with BT who own the rights, that rejected Wrexham’s application to stream games immediately, while the centralised streaming solution is delivered.
The reason given for this decision was that they felt it appropriate for the League and for the benefit of all Clubs that streaming should not be permitted until the centralised streaming solution was available to all Clubs, but offered no rationale for why this decision was made.
A Club spokesperson said: “The Club has made it clear that it would donate any profit made from the streaming of games to the National League for them to distribute, as our desire is to grow our fanbase on the back of our documentary, Welcome to Wrexham, not financial gain.
“While growing the fanbase for Wrexham is clearly our motivation, the National League & the Clubs in the competition would also benefit from the positive exposure that has been created for the National League and should capitalise on this.
“Now the decision to stream games has been made, this makes the decision to prevent the Club streaming our home games in the interim period even more confusing. The streaming solution already in place at Wrexham and other Clubs in the EFL Digital network, is likely to be at least equivalent in terms of stream quality and security, of any centralised streaming solution that will be delivered.
“With no date for the commencement of the centralised streaming solution, the Club once again appeals to the Board of the National League and BT, to reconsider the decision not to allow any Club to stream games home games or clearly explain the reasons why our application has been rejected.
“We believe The National League should be promoting the growth of its competition & their individual Clubs, not making decisions that limits this potential which is clearly contrary to its objectives.”