New Blades iFollow app

[GreenhillBladeinToronto]

Thanks for the heads up mate . Just downloaded it myself and I fully concur , its a cracking app

If anyone else wants it just make sure you type in that its the official app youre after .

Yep.... although after they've been touting this app for 3 months now, collecting their annual fees, saying "it's coming" (in App format) and then not having the smarts to do an e-blast telling subscribers it's now finally available (after many people have been following up with them for weeks now...such as myself ) many of us were becoming pretty frustrated and am still wondering why they would not have set it up so it was searchable under the "ifollow" name - seems kind of obvious...
But it's a great looking app, will be a huge bonus for all overseas Blades for the upcoming season and i'm oglad it's finally here
And I was just in the mood for a rant....

 

[SwissBlade]

I just checked with a VPN on, seems like Match passes are available for £5 (strangely still said £5 even though I was in Sweden) anyway, match pass seems like a fair price for a couple of games while on holiday or if you want to test your VPN before committing to a full pass.

Pretty good value all round really.

What I don't understand though is why they can't just offer this to the UK anyway, Sky have the broadcasting rights and sponsor the league, if they aren't planning on showing it on Sky Sports, then surely it's worth making money from it by offering the games to iFollow UK subscribers?

Maybe the money wouldn't all go to Sky, would be split between other league sponsors and the FA or something perhaps, but a percentage of something is better than all of nowt.

Ah well. If it works with static IP VPNs I'll happily pay.

Its a very good point, but hopefully within a season or two we'll be looking at football being online... apart from the ridiculous Premier League TV deal

 

[stringjunior]

Its a very good point, but hopefully within a season or two we'll be looking at football being online... apart from the ridiculous Premier League TV deal

I agree. I suspect we might see another cycle of stupid money being paid for rights by sky and BT, but a ceiling will be reached soon where there's tangible push back from the fans. At which point I wouldn't be at all surprised to see matches streaming live on Netflix, or a dedicated YouTube channel or similar. The premier league need to keep their product in front of the maximum pairs of eyes as possible to keep advertisers income flowing. Streaming it seems to me is the way to achieve this, and incidentally this is the future most at BBC sport are expecting.

 

[SwissBlade]

I agree. I suspect we might see another cycle of stupid money being paid for rights by sky and BT, but a ceiling will be reached soon where there's tangible push back from the fans. At which point I wouldn't be at all surprised to see matches streaming live on Netflix, or a dedicated YouTube channel or similar. The premier league need to keep their product in front of the maximum pairs of eyes as possible to keep advertisers income flowing. Streaming it seems to me is the way to achieve this, and incidentally this is the future most at BBC sport are expecting.

It has to happen. We're seeing more and more TV (not just sport) going towards online. Its not that the normal terrestrial or satellite/ Cable platforms are dead, but the competition and quality of streaming is there to drive it.

The problem in the Premier League though is that the clubs have no interest in the game, just the money it generates for their owners. So even with online streaming, they will demand huge deals and that cost is only ever passed on to the viewers. It needs some regulation

 

[stringjunior]

It has to happen. We're seeing more and more TV (not just sport) going towards online. Its not that the normal terrestrial or satellite/ Cable platforms are dead, but the competition and quality of streaming is there to drive it.

The problem in the Premier League though is that the clubs have no interest in the game, just the money it generates for their owners. So even with online streaming, they will demand huge deals and that cost is only ever passed on to the viewers. It needs some regulation

And I wouldn't rule out Twitter or Facebook muscling in on the act either.

 

[bladesmanluke]

Whilst it would be great to be able to watch any match online in the U.K. As well, it wouldn't be good if it had a negative effect on attendances. Grounds in the football league aren't full every week already. Hopefully it will force down ticket prices if crowds begin to drop. The poster above is right in saying that this is only the start, it's only a matter of time before every game in the football league is available online

 

[Dkc]

Has anyone tried to pay for a single game yet? I plan on doing do v Cardiff if possible. And did anyone come across any unofficial streams of the Brentford game?

 

[Dkc]

Downloaded the app and logged in online, can't see any option for paying to watch the Cardiff game. I'm not in the UK

 

[Dkc]

When I go to the "Match Centre" and try to pay via paypal it takes me straight back to my "profile page" with no confirmation that I have paid for the game

 

[JKBlade]

When I go to the "Match Centre" and try to pay via paypal it takes me straight back to my "profile page" with no confirmation that I have paid for the game

Had this problem today too.
Tried signing up for season pass through a VPN with UK card and address, and got a message that the card/billing address must be same country as location.

Tried putting country to the location of my VPN, and just took me backwards with no confirmation page.

Tried just a match pass for tomorrow, with UK card and address, and worked fine, with a confirmation page.

Have others managed to get the season pass through a VPN or just match passes?

 

[Cerberus Blade]

When I go to the "Match Centre" and try to pay via paypal it takes me straight back to my "profile page" with no confirmation that I have paid for the game

Same for me too. I signed up for the season pass at £45. Entered my card details, pin number, etc. Hit continue then I find myself back at my profile page, with all the boxes blank once again. Had to put in my name, email, etc. all over again. I've had no confirmation that I've paid anything - no emails, nothing. As far as I know something must have gone wrong and it's not gone through but I'm reluctant to do it again as for all I know it could be taking my £45 several times over.

Is anyone out there able to provide some clear instructions as to how to do this?

When I say "clear" instructions, I mean, imagine you are talking to an idiot (which you may feel you are).

Which website do you go to? What do you click on? etc. Basic information would be great!

 

[Bladezz]

Sorry new to I follow.

I've been to all games this season and cannot make tonight. If I sign up can I watch the match live or isit just commentary?

 

[stringjunior]

Sorry new to I follow.

I've been to all games this season and cannot make tonight. If I sign up can I watch the match live or isit just commentary?

It's only the commentary for UK customers, live video stream for those outside the UK. Some people, cleverer than I, are getting round this by using a VPN to fool the system in to thinking they're abroad so they can watch the stream in the UK.

 

[don240]

Tried just a match pass for tomorrow, with UK card and address, and worked fine, with a confirmation page.
Have others managed to get the season pass through a VPN or just match passes?

This sounds ideal for me as I don't really want a season card.
Where did you set your VPN to, did you use a UK bank card or PayPal etc & did you use an existing (UK) Ifollow account or set up a new one?

 

[Mad Mick]

I set up a new account, but whilst abroad. I used a UK address and credit card, but after I had purchased the season package, someone mentioned they might do back checks, so I changed my address and added a telephone number that were both from the country I go to quite often. I appreciate not everyone has an address abroad they can use. Someone mentioned about using a hotels address. Although if they are now checking credit cards against overseas addresses this might not work. Perhaps they are getting cute. My personal opinion is that the online software for signing up is a bit naff. For VPN I think you'll be safe with any European country. Do not us US.

 

[trav164]

I don't think they could be bothered to do back checks.

EVEN IF they are which I doubt then just buy a game pass using a vpn, that way if they do check and block your account you've only lost out on a few quid for that particular match. I shall be doing it tonight for the Cardiff game.

Anyone interested, I connect from France using my VPN as opposed to anywhere out of Europe for lower latency.

 

[JKBlade]

This sounds ideal for me as I don't really want a season card.
Where did you set your VPN to, did you use a UK bank card or PayPal etc & did you use an existing (UK) Ifollow account or set up a new one?

VPN set to Germany.
UK Bank card, and setup a new account rather than using my UK one.

 

[Bartleby]

View attachment 29073
Sure I listened to them last season on there, I remember them saying you can listen on free view channel etc. Edit just found this listing from earlier this year.

You couldn't listen to live games via the BBC website last season, only on 1) an actual radio in the RS coverage area 2) Freeview if you live within the coverage area for that - wider than the radio coverage area but not nationwide, or 3) on what was Bladesplayer and now is iFollow.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

It's only the commentary for UK customers, live video stream for those outside the UK. Some people, cleverer than I, are getting round this by using a VPN to fool the system in to thinking they're abroad so they can watch the stream in the UK.

I didn't realise this tbh. I signed up thinking I could watch the live stream when in the UK. I'm not so bothered about the live commentary feature, I can get that on Radio Sheffield for most games, but it will be handy for some games as pointed out by Wincobank Blade above.

I suspect I will have to emigrate now to get my money's worth!

 

[don240]

VPN set to Germany.
UK Bank card, and setup a new account rather than using my UK one.

Thanks for that, sounds perfect.
Disclaimer: any information requested was not for my personal use, it was a friend of mine that was asking (obviously).

 

[Dkc]

I didn't realise this tbh. I signed up thinking I could watch the live stream when in the UK. I'm not so bothered about the live commentary feature, I can get that on Radio Sheffield for most games, but it will be handy for some games as pointed out by Wincobank Blade above.

I suspect I will have to emigrate now to get my money's worth!

I''ll give you 50 quid for your login details

 

[Wards]

Having some similar issues to above, can't sign up via my phone. Would've given this a go tonight with a VPN installed but may have to wait until I can get to my laptop

 

[Wapping Blade]

Does Hampshire count as abroad, it sure feels like it!

 

[DronnieBlade]

So let me get this straight.

I've got the app.

I now need a VPN software package e.g express VPN. That's about 100 US dollars per year !

Once I have this, my iPad "conceals" my IP address, thus tricking the server in to thinking I'm not in the UK ? Do I have to nominate a non U.K. Country e.g Germany ?

This allows the non U.K.access streams via iFollow (at £5 per game) ?

Will this also work when using Sky Go abroad ?

Any help muchos appreciatedos.

UTB

 

[Dkc]

So let me get this straight.

I've got the app.

I now need a VPN software package e.g express VPN. That's about 100 US dollars per year !

Once I have this, my iPad "conceals" my IP address, thus tricking the server in to thinking I'm not in the UK ? Do I have to nominate a non U.K. Country e.g Germany ?

This allows the non U.K.access streams via iFollow (at £5 per game) ?

Will this also work when using Sky Go abroad ?

Any help muchos appreciatedos.

UTB

Exactly, turn on the VPN, tell it to say you are in eg Germany, then you should be able to watch the game. Point the VPN to foreign place before you log in to iFollow. Don't choose the USA. Should be good to go.

I'm an actual foreign Blade, and still haven't been able to pay for tonight's game. Trying again now.

 

[JJ Sefton]

So let me get this straight.

I've got the app.

I now need a VPN software package e.g express VPN. That's about 100 US dollars per year !

Once I have this, my iPad "conceals" my IP address, thus tricking the server in to thinking I'm not in the UK ? Do I have to nominate a non U.K. Country e.g Germany ?

This allows the non U.K.access streams via iFollow (at £5 per game) ?

Will this also work when using Sky Go abroad ?

Any help muchos appreciatedos.

UTB

 

[Dkc]

Anybody have any idea how to pay for this game? I can't see the option on the app or the website despite being in Copenhagen

 

[Mad Mick]

I think you have to click on the actual game

 

[DronnieBlade]

Anybody have any idea how to pay for this game? I can't see the option on the app or the website despite being in Copenhagen

Same issue here in Frankfurt !!

Any clues ??

UTB

 

[Dkc]

OK, first of all paypal doesn't work but it seems to have accepted my cc to pay for this. You need to log in to iFollow on your computer (follow the link from sufc.co.uk) and go to Match Centre. If you are outside the UK or your VPN is working, the option to pay for the game should appear there. Don't waste your time trying to use Paypal.