Official Match Programme - Electonic version

[SwissBlade]

With so many magazines, publications and news papers now being available online to either subscribe to or buy individual copies, isn't it time that we get the Blades match programmes online too?

I presume that they'd be .PDF files, so a direct download or an app would suffice.

Is there interest in this sort of thing? Has it been discussed in the fans forums?

 

[Northyorksblade]

WHAT FOR FREE!! You're joking aren't you?

 

[FleaPitBlade]

A couple of the big clubs already do that but they have the global fan base to make it worth while.

I think they do it as a web based thing which requires log in information to view the programme. If it was just a downloadable PDF then it'd be 'shared'.

 

[SwissBlade]

WHAT FOR FREE!! You're joking aren't you?

No not for free. I'd pay £2 for an electronic copy

Would it need to be a massive fan base to make it worth while? They're doing a hard copy print run anyway, its just a matter of converting to .PDF isn't it?

Newstand on iPad doesn't allow sharing so i'm sure there is a simple way to do this

 

[Highbury_Blade]

No not for free. I'd pay £2 for an electronic copy

Would it need to be a massive fan base to make it worth while? They're doing a hard copy print run anyway, its just a matter of converting to .PDF isn't it?

Newstand on iPad doesn't allow sharing so i'm sure there is a simple way to do this

What would stop you emailing your pdf around everybody, thus depriving the club of revenue?

You could distribute the match day programme via newstand. Apple would take the 30% cut of course, and you'd have the usual crowd of Android whingers moaning, but it'd be simple to distribute.

 

[cooperblade]

http://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/news/article/matchdaydigital23feb13-552946.aspx

 

[Ted Danson]

Is there anything worth while in the programmes these days? Ive only seen one since the 80's but assumed all the interviews and useful info etc would be available online either on the OS or from other sources.

I think the only reason these things are still around is that they are printed and people have a fascination with collecting them, cant see an electronic version having the same appeal.

Id like to see the Flashing Blade return though

 

[SwissBlade]

What would stop you emailing your pdf around everybody, thus depriving the club of revenue?

You could distribute the match day programme via newstand. Apple would take the 30% cut of course, and you'd have the usual crowd of Android whingers moaning, but it'd be simple to distribute.

No this is the point, the Newsstand magazines etc are .PDF's i'm not saying that you would download a PDF, but that appears to be the format of the normal magazines available.

If it went on Newstand or the inferior mobile platforms such as Android then you can't email the document.

Is there anything worth while in the programmes these days? Ive only seen one since the 80's but assumed all the interviews and useful info etc would be available online either on the OS or from other sources.

I think the only reason these things are still around is that they are printed and people have a fascination with collecting them, cant see an electronic version having the same appeal.

Id like to see the Flashing Blade return though

I tend to buy a matchday programme, there is usually some interesting stuff in it, good for reading whilst taking a dump.

 

[Ted Danson]

I can see it being useful for something else if your taking a dump at the lane ;-)

 

[Samantha]

Id like to see the Flashing Blade return though

If you mean the fanzine it hast gone anywhere?!

 

[Russ]

If you mean the fanzine it hast gone anywhere?!

It used to be good, then it went $hite .

 

[drinksmat]

Doing the wordsearch in the programme on an iPad knackers the screen.....

 

[shreds1975]

If you mean the fanzine it hast gone anywhere?!

I used to buy it from Orstels on Shoreham St until this season when it closed. I kept threatening to sort out a postal sub but never got round to it. Is it still going?

 

[shreds1975]

The wife is a Bolton fan and they have switched to free download or hard copy version at the match. The odd thing is the amount of content varies wildly, sometimes barely anything and they charge £2 and then other weeks a standard issue for £3. They used to do a free magazine every couple of months to ST holders which was pretty good, which might be why the programme size varied, although I am sure that has stopped.

 

[Ted Danson]

If you mean the fanzine it hast gone anywhere?!

Where can I get it? not seen it in years, decades even

 

[super_pig]

oi Swiss.. stop coming up with all of these good ideas will you?? pack it in

 

[Darren]

Where can I get it? not seen it in years, decades even

They sell it at the Cricketers on Shoreham Street. You can also get it by mail order from Matthew Bell.

 

[Ted Danson]

Cheers mate,might hunt down a copy and see what its like these days

 

[Northyorksblade]

It has gone a bit 'factual' as opposed to anecdotes and humourous. Must be hard to fill it each querter with new stuff.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

No this is the point, the Newsstand magazines etc are .PDF's i'm not saying that you would download a PDF, but that appears to be the format of the normal magazines available.

If it went on Newstand or the inferior mobile platforms such as Android then you can't email the document.

They are not PDF's. Under the hood, they are actually apps. What gives you the impression they are PDF's?

 

[grafikhaus]

A couple of the big clubs already do that but they have the global fan base to make it worth while.

I think they do it as a web based thing which requires log in information to view the programme. If it was just a downloadable PDF then it'd be 'shared'.

O Publishing do our programmes and are available in print or digital format for certain home matches (Doncaster, Oldham, Walsall, Portsmouth, Port Vale, Tranmere, Scunthorpe, Hartlepool (the commemorative 100-pager, £4), Yeovil, Coventry & Colchester.

All, apart from the Hartlepool are £3 (just select 'Digital' under media format) although some are out of stock.

I haven't got one in digital format yet, but imagine video clips can be embedded in pages, hyperlinks added to relevant text etc.

 

[grafikhaus]

Update on that^^^.

Just ordered a digital copy and will see about uploading it (for your non-copyright infringement purposes, of course...)

 

[SwissBlade]

They are not PDF's. Under the hood, they are actually apps. What gives you the impression they are PDF's?

Ah ok, the format just looked like a PDF. Thought I'd seen it somewhere when I was messing with my iPad.

 

[blade too long]

should see if Kindle can sort it , they can charge for anything

the times is available by subscription , surely another magazine . prog. can be sorted

 

[SwissBlade]

grafikhaus if only I'd looked further than just one programme from the start of the season, I'd have seen that the digital format is available for the later programmes!

I'm a happy expat blade, downloaded the Colchester match programme on the iPad, saved to iBooks and this one is a PDF

Thanks grafikhaus you're a star!

 

[Bedrock Blade]

It wouldn't be the same reading an old pdf whilst sat on the bog.

 

[Samantha]

Where can I get it? not seen it in years, decades even

According to the December one - you can buy from: the Fat Cat (Alma St), TMK Supermarket (formerly Costcutter - Winchester Rd, Fulwood), The Cricketers. Oh and somewhere and Leeds!

Also available to borrow from Local Studies Library (Central Library) plus a few other places.

There was one at Colchester match and last one is due out Apr 13th at Swindon match.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

According to the December one - you can buy from: the Fat Cat (Alma St), TMK Supermarket (formerly Costcutter - Winchester Rd, Fulwood), The Cricketers. Oh and somewhere and Leeds!

Also available to borrow from Local Studies Library (Central Library) plus a few other places.

There was one at Colchester match and last one is due out Apr 13th at Swindon match.

Or here for the back catalogue:-

http://www.thebladesonline.com/thebladesonline/flashing-blade/

 

[grafikhaus]

grafikhaus if only I'd looked further than just one programme from the start of the season, I'd have seen that the digital format is available for the later programmes!

I'm a happy expat blade, downloaded the Colchester match programme on the iPad, saved to iBooks and this one is a PDF

Thanks grafikhaus you're a star!

I ordered a 'digital' version of the Portsmouth programme. It's only a bog-standard .pdf and I feel it could be improved. It has the odd hyperlink but video clips etc. can be embedded in .pdf's to add value over owning a printed version.

That's why I ordered this, to have a play around with it maybe turn it into a 'flipping book' etc.. Unfortunately, it's been completely protected, preventing any editing, copying or downloading.

 

[alcoblade]

No not for free. I'd pay £2 for an electronic copy

Would it need to be a massive fan base to make it worth while? They're doing a hard copy print run anyway, its just a matter of converting to .PDF isn't it?

Newstand on iPad doesn't allow sharing so i'm sure there is a simple way to do this

I suspect you'd get a couple of subscriptions, and thousands of emails with attachments floating around.


UTB