This is the only remaining subscription I have to paid sport, meaning all consumption of broadcast sport in 2020 will be via free-to-air television, unless I'm at a venue where a subscription broadcast exists.
The reason for cancelling the subscription is to run an "experiment" - that is, to see if and how my consumption behaviours and motivations change without having any access to a paid service.
Moreover, this experiment is to try and replicate the viewing conditions of those less fortunate, who can't afford a paid subscription, and solely rely on free-to-air television to access sports content.
The main "research" questions will be:
- Will I become more motivated to pirate games or sports that are not available on free-to-air?
- Will I become motivated to attend pubs and clubs where games only available on pay-TV are available?
- How will free-to-air consumption affect the sports watching experience, such as the reduction in fidelity when games are on an SD channel, or interrupted by commercials? Conversely, will it be improved by the loss of lag? (i.e., texting with Benny D during games and after goals will become normal again!)
- How will free-to-air consumption affect my information gathering process (i.e., by being restricted to free-to-air panel shows and supplemental content)?
- How will my engagement with user interfaces change, such as the EPG on the television, and the FTV app on the tablet at home?
- Will 'legal' alternative routes to content be identified and exploited? (For example, a few years ago, I 'tricked' the FTV app into thinking I was in Victoria, thereby accessing a VFL game that was not being shown at that time in NSW, and will I return to the Watch AFL/VPN combo to access games?)
- Will I be motivated to get away from the television altogether, or increase the amount of video games I play, as a result of watching, not only less AFL, but less sport overall?
- Will it increase my consumption of content online or on social media, where highlights and match packages may also be found from the games that are not available on free-to-air?
A real downside to the experiment will be the end of some of my favourite shows on Fox Footy, such as AFL 360, Bounce, and The Beep Test. These shows, especially AFL360 are at the core of my fandom, as they are highly relevant and up-to-date news programs.
Another downside is that by no longer supporting the broadcaster who buys the rights to AFLW, I am in effect withdrawing some support from that particular league.
I'll also be without many other sports that I enjoy on pat-TV throughout the year, such as golf, Formula 1, and international cricket.
Another potential negative is the increase in commercials being watched. This is already being realised over the last few weeks. I've been watching most of my cricket and NFL via Channel 7, which obviously has many commercials. What is also an issue is that some sports, such as the NFL, are shown almost exclusively on 7mate, which is only available in SD at the moment. I think I read somewhere that 7mate may be switching to HD this year, but it certainly is a lesser experience watching spectacular games like the NFL in SD.
As a result of watching cricket mainly on Channel 7 already, I've noticed I'm already tending to watch a lot more news, such as the Channel 7 6pm bulletin, and local ads and updates.
I'm also having to explore and familiarise myself with what sports content is available already on free-to-air, such as the NBL and NBA games on SBS Viceland, tennis on Channel 9, and motorsport on Channel 10.
A benefit is that there is no immediate need for me to consider getting a Chomecast Ultra. This device is needed to stream Kayo from the iPad without the buffering issues and lag experienced with a standard Chromecast. Now, most content will be watched via terrestrial antenna reception, or streamed via an FTA app when available, which in the past has not been subject to the same degrees of buffering and lagging.
Another upside is the cost savings that will be made. $25 per month will not be spent on Kayo as a result of ending the subscription.
The downsides would appear to outweigh the positives at the moment, but I think this is the only legitimate way I can try to understand or experience what it is like to be an AFL fan without pay-TV.
This is also the end of the login-sharing arrangement I have with Joey F, as he had given me the login credentials for Netflix while I gave him my Foxtel/Kayo login details. However, I have tried to compensate for this my giving him my details for Amazon Prime Video, although this service does not have the same amount or quality of content that Netflix does.
The subscription is paid up until the 26th of January, meaning there is a small amount of time to watch some cricket and other sports that may not be available on free-to-air, but the subscription will be over by the time the AFLW season starts on February 7th.
I imagine this will only be a 12-month (or less) proposition, and should Kayo still have the rights to the AFL in 2021, I see no reason to not be on the service, especially if the shoulder programming such as AFL360 still exists on the platform, and provided I can afford it.
I'm also acutely aware that simply switching off Kayo is in no way a fair reflection of what life is like for those who are unable to afford the service as a matter of circumstance - I live a relatively comfortable lower middle-class lifestyle, and this 'experiment' can in no way replicate the structural and socioeconomic issues those in less affluent classes experience, and the outcomes resulting from those issues.
It should be an interesting little period coming up, and I look forward to seeing the changes, while also being apprehensive about the potential loss in content that will be experienced.
😬😬😬
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