Off The Ball has announced a new subscription model for the majority of its online content.
The radio material will continue to be available free to air via Newstalk, as has always been the case but there will be a new model for the online content including the extensive range of podcasts, YouTube material and more.
There has been a significant investment in its own technology platform over the last 12 months, and the move is the latest in the new media world of subscription based content.
Second Captains, born out of the Off The Ball studios, have created a market for intelligent commentary that demands a monthly payment, theirs is through Patreon.
The 42.ie has also now moved towards a subscription model with a fee of €7.99 a month for access to all content including podcasts.
Knowing the listeners better will be a key way of enhancing loyalty and will also play into the growing demand for live events that Off The Ball has successfully driven over recent years.
At any given moment Off The Ball has around 20 active series going in Podcast form, from the flagship OTB Rugby and Football shows to more niche products.
It successfully launched its own first subscription only podcast in Golf Weekly in March 2021, which has proven very popular with Irish golf fans.
One advantage it will have over Second Captains is being available on major platforms such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
A single payment of €9.99 a month will give listeners access to all the podcast content as well as bonus material, on demand coverage and features, and pre-sale access to events.
“This move is about growing our on demand offering and giving sports fans more of the content they love when they want it”, said Ger Gilroy, MD of Off the Ball.
“So if you’re a rugby fan, or a soccer fan, or GAA or whatever – you know the great work that we put out every week. We want to be able to grow that into the future, and to develop our offering.”
“To do that we need to continue to invest in new broadcasting talent, better platforms, big names and put on more live shows.”
The service launches today and is the product of extensive listener research. Pricing in the consumer market is vital, with regular recurring payments needing to come in just under the point at which it becomes something fans have to think twice about.
The Sport for Business Podcast will be launching a Media series in the coming weeks and this is clearly one of the areas, of getting fans and consumers to pay for content, that will be to the fore.
