Former Aston Villa star Gabby Agbonlahor has expressed his frustration with the number of subscriptions required to watch football matches. The footballer’s rant came after he was unable to watch Scotland’s 2-0 win over Spain, which was broadcast on Viaplay, a subscription-based service that costs £14.99 per month or £11.99 per month on a 12-month contract. Manchester United player Scott McTominay scored two goals against Spain, but many fans were unable to watch the game due to the high cost of subscriptions.
Agbonlahor criticised the increasing number of channels that broadcast football matches and the high cost of subscriptions. He said that he could not keep up with the number of channels available, including Viaplay, BT Sport (£30 per month), Sky Sports (£24 per month), and Amazon (£9 per month). He added that he was not willing to sign up for another channel just to watch one game.
Many fans agreed with Agbonlahor’s comments, with one fan stating that the situation would only get worse when other broadcasters such as Dazn, Disney, and Netflix get involved in TV rights contracts. Another fan said that they had never heard of Viaplay until the night of the game, while a third fan praised Agbonlahor for addressing a common grievance among football fans.
A fourth fan tweeted that it was ridiculous to spend over £100 per month to watch football, and a fifth fan added that football used to be available on regular television channels, and broadcasters should not be surprised if people refuse to pay for multiple subscriptions.
The high cost of subscriptions has been a growing issue for football fans in recent years. As more broadcasters acquire TV rights for football matches, fans are required to subscribe to multiple channels to watch their favourite teams play. This has led to frustration among fans who feel that they are being priced out of watching football matches.
The issue has also been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to the closure of stadiums and the suspension of live matches. With fans unable to attend matches in person, many have turned to subscription-based services to watch games from home. However, the high cost of subscriptions has made it difficult for some fans to access matches.
In response to these concerns, some broadcasters have introduced more affordable subscription plans. For example, Sky Sports now offers a “Day Pass” for £9.99, which allows fans to watch matches for 24 hours. Similarly, BT Sport offers a “Monthly Pass” for £25, which provides access to all BT Sport channels for one month.
However, these measures have not been enough to address the underlying issue of high subscription costs. As more broadcasters enter the market and acquire TV rights for football matches, fans may be required to subscribe to even more channels in the future. This could lead to a situation where only the wealthiest fans are able to watch matches, while others are left behind.
In conclusion, Gabby Agbonlahor’s comments highlight a growing concern among football fans about the high cost of subscriptions required to watch matches. While some broadcasters have introduced more affordable subscription plans, this may not be enough to address the underlying issue. As more broadcasters enter the market, fans may be required to subscribe to even more channels in the future, which could lead to a situation where only the wealthiest fans are able to watch matches.