SPL clubs consider weekly magazine instead of programmes?

[Tynie Topics]

"A recent newspaper report had indicated that a number of SPL clubs were considering moving away from the Matchday Programme to produce a standard magazine across the division with a couple of pages left for individual team use.

It is not a new idea with Litster saying: “This topic comes up with just about as much regularity as summer football and appears when people have forgotten the reasons why it was rejected in the past. It usually surfaces every five to ten years and it is not something I would be in favour of but being a football programme collector, you would expect me to say that.

“Sales of programmes are down just now which is the same for any discretional purchase during difficult financial times and the same pattern is being seen in England. Clubs are quite right to look to see if their Matchday Programmes can be made to work or at least break even by either reducing costs or selling more.”

Litster explained the pros and cons by saying: “National advertising may initially generate a higher return but I have serious reservations about fans continuing to buy such a magazine throughout the season. The model that has centrally produced copy with a little added local flavour will probably go the same way as all Scottish football magazines have done in the past because fans only want to read about their own club and players.”

Local programmes can therefore outshine a central one with Litster saying: “Programmes can generate commercial income for clubs where basically local businesses make a donation to the club in return for programme advertising and even a trackside board. The clubs could well lose out on that with a central programme. The income derived from player sponsorship can also be quite considerable, and that is likely to be lost in a national programme. Sponsors won’t be happy if their contribution is restricted to a mention on a website.

“It would be hard to make a centrally produced programme viable and clubs in my opinion should be working on a basic model where programme sales equal the costs of producing the programme and they keep the revenue they generate from the adverts they themselves source.”

Litster expects the Matchday Programme to continue despite cutbacks at clubs as he explained: “A large number of fans and programme collectors are still very keen on them and for clubs, it is a good source of revenue through advertising.”

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[sharrowblade]

Rugby League tried this a couple of years ago with the 'Game on' magazine, which was introduced to replace the Clubs matchday programme. It was available to the Championship and League 1 one sides.

The idea was sold on the fact that Clubs would cut costs by paying into one central pot, and not be left with expensive surplus printing expenses,

but the bottom line is that it doesn't work.

I don't always with Mr Litster but he's spot on with this one with the many points he brought up.

I stopped buying ours, because as a programme collector I felt ' we had lost our identity'.

Supporters aren't too keen to shell out £2.50 or whatever for one page about their team.

Many want to read about the reserves, the youth team, past encounters, the stats etc, etc.

Needless to say, it lasted barely two seasons, thankfully normal service has now resumed.

SB

[Dodge]

I'd love to know the sales projections in Parkhead with Kyle Lafferty on the front page (or Scott Brown in Ibrox etc etc)

[WileBrownAstle]

I agree with the last post, should just keep the programmes.
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