Newstalk: Off The Ball

Felexicon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121615895#Comment_121615895

She was on for the paper review. Not a presenter.

Think they said the MD of Teneo

Butson

Hurling Pod back today.

Free 30 mins one every Monday, another on a Thursday but have to be a subscriber to get that.

leath_dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121622303#Comment_121622303

More and more free content becoming available. Is this an admission that their original subscription model was/is failing?

Murdoc90

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121622323#Comment_121622323

Most of their content is free, live on the radio, morning show is free live on the app/youtube. It's normal to give some paywalled pods out for free most pods do this.

Danny Drier

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121622323#Comment_121622323

It’s a disaster. Boohig and Gilroy are pissing into each others cornflakes over it

Zymurgist

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121624836#Comment_121624836

What gives you that impression re Gilroy and Boohig? I catch a few segments a week of the breakfast show on YouTube and they seem to be getting along just fine. Did something happen between them?

SaoPaulo41

Fiona hayes is a tough listen on Wednesday night rugby , just states obviois no real insights, laughs at nothing and can't see to catch her breath when talking

fire_man

Ya not sure what she adds tbh.

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121631506#Comment_121631506

Sounds like nearly all rugby pundits so

Ol' Donie

What's the craic with the Maradona song at the end?

Twas like the good old days.

left_hander

I was talking to somebody involved in Sports Marketing world who said the rumour (and he stressed he didn't know) is that the subscription model is an unmitigated disaster for them. He said it could be hearsay though as he knows some of them lads but doesn't ask about it. So again, "man on internet said" alert from myself.

But he also said he knows nobody who has signed up, we were talking about the subscription model and I was saying I'd probably pay €3 a month for 20 podcasts - mainly because I have plenty of other podcasts to listen to on a variety of topics so I'm not going to pay for a load of scutter I don't want to listen to.

I'd probably find a max of 5 per week that I'd be bothered listening to - Slight Tangent, Sunday Papers, Newsround (when Joe is on only) another couple of episodes here and there. The rest of the content I just don't listen to and won't pay for no matter what.

Assuming it is true that it has been a disaster, the big thing for them now is do they admit the error and change something or double down on it and hope for more subscriptions? I think if they haven't got the subscribers 6 months in, you've lost them. They made a grave error going in at such a high price point for me. I think Colm Parkinson pushed his price up by €1 a month some time back but he's got the subscribers in the door at that stage.

Maybe they are doing great and if they are, well done and good luck to them!

Butson

I was a heavy Off the Ball consumer - have it on in the evening driving or cooking (still get that for free) but mostly I had it on while working from home, interviews / catch up that was free on youtube.

It wasn't until they started charging for it that I realised a lot of it was just background noise. Nice to listen to when doing something else, but to pay €10 a month for....just not there.

I think the Parkinson angle is probably the best - pay a fee per month for something you are really interested in - and get lots of that content per week.

Danny Drier

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121632994#Comment_121632994

oh it’s a complete disaster alright. Heard that from more than one source

Danye

I hope they are doing well, as the its great to see people doing well and, while not knowing the lads, they always came across as decent.

But when I heard they were putting a lot of their content behind a paywall I found it a strange move. There's so much good content out there from all over the world, for free. Even within Ireland there are decent free pods. I'm not familiar with Second Captains, but from what I can gather, they struck first with a subscription service. Ireland is such a small market.

On a side note - Who owns OTB? Is it Gers baby exclusively? Or would Nathan & Joe be involved?

styron

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121634034#Comment_121634034

Owned by Bauer since they bought the rest of O'Brien's Communicorp in 2021:

https://bauermedia.ie/our-brands/otb-sports/

HBC08

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121634034#Comment_121634034

I used to like the lads and their shows.

I think they went too political and started giving one sided views on that.This highlighted a lot of fairly blatant hypocrisy aswell.When you add in the arrogance in both going in at a price poInt of double their competitors and the way that was communicated they start to be a lot less likeable.

Like any of my friends who used to listen ive no intention of subscribing.

Already subscribe to a few pods and there's an almost endless amount of free content,a lot of it better than the majority of OTB.

left_hander

I honestly think if they hadn't got Ger in full "give me your money" mode, and gone in at €5 a month they could have had something. The way he delivered it was so smug, arrogant, "its only a tenner a month, less than a coffee a week" attitude just got my back up anyway.

But we're now gone full circle on that discussion and the ship has sailed.

Interestingly, the difference in the show when Joe presents Mon-Wed, and then when Nathan presents on Thursday is incredible. Its like going from a relaxed confident presenter to a lad you'd expect to be selling wellies at the Ploughing Championships.

dulpit

I listened to the show last night for a bit while driving. I've said this before here, but it's worth restating - how is Richie McCormack allowed broadcast using a potato for a mic? His sound quality is truly awful...

Utopia Parkway

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121631506#Comment_121631506

She's terrible. Before the paywall I couldn't stick listening to Wednesday night rugby because of her.

Utopia Parkway

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121632994#Comment_121632994

The price point was a killer. Had they entered at €5 I think way more punters would have signed up (probably myself included) and you always have scope to increase down the line once you have them in the door. Straight in at €10 just turned so many off straight away. And then the flippant overnight announcement of the whole thing by Gilroy turned even more off.

Now many old listeners have found alternatives and may not come back even if the price was reduced.

ec18

does she still do the red 78?

I stopped listening when they went behind a paywall, there's enough good free rugby content out there and tbh their coverage outside of Gerry Thornley was mediocre

keeponhurling

Why did they announce the paywall thing just the day before? Any tactical reason or something?

Anyways, I like their stuff generally and pay €10 a month. I think it’s worth it, no ads either.

I enjoy the first half hour of the breakfast show, updates me on the main stories and discuss it in an informal way like they’re down the pub. Then it depends on the guests but they do seem to have a big network to call on depending on that week’s news.

(Gaelic) Football Pod is excellent, I must say.

I like OTB for the discussion rather than necessarily a news source. I can understand other posters who said they are overly political and need to wind their necks in sometimes.

Joe’s “address to the nation” type monologue about Vera Pauw was particularly cringeworthy.

McGrath5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121637796#Comment_121637796

Ger’s arrogance really shone through that day, I remember Joe sounded embarrassed for the whole thing.

Danny Drier

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121643131#Comment_121643131

Gilroy is getting some comeuppance now

left_hander

Joe was probably like "eh, Ger I can walk out of here into about 25 jobs paying me just as much. You can try flog this one but your on your own".......

fire_man

Similar to Paul Wallace on Matt Cooper.Boring as hell and his line always terrible.

gluppers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121650681#Comment_121650681

The same Paul Wallace who's wife is producer of the show?

amlinopta

No football updates in the main program for the last three nights, so Brighton game on Monday, Chelsea last night and Liverpool tonight. Only in the news bulletins. Seem to be pre-recording most of the shows at the moment outside of the initial news round up in the first half hour.

Billy Ocean

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121667849#Comment_121667849

Wouldn't blame them if you can record in afternoon or evening instead of 9pm sure its a no brainer.

spakman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121667899#Comment_121667899

Maybe Bauer are only willing them to pay them for standard working hours, minimise number of people who need to work outside those hours.

Danny Drier

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121667913#Comment_121667913

It’s all a bit pathetic

The_Erection_of_Cass

I wonder if the long term plan with the subscription is to take off the ball off NT and run it standalone?

I think the plan could be something like this:

• Have OTB grow enough subs to become profitable on its own.
• Take it off Newstalk and let it do it's own thing similar to Second Captains.
• Start another sports show with a new team/sponsors/advertising on Newstalk in its place or do something like have OTB on for one hour while the other 2 hours are behind the paywall.

Billy Ocean

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121667913#Comment_121667913

Reckon your over thinking this one to be honest its nothing new, might have to record around the schedule of their guests too.

Zymurgist

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121668150#Comment_121668150

I’d agree with this. Very standard on three hour shows that segments would be prerecorded.

Nothing “pathetic” about it, just regular radio production.

left_hander

And to be fair, I would hazard a guess the numbers listening 9-10 are low.

I'd be pre-recording too.

left_hander

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121668056#Comment_121668056

They need the advertising revenue though in that model presumably and that is their main source of income at the moment. Yes they might get show-specific sponsorship but you need the plays to get that in bulk. It would be a high-wire act because they might not get another radio slot. Game On on 2FM never got traction.

Its a lot of production time for not huge gain and a lot of divisions on the income.

If Joe Molloy did a few proper episodes a week of a podcast he could get €5 a month out of a lot of people, work normal hours, etc. The rest of them, nah.

Gusser09

Forget about it at this stage.

Rugby, rugby, rugby and more rugby.

McCormack, McCarthy, Hayes and Gilroy brutal.

Its only a matter of time before it is replaced you would feel.

Billy Ocean

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121673343#Comment_121673343

In the 3 hours tonight wasn't any rugby, all GAA and Soccer.

keeponhurling

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121673343#Comment_121673343

ROG can be a difficult listen.

I don’t doubt his rugby knowledge and expertise , he just never seems to articulate himself very well on OTB. A lot of humming and stuttering before answering any question.

Hard to square it with him being a very successful coach

left_hander

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121673465#Comment_121673465

Yeah I think its a bit unfair to say its all rubbish and will be replaced. While I fundamentally disagree with their paywall and especially with how the message was delivered, a Joe show is still a very good listen and they do cover a wide range of topics. Yes they focus on GAA, rugby and soccer but they are the sports with the greatest interest in this country. I'd be worried if they were covering minority sports in the main but they do occasionally have these too.

The problem I have - 7-10 doesn't always work for me and I'm not willing to pay for it, but that doesn't mean its not a good show with Joe in particular.

Poyndexter

Tonight some woman with Richie McCormack on discussing the NFL and for 20 minutes plus they have been discussing Taylor Swift, the far right, Trump, conspiracy theories, misogyny.... basically everything except the games at the weekend or previewing the Super Bowl. Absolutely pathetic.

bren2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121702028#Comment_121702028

Every sports broadcast is covering the Taylor Swift stuff. It’s not unique to OTB. There’s plenty of time to preview the actual match.

BPKS

There was an excellent piece on Tuesday night with Kieran Shannon about the women's basketball team and their upcoming fixtures against Israel.

Contrast that to the Taylor Swift/NFL topic last night. Ritchie was like a love smitten fan boy talking to the US journalist. He never probed whether it would be a good thing if Taylor used her profound influence to make a statement about what is happening in Gaza. It was just a case of she has challenged the patriarchy and probably doesn't like Trump so she is a hero.

left_hander

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121702028#Comment_121702028

Well the person above wasn't happy about too much rugby. A few pages back it was too much GAA and soccer and not enough given to other types of stories.

Proof that they just can't win. I didn't hear the piece but is it not a good thing to discuss the dangerous rhetoric being peddled by populists such as Trump?

HBC08

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121709860#Comment_121709860

I'm not interested hearing about Trump on an Irish sports show.

left_hander

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121710035#Comment_121710035

Yes because sports and politics don't mix, and never should, right?

I enjoy when they cover social issues and their link to sport, especially one which has potentially such a dangerous implications for us all.

Trump HATES the NFL with a passion because even if he gave them $100bn (which he doesn't have) they would not let him buy a team since he destroyed the USFL from his ownership of the New Jersey Generals I think it was. He pretends he doesn't want to own a team but in reality he knows that even before he saw the populist trend in politics the NFL owners (despite being an equally awful bunch of men) would not let him near a team. He's like the person who says "I didn't want it anyway" when they know something is out of reach. Trump has no problem dishing it out but doesn't like it when its turned back on him (given he has already pledged "Holy War" on her. Classic narcissist behaviour and the embodiment of the dangerous dictator he threatens to be if re-elected. America is sleepwalking in to this.

Here's what I do. When they are discussing a topic I am not interested in (e.g. rugby, tennis, etc) I just switch the channel for a while. It works really well.

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121710035#Comment_121710035

How dare OTB not cater their show for your interests only...

RINO87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121672606#Comment_121672606

Does this mean that all of "The Football Show" is now pre-recorded? That used to be a fantastic listen during the knockout stages of the champions league, when the studio would react live to whatever was happening.

HBC08

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121710166#Comment_121710166

Haha!

Imagine my interests being sports and tuning into a sports pod to hear......shock,horror sports!

Sport and politics are of course inextricably linked.However I don't need to hear nonsense Trump talk listening to OTB

I think more agree than disagree with me on that.Coupled with a few other issues like their price point they have shot themselves in the foot.

dr.kenneth noisewater

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121710524#Comment_121710524

From what I've herd recently they'll prerecord if theres no games on (or just single game) and be live if there are games taking place