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THE Heathcote District Football-Netball League has put a "pay per view" proposal to its clubs if a 2020 season goes ahead without crowds being allowed.
Under the proposal the league would utilise the Supayou Live Sport Streaming service to stream all four senior football games live on a Saturday afternoon, with those wanting to watch paying to do so, similar to paying at the gate.
The league believes the pay per view live streaming option would have two main benefits for clubs and supporters.
Firstly, if crowds aren't allowed to attend games due to the coronavirus pandemic mass gathering restrictions it will offer the chance for supporters to still watch their team
And secondly, with the money generated from the fee to watch the game to go to the home club, it would provide an opportunity for clubs to still receive a form of match-day income.
"What we're looking at if we can play this year, but without any crowds, is a system where people could log in, pay a yet-to-be determined minimum fee with their credit card and be able to watch their team on a live streamed game," HDFNL chairman Peter Cole said on Friday.
"If the fee was in the $5 to $7 mark and you get 400 to 500 people watching a game there's the chance for clubs to still generate some match-day income this year.
"On the figures we've got, a run-of-the-mill home game for a club on a Saturday generates a gate of $4000 to $6000, which is effectively matched in terms of the food and drink takings as well.
"So what we're trying to do for the clubs is if they aren't going to have any supporters at the ground and they lose that match-day income is try to get some cost effectiveness back for them, particularly in regards to the salary cap.
What we're trying to do for the clubs is if they aren't going to have any supporters at the ground and they lose that match-day income is try to get some cost effectiveness back for them
- HDFNL chairman Peter Cole
"At the moment we've asked our clubs to get feedback from their members regarding this proposal if there are to be no crowds, so that's where we're at with it."
Meanwhile, Cole says the HDFNL is supporting the two-stage recommendations by the AFL for community leagues to slash their salary caps this year.
Under the AFL recommendations, the HDFNL salary cap would be initially cut in half from $130,000 to $65,000, with a further pro rata deduction based on how much of a season is played.
If there is just half-a-season played whereby each club would play eight home and away games, the salary cap would be further reduced to $32,500 at an average of $4062 per week.
"Our recommendation to AFLCV is we support what has been proposed by the AFL in regards to the salary cap reduction," Cole said.
"If we can get 500 people to pay - 250 from each club - $5 to $7 for a live streamed game, that would go a long way to helping the home club cover their salary cap for the day."
The pay per view live streaming proposal is among a HDFNL club survey, with questions also relating to: finals format, latest date the grand final should be played; playing into October; are clubs prepared to play without crowds; and how much lead-in time for a season would be required.
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