Player Video Quality (2)

When I asked earlier in the year if anything could be done about the dreadful quality of the highlights on player you said

The quality level of the output is something controlled by Perform and FLi - and a constant bugbear of ours and many other clubs. The Perform contract ends this summer, and we understand it is also something FLi will be seeking to make improvements to

Having watched Bolton highlights the quality is still dreadful on anything other than the smallest screen. Can you cheer me up with any news that there will be an imminent improvement or did the FL renew the contract without insisting Perform come out of the dark ages?

We had a meeting with FLi this summer, and they have extended the deal with Perform - but crucially we have made it clear (as have FLi) that improvements are expected to:

- Player quality, it should be comparable with YouTube, which is excellent
- Live stream, we want to be able to stream live matches and events via Player (the new Under-21 League does not allow YouTube streaming, as TV rights have been bought by Sky - but we could and would stream via Seagulls Player, if this was available).

FLi want these two key improvements undertaken (ultimately with the aim of offering live streams external of the UK, where overseas TV rights allow) but as yet we have had no indication on timescale (sorry - not in our control). What is clear is that there is now new personnel at FLi, who are moving things in the right direction, but it is small steps (the app, beamback, improved mobile site, the wall) but it is small steps as there is so much to improve, due to what they had inherited.

The key thing is to be patient, as FLi are doing their best to service the needs of 80-odd clubs within the deal, including the Albion - but crucially, working with us, instead of insisting we accept a one-size-fits-all approach.