The EFL has confirmed that matches played with traditional 3pm kick-offs on Saturday afternoons will not be streamed live on iFollow in the UK during the season ahead, however, midweek games will be available.

Last season, due to the pandemic and fans not being able to attend fixtures, all matches were streamed live on iFollow.

The EFL has issued a guide for the season ahead with the arrangements in League One returning to the situation prior to Covid.

"League One
"All midweek matches, both home and away, can be shown live on iFollow. No games will be streamed live in the UK which kick-off between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on Saturdays, including international weekends.

EFL Trophy
Ties are available to watch live on iFollow, home and away except the semi-finals and final.

Carabao Cup
Matches are not available for streaming domestically or internationally.

FA Cup
To be confirmed by the Football Association.

International viewers
All League One and EFL Trophy matches whether home and away, weekend or midweek are eligible for international streaming with the exception of any game shown live in the UK on Sky Sports or via an international broadcaster.

Sky games
Games shown live on Sky will not be streamed live in the UK.

Match passes in both the UK and internationally are priced at £10 per game.

Photo: Matchday Images

Portman51 added 14:09 - Aug 3 No surprise, but unfortunate for those who are still unwilling to be part of large crowds while the Covid problem persists. I had hoped season ticket holders would have the option of using their ticket either for a stream or at the gate.
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singtown added 14:24 - Aug 3 “International viewers All League One and EFL Trophy matches whether home and away, weekend or midweek are eligible for international streaming with the exception of any game shown live in the UK on Sky Sports or via an international broadcaster.” I've been with iFollow for the past few yrs, they should allow ALL games to be streamed for international viewers as it takes extra effort just to support Town (a 3pm game = 10/11pm game due time difference). More challenging for midweek games (a 8pm game = 3/4am game) Singapore

7

StringerBell added 14:40 - Aug 3 Victor Papa November
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ipswich134 added 14:47 - Aug 3 I am in Singapore too !I use ifolllow also!
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brendenward35 added 15:00 - Aug 3 Question is will they be streamed on a different channel to ifollow on Saturday wonder if anyone is taking up the Saturday matches option so they can get broadcast.
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Spanishblueblood added 15:16 - Aug 3 Stringerbell, that is the obvious solution👍🏼
2

MickMillsTash added 15:33 - Aug 3 The ticket office seems to be a bit of a mess at the moment We might all need to watch on I follow
2

Europablue added 15:37 - Aug 3 Portman51 The whole point is to protect revenue for the club, so it makes no sense not to allow season-ticket holders the option to watch on TV when they will be broadcasting the games for fans living abroad. You could always use a VPN to watch, but then you'd have to buy a match pass every time.
0

featherhead added 15:42 - Aug 3 Great shame. Many of us , for numerous reasons, are not able to get to live matches. iFollow is our only means of watching live. Maybe Amazon or discovery + , will see a commercial opportunity ?
2

ScottCandage added 16:09 - Aug 3 Blackout regions could help. I know we've done this in the US for years (not sure in UK). For example, use the MLB.tv app for baseball. If I live in the Boston area, for example, and I buy the complete, show me every damn game you can MLB.tv package (which I do and have for 12 years), I WON'T be able to see the Red Sox, because MLB wants you to either a) go to Fenway Park or b) watch the game on the Red Sox tv network (B obviously doesn't apply to Ipswich). It COULD be arranged that, for example, Suffolk and Norfolk IP addresses can't watch ITFC matches on iFollow, but the rest of the universe can. This way, you can protect the gate and STILL have a very good revenue stream from people who would NEVER be able to get to Portman Road.

2

ArnieM added 16:20 - Aug 3 I think they've missed a trick here tbh . My 92 ur old uncle was an avid Town for more than 60 yrs but since his wife died and he's got older , going down to PRbid not an option for him now. He would have LOVED to watch his team on ifollow ( in fact I'd literally just set him up on his iPad , only to get home and see this article !! He listens to Suffolk Radio on match days …. So guess he'll have to make do with midweek games. Anyone know what the tariff is to watch ifollow games? Is it pay per match or a monthly subscription?

2

Tractor_Boy_in_HK added 16:26 - Aug 3 Well that sucks...here in Asia the evening mid-week matches are just too late to watch. Seems they will miss out on some serious revenue from the international crowd, not to mention those in the UK who cannot attend the matches for one reason or another. I was literally going to buy my season package today, and now very glad I didn't.
1

BurleysGloryDays added 16:27 - Aug 3 I think the carpet blackout is a bad idea personally. At worst it should've been say, half of the games made available to see if it truly impacted crowd numbers. Being a fan extends to much more than presence at the stadium, important as that is. Man U has hundreds of millions of fans. Only a fraction will ever go to Old Trafford...
1

LonE17Blue added 16:51 - Aug 3 Just get rid of Ifollow, create our own IPSWICH TOWN TV, cut out the middle man. There are a lot of supporters who are not based in Suffolk that are gutted right now. A new solution needs to be found around this (since ifollow has let us down), and the club should not just focus on supporters who are able to attend Portman Rd. Most of us not living in the area would attend if we could.

4

Karlosfandangal added 17:03 - Aug 3 I would prefer to watch Town live but Saturday I am at a christening in the morning so will not be able to get there in time so Ifollow would have been an option. Is it a missed opportunity for extra revenue, I understand the reasons as Europablue stated but the same as ArineM my mum is not able to go to games any more and enjoyed watching on iFollow last season (even though it was poor football lol) However there will still be games for her to watch

1

Tractor_Boy_in_HK added 17:45 - Aug 3 "in the UK"...seems us based abroad will still be able to see all the matches!
0

Grigzee added 18:00 - Aug 3 If they are worried about loss of revenue then they should price iFollow at the cost of the cheapest seat as if the person attended, Yes, it would be higher than the £10 during Covid-19 issues but at least it would be an option. I am in South America and subscribe for the year in advance at £140 with a GMT-5 time zone so KO times not really a problem. It would be interesting to know why no Carabao games can be streamed in the iFollow package, obviously a very prestigious competition which they want to keep secret!

1

gosblue added 18:13 - Aug 3 I can understand the EFL protecting the smaller clubs in our league. However, we have sold over 12000 season tickets and were still getting big crowds when we were bottom of the league and MM was turning out his dross. Why don't they leave it up to the individual clubs. We have already seen questionable decisions made by the EFL such as imposing an illegal pay cap while still insisting on very demanding fixture schedules. Surely you can't have both.

0

ibisblue added 19:30 - Aug 3 Likewise... really disappointing, and SO GLAD I DIDNT buy the package, - here in India, it was a great bonus to watch last season (despite the disappointments), and of course we cant even get online commentary outside Suffolk (isnt that bonkers!).. so my interest in the club will undoubtedly wane somewhat this season (well perhaps not, I'm hooked after 50 years!)... but agree with some previous posts, that the club (and EFL) is seriously missing out on engaging fans here... great pity!

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ibisblue added 19:34 - Aug 3 Also... midweek games are just SO late in the night here in Asia, that although I might watch more than I should as part of a monthly package... I'm not (or very rarely) going to be paying for individual games ...
0

Blueknight85 added 19:35 - Aug 3 Back to illegal streams it is then. A shame as i paid for every game last season..
1

algarvefan added 22:43 - Aug 3 Hang on, those of you who are abroad, if you read the article it says the service is returning to as it was before Covid and Saturday games will not be shown live ''in the UK.'' This obviously needs clarification, but as I read it, we ex-pats will still be able to view live abroad. I hope so as I have just re-newed my season pass. I have just emailed the EFL and will let you know their official response.

0

cooper442 added 22:47 - Aug 3 So the fact that a lot of clubs in Division 1 have small away ticket allocations, Cambridge as an example, lots of people will miss out on watching the games .shame
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pg888 added 23:01 - Aug 3 To everyone saying the can't watch games...Use Google it's not difficult to work around it
-1

Fat_Boy_Tim added 08:42 - Aug 4 You can use a VPN or smart DNS (I use Nord VPN to watch iPlayer, ITV Hub etc from France) I just need to switch it off to use Ifollow. It has apps in google playstore and Apple App Store (I'm not on commission here, other VPN services are available!). ArnieM download it onto your uncle's iPad then log it into somewhere like France and then get an Ifollow season ticket. Should show all the games bar the Sky ones. Bear in mind, he needs to be logged into the VPN while he is streaming and it's not free (something like £7 a month)

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