The Athletic

[McBain]

Been following this a while and it's starting to take a bit of shape now

 

https://www.buzzfeed.com/markdistefano/athletic-hiring-spree

 

Seems like a big shift in how football will be reported. Would you pay?¥

[Hightown Phil]

I don't see how it will work. The wages they're paying are absolutely staggering.

[muleskinner]

8 quid a month isnt it?

[Jarg Armani]

  On 17/07/2019 at 18:56, Hightown Phil said:

I don't see how it will work. The wages they're paying are absolutely staggering.

Who is backing it?

[Atticus Finch]

Not sure if enough people will sign up. Hugely reliant on personal followings of journalists - is that even a thing though? Does someone change which newspaper they read because a journalist changed jobs? Seems unlikely

[Gethin]

They’re a bit late to this for football over here aren’t they? Most teams have an “Anfield Wrap” that’s giving in depth coverage of their team.

 

 

If people are already subscribing to one of those then are they going to fork out for an unproven Yank website - even with who they’ve recruited? Doubt it.

[Hightown Phil]

  On 17/07/2019 at 19:18, Jarg Armani said:

Who is backing it?

It’s an expansion from America. So it’s an expansion really.

 

Heard a funny rumour that they haven’t got accreditation.

Edited July 17, 2019 by Hightown Phil

[Maldini]

  On 17/07/2019 at 18:56, Hightown Phil said:

I don't see how it will work. The wages they're paying are absolutely staggering.

 

What kind of ball park are we talking?

[Hightown Phil]

  On 17/07/2019 at 21:35, Maldini said:

What kind of ball park are we talking?

They’re trebling people’s wages and the editor is on £300k.

Edited July 17, 2019 by Hightown Phil

[jimmylibel]

Wasn’t there a suggestion some of the journos were being offered 4 times their current salaries?

 

The term ‘multiples’ of their current wages was certainly used.

[Maldini]

Wow, that's insane, I've just been reading about them, it's all very start-uppy, they've got over $70m in VC funding. I'm not sure I see them clearing enough revenue in England to get near covering their costs. Big risk for those going there. It seems to be going well in the states but are they really going to get 250k-500k subscribers from their PL coverage?

[Gethin]

I guess they’re banking on most of them being from overseas

[Hightown Phil]

Nah. It’s very much being targeted at the UK.

[Gethin]

  On 17/07/2019 at 22:29, Hightown Phil said:

Nah. It’s very much being targeted at the UK.

Then doing the mental maths, I can’t see how they can pay those wages and make money

[Barnesy_10]

With the popularity of the Premier league worldwide am sure there will be a large amount of interest..

 

Plus existing subscribers in the US might have to pay a bit extra for the PL content as a bonus?

[jonnyc]

I subscribed a few weeks ago. Got a deal for a year's sub (think it was 30 dollars). It was much cheaper at the time to subscribe in dollars than pounds.

 

It's pretty good so far. I am pretty interested in NFL and NBA (to a point) and the coverage is very good. Early days on the "soccer" coverage.

[John am Rhein]

journalists are no longer necessary

[Maldini]

  On 18/07/2019 at 20:08, John am Rhein said:

journalists are no longer necessary

 

Vladimir am Rhein

[John am Rhein]

  On 18/07/2019 at 20:52, Maldini said:

Vladimir am Rhein

Vladimir Ilyich am Rhein/Corrib

[McBain]

Looks like it's all launched today according to James Pearce's Twitter

[Stevie H]

  On 05/08/2019 at 06:42, McBain said:

Looks like it's all launched today according to James Pearce's Twitter

 

According to everyone's Twitter. They seem to have just about every writer writing for them in a full-time capacity. And they're asking people to subscribe without having seen any of the content yet, which is pretty ambitious. Wish them luck, there's some very likable people involved, but it seems quite a punt.

[Hightown Phil]

  On 05/08/2019 at 07:10, Stevie H said:

According to everyone's Twitter. They seem to have just about every writer writing for them in a full-time capacity. And they're asking people to subscribe without having seen any of the content yet, which is pretty ambitious. Wish them luck, there's some very likable people involved, but it seems quite a punt.

Can have a free trial at the minute it appears.

[Stevie H]

  On 05/08/2019 at 07:20, Hightown Phil said:

Can have a free trial at the minute it appears.

 

Ah yeah. Two pound fifty a month is fair enough I guess. Though it doesn't specify how much content or how many articles you get for that. Anyway, it's a different approach and I assume independent of the corporate press so good luck to them.

[Bailo]

  On 05/08/2019 at 07:26, Stevie H said:

Ah yeah. Two pound fifty a month is fair enough I guess. Though it doesn't specify how much content or how many articles you get for that. Anyway, it's a different approach and I assume independent of the corporate press so good luck to them.

2.50 a month for the first year apparently.

[kop205]

  On 05/08/2019 at 07:10, Stevie H said:

 there's some very likable people involved

 

And Daniel Taylor.