Are Manchester City getting ready to launch a TV channel?

This week, a Manchester City fan came across a channel on an electronic satellite programme guide, which suggested Channel 286 had been set aside for a Man City TV Channel, although no content could be accessed.

The channel was located through a streaming box but it seemed clear the channel bandwidth had been clearly identified and labelled as Manchester City.

The discovery prompted much debate on social media as fans discussed this potentially exciting development.

Many Manchester City fans spent time searching for the channel across more standard TV devices such as Freeview, Virgin and Sky but have so far been unable to unearth the channel.

However the debate and interest generated by the possibility suggests there is a huge demand amongst fans for a dedicated TV channel.

To date Manchester City has been one of the most rapidly growing fan-bases in world football and the club have lead a free to air media strategy based around a YouTube channel.

Frequent posts to YouTube and its 1 million subscribers were cross marketed through Instagram and Twitter accounts – backed up by individual player accounts and a range of official club accounts.

There has also been a significant growth in fan TV as well and currently there are several good quality options available on YouTube such as Ian Cheeseman, ManCity Fan TV and Esteemed Kompany.

The growth in these also seems to suggest there are high levels of fan interest in watching City based content.

The fan TV has benefited from running longer programmes in contrast to the shorter pieces available on Man City Official YouTube.

Clearly the impending Man City ‘All or Nothing’ Amazon Prime TV series set to debut on August 17 will also serve to create demand, potentially creating interest in longer content.

Whilst the existing Man City strategy has clearly delivered a wide number of subscribers from across the world, who have taken advantage of streaming the short content on demand, it is somewhat removed from having a dedicated TV channel for the club.

Manchester City fans are aware of the TV channels run by rival clubs offering dedicated unique coverage at a pay per view premium price – in effect creating a further club revenue stream.

Most Man City fans however hope to see the club deliver an innovative and unique approach to keep any TV channels free to air. They want it available to either to existing Cityzens subscribers or all fans.

Fans seem clear that having free access to further grow and develop the brand, allowing a platform for longer content and more interactive access for fans, would be an exciting addition to the new season.

Hopefully eagle eyed fans have accidentally stumbled upon an exciting development for the club as certainly right now seems like a great opportunity to build upon the successes of the centurions last season.

The excitement of having Pep Guardiola as manager, and the interest generated by the soon to be shown Amazon TV series, intensifies the anticipation ahead of what might develop.