Arsenal Fan TV forced into rebrand by club
Arsenal have forced controversial fan channel Arsenal Fan TV to change their name as they feared it was having a negative impact on the club’s image.
The YouTube channel will now be known as ‘AFTV’, after a cease and desist letter was sent by the club due to the use of Arsenal branding on all their social media channels.
Arsenal Fan TV had become notorious for their post-game reaction videos, with fans often going on expletive-led rants at the side’s performances and former manager Arsene Wenger.
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Around 820,000 people subscribe to the channel, which has had 487.5m views worldwide, leaving Arsenal to worry about the impact it had on the club.
A meeting between club officials and AFTV saw them come to a conclusion that a change in name was needed, with the channel’s branding on Twitter and Instagram changed from @ArsenalFanTV to @AFTVMedia.
The channel came in for criticism from Spanish full-back Hector Bellerin earlier this year and is often the cause for much mockery from opposition fans.
It was created by Arsenal fan Robbie Lyle and has regular guests such as Claude, Ty, Mr DT and Troopz.
“I don’t think there are players that actually go on the internet to watch ArsenalFanTV,” Bellerin said.
It does sometimes pop up in your timeline. I see it sometimes. I have friends who say, ‘oh, have you heard what that guy on ArsenalFanTV [said]?’
“It’s so wrong for someone who claims to be a fan and their success is fed off a failure. How can that be a fan?
“I think they’re just people hustling, trying to make money their way, which everyone is entitled to do.
“But for us players, it doesn’t affect us. If people want to have fun with it, then have fun.
“For us, when you grow, you realise what is important to you to listen to and what not to take.
“If a coach comes to me and tells me that I’ve done something bad or wrong, I’m going to take that advice.
“If someone from ArsenalFanTV says this guy needs to do this or that, I’m not going to listen to him.
“They’re entitled to their opinion and the way they want to do it. If people find it funny, then go watch it.”
