Singapaore and TV Ratings in Euro

[OZ_HCR32]

Ok, so our first night race is done and dusted. As a spectacle it was cool for about 10 laps then i didn’t really care if it was at night or not. A few extra sparks from the under trays. More then anything it shows Singapore in a great light, as whilst it is a great city and I enjoy working there…like many cities it is really flattered at night.

But the main point of the whole night GP is so that the greater European TV audience can watch the race at a sane hour. So especially with all the pressure on my home Australian GP I wonder if TV audience wise it was a bigger success then this years Malaysian GP? Or how it is going to compare with the upcoming Japanese and Chinese GPs?

[Mr V]

It has to attract more viewer's than say the Australian or Malaysian GP's i'd assume.

The way i see it, the die hard fans (that would be the likes of us ) will watch whatever time it's on, the rest will be made up from those who just happen to catch it once they've remembered that it's on (the Lewis fan's as i like to call them )

[FPV GTHO]

I cant see too much relevant info coming from the TV figures. Youve got Singapore at night, being broadcast into Europe at a "sensible" hour but also at a critical point in the championship. Then theres Malaysia, that despite being broadcast into Europe during the morning, is only at the start of the season and during one of the opening flyaway rounds. Hardly a critical round. Bernie would more than likey use the extra viewers from Singapore being a more critical round than Malaysia and twist that into proof of the night race concept. Not to mention how many extra viewers might have tuned in simply because it was a new circuit.

[BootsOntheSide]

Exactly right GTHO - any increase in viewing figures relative to Malaysia will not be entirely due to the time. Last year's Japanese Grand Prix (new circuit, crucial stage of the championship, genuine unknowns in pace, higher-than-usual likelihood of action) would be a much more representative guide to whether the starting time make a difference. When Bernie's machine pushes out its viewing figures, make sure to interpret them properly.

[ukaskew]

Why not a tea-time start, anyway? I realise Canada always arrives at a very crucial time, but if I remember correctly it's always the one pushing the ceiling of modern F1 viewing figures up further. Much of that has to attributed to a very TV friendly start time, not sure about anyone else but life would be much easier if an F1 race ran 5-7pm or 6-8pm than the current 1pm 'standard'.

[Ingsy]

I agree with you ukaskew. The lunchtime start isn't ideal for viewers, smack bang in the middle of the day. I find I'm recording races, avoiding the radio etc while I'm out & about and watching it when I get back in the evening anyway.

[ScotsBrutesFan]

To steal a post from another forum site...

ITV1
12.00- F1: Singapore Grand Prix Live: 3.8m (40%) * peak: 4.9m at 14.45


Comparing that to past races:

...........2008........................2007
Italy >> 3.55m....................2.91m or Under
Belgium >> 3.87m.................3.31m or Under
Valencia >> 3m or Under........N/A
Hungary >> 3.88m.................3.37m
Germany >> 3.49m.................3.53m (Europe)
Britain >> 4.53m......................3.85m
France >> 3.35m.....................3.41m
Canada >> 3.99m....................4.69m
Monaco >> 3.98m.....................3.7m
Turkey >> 2.98m or Under......3m or Under
Spain >> 3.51m.......................3.34m or Under
Bahrain >> 3.58m......................3.32m or Under
Malaysia >> 1.9m (Re Run)..........3.11m or Under
Australia >> 3.9m (Re Run)...........3.43m or Under

** There was no source quoted, but I asume there are BARB figures.

[Greenback]

The TV rating for Valencia might not be a good indicator because of Beijing Olympic closing ceremony.

[ensign14]

300,000 people put off between Spa and Monza because of incompetent stewards. Terrific.

[duke_toaster]

300,000 could be due to what it was up against (I can't remember, but wasn't there someone hitting balls with golf bats somewhere?)

[RaiseYourFist]

Why cant they just put the Asian races on tape delay, they have always done it in the US with the French GP.

[duke_toaster]

ITV show them both live and on tape delay (if it is shown on a tape delay in British terminology it is a rerun).

[Dutton]

Well, a tape delay is bit different to a rerun. A rerun implies it has already been shown once by the channel, whereas a tape delay means they simply have not shown it live.

I don't know about you, RaiseYourFist, but I prefer watching things live by a long stroke. It just is not the same watching something on delay. You may not know what happens, but you know that what you are about to see cannot happen any other way than what you are about to see. When you watch it live, anything could potentially happen.

For me, this is a critical distinction. I seriously dislike the idea of encouraging the idea of showing things on tape delay. Showing reruns is fine, but not purely delay (possibly followed by reruns).

[RaiseYourFist]

Yeah, tape delay isn't as good as watching it live but I would think its better then waking up at 4 am.

[Dutton]

Well, I personally totally disagree with that. Each to their own, of course.

[dsg]

Originally Posted by ensign14

300,000 people put off between Spa and Monza because of incompetent stewards. Terrific.

Is that also the reason for 1 mil put off between Silverstone and Hockenheim? From memory there was a lot of water but the stewards seemed fine.