Sky to show final F1 test at Barcelona live

[Knowlesy]

After a year of doing almost bugger all of interest, Sky are finally using their F1 channel properly. And it's in 3D for those of you who like sitting in your own living room looking ridiculous.

http://www.autosport.com/news/grapevine.php/id/105439

Great news!

[Marbot]

Excellent! I've got nothing better to do.

[p-matt]

I was thinking yesterday that it would have made sense for Sky to show the Jerez testing this week. They aren't particularly showing anything else of note, and the die hards would definitely watch it.

Long time in the box for Crofty though.

[Steevp]

Oh good, all I have to do is subscribe to HD, Movies and Sport then I can have 3D... what's that £65 a month? gangsters..

[chillibowl]

i wonder if that means that means they will be updating all the cameras including the onboard cameras to film in 3d as well? i would love to one day be able to see a 3d onboard version of a live lap at Monaco.

if it works then this could be a really cool advancement imo. im sure lots of problems associated with letting one company film and broadcast all the races though...actually not even sure if all the races are even filmed in HD yet but thats another story.

wish i could subscribe to it, but only in the privacy of my own home as to avoid Knowlesy laughing at me in my funny glasses!

[MagnetON]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

im sure lots of problems associated with letting one company film and broadcast all the races though...actually not even sure if all the races are even filmed in HD yet but thats another story.

It is already the case that F1 is "filmed" by a single company, FOM. All broadcasters take their race feeds (the "World Feed") from them and it's only their ancillary stuff, commentators, gridwalks, pundits, etc. that broadcasters film themselves.

From memory, FOM have been using higher definition camera for a good number of years as the footage was used for DVDs etc. as well as for broadcast.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by MagnetON

It is already the case that F1 is "filmed" by a single company, FOM. All broadcasters take their race feeds (the "World Feed") from them and it's only their ancillary stuff, commentators, gridwalks, pundits, etc. that broadcasters film themselves.

From memory, FOM have been using higher definition camera for a good number of years as the footage was used for DVDs etc. as well as for broadcast.

yeah im going by old info on that one so good to know. i always though we were just getting an upscaled widescreen version for some races as i do notice some quality differences from race to race and the onboard shots really dont look HD to me either although that could be the fault of my broadcaster.

[ghinzani]

Originally Posted by Steevp

Oh good, all I have to do is subscribe to HD, Movies and Sport then I can have 3D... what's that £65 a month? gangsters..

I pay £21 quid a month and get Sky F1, although it does make me feel a tad unclean.

[Steevp]

Originally Posted by ghinzani

I pay £21 quid a month and get Sky F1, although it does make me feel a tad unclean.

I pay the same, though I chose the HD package over sports as I don't care about football.

Would I pay another tenner for 3D? probably not.. maybe a fiver but that's all.

[jobdone]

I'm glad they're showing this, saves me having to fly out to Barcelona for a few days! Hopefully they can make it interesting, would be cool if they manage to fit on board cameras etc!

[airbusA346]

Just watching the Day 1 Testing coverage.

Who is the woman presenting the programme?

[Knowlesy]

I don't see any sour grapes. I see one or two bragging about having Sky (congratulations btw) but no sourness.

I have Sky myself (excellent internet service and football coverage) but there are many who can't afford it due to circumstance. So personally I'd be quite annoyed if both my access to F1 coverage had suddenly halved and I didn't have the money for the coverage. To then have people who are obviously more well-off rubbing your face in it would be quite irritating, to say the least.

[ECW Dan Selby]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

I don't see any sour grapes. I see one or two bragging about having Sky (congratulations btw) but no sourness.

I have Sky myself (excellent internet service and football coverage) but there are many who can't afford it due to circumstance. So personally I'd be quite annoyed if both my access to F1 coverage had suddenly halved and I didn't have the money for the coverage. To then have people who are obviously more well-off rubbing your face in it would be quite irritating, to say the least.

That's fair. I'm now in this position where I can't afford it, too.

I asked Virgin to 'trim the fat' and drop my monthly costs by binning the sports, HD's etc. In turn, they upped my internet from 20mb to 60mb.

So now, I can stream VERY well online.

Do the workings out... I feel NO guilt, either.

Selby

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

I don't see any sour grapes.

You did notice the at the end of my sentence.

My response was to this quote in the previous post to my own.

"I hope, when the teams eventually realise that the tiny viewership on Sky is not in their best interest the races, at least, will all return to live free to view TV. Leave the practice and testing on pay to view by all means for the hard core enthusiasts with a bulging wallet, very few people care about that."

There does seem to be a slight undertone of 'sour grapes' in there.

Yes, I've got Sky TV, just like you, and just like a lot of other people. I understand that some people can't afford it, or If they have got it, don't want to pay the £10 extra per month to have the F1 channel.

I don't have the Sports channels because then, I would be sat on my arse for far too long.

[Knowlesy]

Hmmm. Doesn't really work this coverage

Firstly you don't get to see the morning session for some reason.

Second there is very little information to supplement the pictures.

They also should have sorted out some onboard cameras. But hey, this is a start I suppose.

[bella]

being fair, i think many people have it when really they can't and they've got their first world priorities a bit confused. me, i'd rather spend the subscription fee on something WAY more exciting than sitting on my arse in front of the telly

i don't really care who has what money and who has what services. that's their life choices and none of my business. if we all went round judging each other there'd be no judgement left for the motorsport

[Knowlesy]

HD was being phased in at the end of 2010, proper HD coverage was brought in for 2011 and onboards would have been fully upgraded in the same amount of time they ultimately were anyways. It has literally nothing to do with the move to Sky as far as I can tell.

I realise that Sky F1 HD has a slightly better quality HD signal than BBC HD of course, but it is a tiny difference.

[Adam43]

I think you're right. There is an indirect link as sky have enabled more HD viewers, but it isn't a direct link.

[ECW Dan Selby]

I'm pretty sure I read the onboards aren't HD.

Selby

[MarkG]

I just knew when I read the thread title, there'd be posters posting bitter tosh about Sky. Maybe a way to look at it (your problem with Sky) , is that normal people are working for Sky and are glad to have an income to feed the family?

Or maybe, just watch F1 on BBC only, keep it to yourself, and feel satisfied and smug that you'll go to heaven one day

[Flavio Galtieri]

Originally Posted by MarkG

I just knew when I read the thread title, there'd be posters posting bitter tosh about Sky. Maybe a way to look at it (your problem with Sky) , is that normal people are working for Sky and are glad to have an income to feed the family?

Or maybe, just watch F1 on BBC only, keep it to yourself, and feel satisfied and smug that you'll go to heaven one day

What utter rubbish!!

"Normal" people (whatever that is) are working hard in all sorts of organisations in order to "feed the family".

Does that mean we can't take a view on their employers? I don't think so

[ghinzani]

The Scottish reporter doing the update at 9-9.15 tonight totally ******ed it. Upset Kimi, talking over other reporters. Bring back the lady from the first test please.

Also Teds great value, keep that up.

[Knowlesy]

That Scottish guy is weird isn't he? Was he there last season?

He started an interview last night with: "...yep, always good to talk to Romain Grosjean. Especially as this is the last interview of the day..."

What does that even mean?

[p-matt]

He was there last year. He has a touch of the Simon Lazenby's about him - doesn't really understand F1, frequently uses the wrong words and struggles to express himself eloquently.

Ted's been brilliant as always. He's more knowledgable about the technical side now. But I'm sure everyone will still fawn over Gary Anderson

[Born Racer]

Yeah, I never quite understood why you seemed to have it in for him a bit, Knowlesy.