uk f1 tv coverage - sky, bbc and ch4

[flatlandsman]

I will never pay a penny to watch live sport. I find ways to do so when I want to, and have little interest in bankrolling a sport owned, run and taken part in by very rich people, who then ask me to pay for the privilege to watch it, not because it is necessary, but just because they can make you.

FOMO is the most powerful modern tool in sports coverage. And it generated vast wealth for tv companies and rights holders.

[Greem]

Originally Posted by Richard C

As a US viewer, for the most part, the broadcast time for live races are never close to ideal. So I pretty much would ALWAYS record races using DVR. I did this for a long, long time. About a year ago, I "cut the cord" so I lost access to my traditional method of watching F1. I switched to F1TV. Lots great things about that, but one is lack of "commercial breaks" in the broadcast. I can time shift (watch when I want to watch) as well. But I am finding that I am back to watching more races live so that I can follow live "social media" (including posts in 10/10th race threads) live. My son who watches with me is the same way. For him, he is watching the race and also following what is being said on Reddit, or elsewhere at the same time.

Richard

I'd love to subscribe to F1TV, but us UKers aren't allowed to get the live streaming service because of the exclusivity deal that Sky have. That sucks.

I'm about to "cut the cord", as you put it, by axing my Virgin Media package (broadband, phone & TV) after 22 and a half years of being a customer. Their incessant price hikes have got boring and I can't be faffed with the end-of-contract negotiations to get a reduced price. So for the first time in many years, I may find myself devoid of live TV coverage...

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Greem

I'd love to subscribe to F1TV, but us UKers aren't allowed to get the live streaming service because of the exclusivity deal that Sky have. That sucks.

I'm about to "cut the cord", as you put it, by axing my Virgin Media package (broadband, phone & TV) after 22 and a half years of being a customer. Their incessant price hikes have got boring and I can't be faffed with the end-of-contract negotiations to get a reduced price. So for the first time in many years, I may find myself devoid of live TV coverage...

You can cut the cord but use NowTV online for F1. But it becomes expensive quickly.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Greem

I'd love to subscribe to F1TV, but us UKers aren't allowed to get the live streaming service because of the exclusivity deal that Sky have. That sucks.

I'm about to "cut the cord", as you put it, by axing my Virgin Media package (broadband, phone & TV) after 22 and a half years of being a customer. Their incessant price hikes have got boring and I can't be faffed with the end-of-contract negotiations to get a reduced price. So for the first time in many years, I may find myself devoid of live TV coverage...

I was at that point myself, Graeme, about 6 weeks ago. I kept getting bombarded with offers from alternative providers of that same package at vastly lower prices with price guarantees for contract period. So I decided to give Virgin one last go, and after a bit of faff with an overseas person who couldn't offer much in the way of a reduction, I was put through to a UK based person who very quickly offered me a 50% reduction.

It was an offer that I couldn't refuse, and is for 24 months as well. It might be worth your while to give it a last go.

[flatlandsman]

I do find it utterly ridiculous that as a UK resident you cannot use the F1 services fully.

I know SKY pay a lot for the coverage, but that really does take the mick

[GTRMagic]

[Mike Harte]

Rather than start a separate thread I thought that those able to access BBC 2 might like to know that a TV series is starting tonight at 21:00 hours about Brawn GP narrated by Keanu Reeves.

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Rather than start a separate thread I thought that those able to access BBC 2 might like to know that a TV series is starting tonight at 21:00 hours about Brawn GP narrated by Keanu Reeves.

Yes, Mike. All 4 programmes are on I-Player. Watched the first two, going to watch the others tomorrow night. Very interesting.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Rather than start a separate thread I thought that those able to access BBC 2 might like to know that a TV series is starting tonight at 21:00 hours about Brawn GP narrated by Keanu Reeves.

Thanks Mike I think it might be the one that was released by Amazon or Netflix earlier this year?

I didn't watch it then but I'll give it a go this time round.

Not motorsport (although he apparentky did like to put his foot down in a Rover P6 before he vanished) there's also a Lucan docu series on i-player!

[Skam85]

Yep was released on Disney+ in Oz last year.

Great series, highly recommend.

[bathurst77]

Originally Posted by flatlandsman

I will never pay a penny to watch live sport. I find ways to do so when I want to, and have little interest in bankrolling a sport owned, run and taken part in by very rich people, who then ask me to pay for the privilege to watch it, not because it is necessary, but just because they can make you.

Pretty shotty attitude there.

F1 costs likely Billions to show on tv. All the hardware latest and greatest technology, huge teams of people, world travel accommodation, trucks, buildings insurances.
And the quality of the coverage (some commentators aside) is generally state of the art

Who do you think pays for that?
Its business, just like the teams, every hollywood movie studio and commercial tv statiosn are. and your corner shop is.
DO you refuse to pay for things you get at the shops?

THey do it to make a buck. its not a charity.
If nobody paid, they wouldnt show it. that simple

You want to watch? chip in like the rest of us!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by flatlandsman

I will never pay a penny to watch live sport.

How do you think the coverage of live sport should be funded?

Paying a subscription has been criticised, adverts are not palatable - so I guess the only solution is to have coverage being state-sponsored?

[flatlandsman]

the rights holder should be paying for the coverage, then sell it to broadcasters, who pay for it through advertising just like it used to be. Do we really need 15 presenters on the payroll? All costing probably over 100k a year plus Brundle on over a million?

I agree it is shoddy, do I care? Not a jot, when you are being bombarded endlessly with advertising trackside, on cars, in a sport owned, run and taken part in by billionaires I hope you sleep easy at night paying whatever a month to be "allowed" to watch it. Sports is a commodity worth trillions worldwide, why? Not because it is worth paying for but because you can flog adverting to a herd of people watching it.

As for how should it be covered..

I had little issue with ads mid race, but what happens when you pay a sub to anyone is that generates vast revenue, so that becomes the only way you can cover it, big companies want this, FOMO plays a huge part.

If enough people declined to pay the sport would not stop being shown, that is silly, it would be simply be offered in a cheaper or free format.

FOMO plays a bigger bpoart in sports coverage than you realise

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Rather than start a separate thread I thought that those able to access BBC 2 might like to know that a TV series is starting tonight at 21:00 hours about Brawn GP narrated by Keanu Reeves.

I watched it when it was on Disney in Australia.Fantastic doco.Very well made and Keanu Reeves is outstanding.I thought that some of the F1 people were verging on star struck and opened up more to him than they would a normal interviewer.

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by flatlandsman

the rights holder should be paying for the coverage, then sell it to broadcasters, who pay for it through advertising just like it used to be. Do we really need 15 presenters on the payroll? All costing probably over 100k a year plus Brundle on over a million?

I agree it is shoddy, do I care? Not a jot, when you are being bombarded endlessly with advertising trackside, on cars, in a sport owned, run and taken part in by billionaires I hope you sleep easy at night paying whatever a month to be "allowed" to watch it. Sports is a commodity worth trillions worldwide, why? Not because it is worth paying for but because you can flog adverting to a herd of people watching it.

As for how should it be covered..

I had little issue with ads mid race, but what happens when you pay a sub to anyone is that generates vast revenue, so that becomes the only way you can cover it, big companies want this, FOMO plays a huge part.

If enough people declined to pay the sport would not stop being shown, that is silly, it would be simply be offered in a cheaper or free format.

FOMO plays a bigger bpoart in sports coverage than you realise

TV rights are the single biggest item of income for any professional sport.Free to air television has been in terminal financial decline since the late 1970’s.They lost their captive audience forcing people to watch ads from the invention of the VCR.Multi channels,streaming,pay TV and all the other options (even the humble mute button) meant that people no longer had to watch ads and many chose not to.Advertisers were no longer willing to pay the premium prices that they had been so FTA TV networks no longer had the financial means to make competitive bids.
There’s lots of stuff in the world I would like for nothing but I’m realistic to know someone has to pay.Free to air buying up all the pay TV and streaming sports rights would be a path to bankruptcy.
Personally I see no difference between buying a ticket to see a movie and buying a pass to watch sport.Except I’m not up for the cost in money and time to go to a theatre.

[steve_r]

Not sure where to post this. But part 1 of a BBC documentary on the Brawn GP title winning season was aired last night. Very good it was too. Interviews with the drivers and team personnel plus interestingly some of the rival teams senior staff, who went from one minute pitching in to try and help save the team, to only a few months later putting in protests about the legality of the car, having been absolutely annihilated in the opening races. Available on iplayer probably.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Alan52

TV rights are the single biggest item of income for any professional sport.Free to air television has been in terminal financial decline since the late 1970’s.They lost their captive audience forcing people to watch ads from the invention of the VCR.Multi channels,streaming,pay TV and all the other options (even the humble mute button) meant that people no longer had to watch ads and many chose not to.Advertisers were no longer willing to pay the premium prices that they had been so FTA TV networks no longer had the financial means to make competitive bids.
There’s lots of stuff in the world I would like for nothing but I’m realistic to know someone has to pay.Free to air buying up all the pay TV and streaming sports rights would be a path to bankruptcy.
Personally I see no difference between buying a ticket to see a movie and buying a pass to watch sport.Except I’m not up for the cost in money and time to go to a theatre.

The flip side of that is, if sports are being shown behind a pay wall and the broadcasters like Sky, aren't selling subscriptions because viewers don't want to pay, the advertisers will face the same issues as they did with FTA broadcasting.