uk f1 tv coverage - sky, bbc and ch4

[VIVA GT]

If or when the BBC contract finishes and unless it goes to another channel to be FTA will also mark the ending of my F1 viewing.
I too can (just) remember the old days when Monaco was just about the only F1 race we could see on TV. I also remember the improvements since that time up to a couple of years ago when nearly every race was shown complete on the BBC.
Although (apparently) the Sky coverage shows more than 'just the race' in order to justify the huge cost, I just haven't got the time to spend watching any extra coverage or F1 related programmes, I have a life, and I also have a family who watch the TV too. I'm certainly not going to pay a Kings Ransom just to watch the races.
If or when this day comes it will be a sad one for me, but I'm sure I'll move on. I should still be able to read about the F1 scene in the press (if there is still such a thing!) and catch up with the gossip here on 10 - 10ths, so it won't all be lost...

[Derwent Motorsp]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

If or when the BBC contract finishes and unless it goes to another channel to be FTA will also mark the ending of my F1 viewing.
I too can (just) remember the old days when Monaco was just about the only F1 race we could see on TV. I also remember the improvements since that time up to a couple of years ago when nearly every race was shown complete on the BBC.
Although (apparently) the Sky coverage shows more than 'just the race' in order to justify the huge cost, I just haven't got the time to spend watching any extra coverage or F1 related programmes, I have a life, and I also have a family who watch the TV too. I'm certainly not going to pay a Kings Ransom just to watch the races.
If or when this day comes it will be a sad one for me, but I'm sure I'll move on. I should still be able to read about the F1 scene in the press (if there is still such a thing!) and catch up with the gossip here on 10 - 10ths, so it won't all be lost...

That just about sums up my view and I suspect many other enthusiasts, and that's quite apart from the casual viewer. Bernie needs to consider very carefully about losing FTA as he may well start losing major sponsors for the teams and advertising around the tracks.

Am I not right in saying that the BBC has to cover the BGP along with other major British sporting events?

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Derwent Motorsp

That just about sums up my view and I suspect many other enthusiasts, and that's quite apart from the casual viewer. Bernie needs to consider very carefully about losing FTA as he may well start losing major sponsors for the teams and advertising around the tracks.

Am I not right in saying that the BBC has to cover the BGP along with other major British sporting events?

Unfortunately, Mr Ecclestone, and it would seem, the top teams, give the strong impression that they only care about the short term, with apparently little or no care about the future. Let's rake in the cash while we can, and there are still mugs about who will support us in our endeavours.

As for the BBC, the "tradition" that they were supposed to cover all major sporting events in the UK, such as Test Cricket, major Rugby and Football tournaments and the British GP, has long since disappeared into the ether, and they are all now available to the highest bidder. As long as the Beeb continues to appoint an expanding middle/top management structure at absolutely ridiculous salaries, then their financial ability to even contemplate bidding for sporting events is almost diminished to zero. I wouldn't be surprised to see Wimbledon's tennis go to another channel, possibly Sky who lust after it, at the next contract renewal.

[Rennen]

I'm 67 and have been following F1 since they had engines in the front, I clearly remember those Grainy Black & White 428 line pictures of the British GP and the treat of seeing Monaco live as the only GP's that were shown in the 1960's.

Today...Luxury!...I watch Sky F1 channel in Pin Sharp, High Definition, Colour viewing of EVERY practice session, Qualifying and Race LIVE...with expert analysis by differant F1 experts like Brundle, Herbert, Hill, Senna etc who know what they're talking about...for a mere £10.50 per month !!!! (I don't have Sky Sports...Ball Games are for Children & Dogs!)

I couldn't care less who owns Sky!...Rich men own all of the things we all desire and need anyway, it's the way it is, and the way it will always be!

I feel REALLY sorry for people who for some daft political or Penny-Pinching reason havn't got SKY F1...Blow having to wait to watch delayed recordings of most of the races! 'Real Enthusiasts' watch it LIVE!

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Rennen

I'm 67 and have been following F1 since they had engines in the front, I clearly remember those Grainy Black & White 428 line pictures of the British GP and the treat of seeing Monaco live as the only GP's that were shown in the 1960's.

Today...Luxury!...I watch Sky F1 channel in Pin Sharp, High Definition, Colour viewing of EVERY practice session, Qualifying and Race LIVE...with expert analysis by differant F1 experts like Brundle, Herbert, Hill, Senna etc who know what they're talking about...for a mere £10.50 per month !!!! (I don't have Sky Sports...Ball Games are for Children & Dogs!)

I couldn't care less who owns Sky!...Rich men own all of the things we all desire and need anyway, it's the way it is, and the way it will always be!

I feel REALLY sorry for people who for some daft political or Penny-Pinching reason havn't got SKY F1...Blow having to wait to watch delayed recordings of most of the races! 'Real Enthusiasts' watch it LIVE!

Isn't that £10.50 per month on top of what you already pay for Sky? I just had a quick look on their website and I couldn't find the F1 channel in either the Family, Original or Variety bundles. It also looks like you can't get the F1 channel unless you also buy Sky Sports. So if you sign up for The Original Bundle + Sky Sports, http://www.sky.com/shop/b/sky-bundles/, that's £46 a month, which I find prohibitively expensive. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[ScotsBrutesFan]

The £10.50 HD package is what Sky refer to as a legacy package, it's no longer available to customers, but if you were on it when the packages changed then you stay on it paying as you were.

You could get access to the F1 channel for what in today's terms it would have been the original at £21.50 plus that £10.50 HD package.

Now as is pointed out, Sky F1 is only available as part of the 7 Channel Sports Package. This costs £24.50 on top of the Original, and that would still only be in SD.

Sky F1 in HD would need family (more entertainment channels than Original) at £33 which includes HD entertainment channels, Sports Package at £24.50 and then £5.25 more to get the HD for sports

[Sodemo]

If I desperately want to watch a race live then I have two options, use my mothers Sky Go account, which I have on my laptop, or the pub down the road shows all the races live (well the ones which aren't at 3am in the morning etc).

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by Rennen

I'm 67 and have been following F1 since they had engines in the front, I clearly remember those Grainy Black & White 428 line pictures of the British GP and the treat of seeing Monaco live as the only GP's that were shown in the 1960's.

Today...Luxury!...I watch Sky F1 channel in Pin Sharp, High Definition, Colour viewing of EVERY practice session, Qualifying and Race LIVE...with expert analysis by differant F1 experts like Brundle, Herbert, Hill, Senna etc who know what they're talking about...for a mere £10.50 per month !!!! (I don't have Sky Sports...Ball Games are for Children & Dogs!)

I couldn't care less who owns Sky!...Rich men own all of the things we all desire and need anyway, it's the way it is, and the way it will always be!

I feel REALLY sorry for people who for some daft political or Penny-Pinching reason havn't got SKY F1...Blow having to wait to watch delayed recordings of most of the races! 'Real Enthusiasts' watch it LIVE!

Here we go again!

[djinvicta]

Sorry, Im with Rennen. In France here, I pay £20 a month on Sky Go, I get all sports that I never watch, but the F1, the reason Ive got it.
Plus that gives me all Sky film channels, More 4, plus 20 others.
All I do is plug the HDMI lead in the TV and bingo, its on tv screen from my laptop.
And, before anyone says, no, it seldom buffers, 6 times this year, for 5 seconds each time.

[Finski]

Hi all, can anyone help me? I've been trying to find a stream of sky f1 or anything that shows the practices etc, I'm sick of watching a crap quality stream from some dodgy site lol. As I live in Australia we can't get it on TV, I am happy to pay whatever to see a good HD stream but I'm yet to find anywhere where I can, any help appreciated!

[Flavio Galtieri]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

If I desperately want to watch a race live then I have two options, use my mothers Sky Go account, which I have on my laptop, or the pub down the road shows all the races live (well the ones which aren't at 3am in the morning etc).

Well if you have an hdmi port on your laptop and TV all you need is a cable and you're all set?

Alternatively, there's always a stream out there somewhere if you look hard enough. Sometimes these are very good quality.

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by Flavio Galtieri

Well if you have an hdmi port on your laptop and TV all you need is a cable and you're all set?

Alternatively, there's always a stream out there somewhere if you look hard enough. Sometimes these are very good quality.

Yep, thats what I often do, however the Sky Go is usually pretty good, though I remember for the Monaco GP the race coverage really struggled with buffering.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Yep, thats what I often do, however the Sky Go is usually pretty good, though I remember for the Monaco GP the race coverage really struggled with buffering.

Sky Go is great, and free at the moment, if you are a Sky subscriber. However, the cost for stand-alone Sky G is currently £35.00 per month to be able to view F1.

I already pay my annual £145.50 TV Licence Fee, and a monthly subscription for cable TV. F1 is not worth another £25 to £35 per month for a "sport" that now seems to be self-regulated by the teams with assistance from Mr Ecclestone. I would rather watch grass grow, or paint dry, thank you very much.

And in answer to a couple of other posters, I am not being stingy, either; rather I have more important things to spend my money on, like my grandchildren who have no interest in cars going around in circles.

[codename_47]

I'll admit I started heading to the pub to watch f1 races because I couldn't afford sky but now I much prefer the social aspect of watching a race amid fellow fans and have made some good friends as a result too.

Pay 30 quid to sit alone and moan into twitter or it amid actual people and socialise all for the price of a cola or tea? (Don't usually fancy drinking at a lunchtime )
I know which I prefer. ..

[Paradise City]

'Stingy' is not giving to charity guys. Declining to pay for F1 doesn't qualify.

[djinvicta]

[QUOTE=Mike Harte;3490421]Sky Go is great, and free at the moment, if you are a Sky subscriber. However, the cost for stand-alone Sky G is currently £35.00 per month to be able to view F1.

Living in France we have no Sky, but Go is £20 a month for a laptop and tablet. I just hook it up the TV.
How come its so expensive in the UK?

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by djinvicta

Living in France we have no Sky, but Go is £20 a month for a laptop and tablet. I just hook it up the TV.
How come its so expensive in the UK?

No idea, but that figure comes from their current website; maybe the cost has risen for new subscribers, or possibly the way they now package the bundle as it comes with the family pack? Maybe old subscribers could just subscribe to the sports element?

[djinvicta]

Dont know. Price rise for UK citizens I think!
We get all film channels, sport, and around 25 other channels, itv, more4 etc

[wolfhound]

The BBC sky coverage has been revealed for 2015.
The BBC will cover the following races live.
Malaysia,
Bahrain,
Canada,
Britain,
Hungary,
Belgium,
Japan,
Russia,
Brazil,
Abu Dhabi.

There are not many GP's live on the BBC in the early part of the season.

[old man]

Plans for our viewing revealed:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117295

[ger80]

Originally Posted by codename_47

I'll admit I started heading to the pub to watch f1 races because I couldn't afford sky but now I much prefer the social aspect of watching a race amid fellow fans and have made some good friends as a result too.

Pay 30 quid to sit alone and moan into twitter or it amid actual people and socialise all for the price of a cola or tea? (Don't usually fancy drinking at a lunchtime )
I know which I prefer. ..

Apres in Brum or where are you watching?

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by codename_47

I'll admit I started heading to the pub to watch f1 races because I couldn't afford sky but now I much prefer the social aspect of watching a race amid fellow fans and have made some good friends as a result too.

Pay 30 quid to sit alone and moan into twitter or it amid actual people and socialise all for the price of a cola or tea? (Don't usually fancy drinking at a lunchtime )
I know which I prefer. ..

I think that's a far better idea, I sometimes go to F1 watch parties in Austin as long as I can actually "get to watch the racing" and not get too distracted...

[Lancsbreaker]

I see that five of this season's races are to start an hour earlier to avoid poor light conditions - allegedly because of Bianchi's crash....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula...medium=twitter

[Adam43]

Allegedly? Do you doubt this reason?

[Lancsbreaker]

Not especially, but I don't really think that darkness was a particular factor in the crash.....