Future Grands Prix?

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

Joe Saward has been writing on the subject and he suspects CVC are trying to push short term profits as high as possible to sell F1. It would not surprise me in the least. The only thing is what happens a few years down the road when the audience numbers fall further?

https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2016...f-the-times-5/

Well, CVC have to sell it's stake within the next two years or so; their original contracts with their investors guarantee that the holding will be liquidated by 2018. So, they don't care about the long term as long as they can make a profit on the sale. Even if they broke even on the disposal, I don't think that result would be the end of the world to them. The income stream from their holding has been more than they would probably have got from any other investment.

[Mekola]

I'm disgruntled to see whenever the "owner" is, the true owner is Bernie E, after posing as "honourable chairman" on all operations. It's like masking a big fraud in sport. For much less, Colin Chapman had several problems with the DeLorean affair.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

No more free to air TV coverage in Spain; only available via a subscription.

I repeat: F1 will air only on Movistar+. Customers from Vodafone, Orange and other TV providers will be left out.

In the UK, Sky F1 is available on Virgin and BT. Not so in Spain.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

I repeat: F1 will air only on Movistar+. Customers from Vodafone, Orange and other TV providers will be left out.

In the UK, Sky F1 is available on Virgin and BT. Not so in Spain.

As I said, Movistar is available in Spain, but only by subscription. And Sky may be available on the BT and Virgin cable services, but you still have to pay an extra subscription; I believe that is around £25 (approx. $36) per month. It is not free to air on any of the satelite/cable services, although 10 of the races will be shown live by Channel 4, with the others at a later time in the day.

[chillibowl]

feel your pain NaBUru38.

given that Vodafone spend a lot of money in F1, its a shame (wrong even) that a deal has been signed that prevents Vodafone customers from accessing that content. business involved with F1 should be rewarded for their contributions to the sport not excluded.

personally, im not against moving behind a pay wall and see the need for telecoms to maximize the amount of content they can stream to their customers as mobile data consumption is an ever important aspect of their business models.

for me (and obviously this will be different for everyone and country by country) it essentially means i can pick and choose what i want to pay for so there are advantages for me so i like the pay wall and the benefits of 'a la carte' style purchasing.

but these exclusive deals which punish people for having signed up with the 'wrong' cable/mobile provider is anti competitive and ultimately will see less money flowing into the hands of FOM imo.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

I repeat: F1 will air only on Movistar+. Customers from Vodafone, Orange and other TV providers will be left out.

In the UK, Sky F1 is available on Virgin and BT. Not so in Spain.

The alternative is illegal streaming.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

feel your pain NaBUru38.

given that Vodafone spend a lot of money in F1, its a shame (wrong even) that a deal has been signed that prevents Vodafone customers from accessing that content. business involved with F1 should be rewarded for their contributions to the sport not excluded.

To the very best of my knowledge, and I'm 99% sure, Vodafone do not have any cable/satellite services in Spain which provide a free to air TV platform. What has happened, in Spain, is that the previous FTA channels have not renewd their contracts with FOM, and therefore anyone who wants to watch F1 live in Spain will either have to purchase a Canal+ subscription, or as BJ says, go down the streaming route.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

To the very best of my knowledge, and I'm 99% sure, Vodafone do not have any cable/satellite services in Spain which provide a free to air TV platform. What has happened, in Spain, is that the previous FTA channels have not renewd their contracts with FOM, and therefore anyone who wants to watch F1 live in Spain will either have to purchase a Canal+ subscription, or as BJ says, go down the streaming route.

yeah i cant comment of FTA availability, but i was thinking more about the commercial viability of pushing data content over internet lines, mobile phones and streaming capable devices (Apple TV boxes, Chromecast, Amazon Firesticks, Roku, Slingbox) as that is the future of content delivery.

making these traditional deals with one national cable/content provider is rapidly becoming an antiquated business model and frankly angers people when they have to maintain several different subscriptions.

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

yeah i cant comment of FTA availability, but i was thinking more about the commercial viability of pushing data content over internet lines, mobile phones and streaming capable devices (Apple TV boxes, Chromecast, Amazon Firesticks, Roku, Slingbox) as that is the future of content delivery.

making these traditional deals with one national cable/content provider is rapidly becoming an antiquated business model and frankly angers people when they have to maintain several different subscriptions.

Problem is Bernie loves TV stations especially when they pay him loads of $$$$$$$$, he also seems to have a great dislike of anything to do with the IT world especially as he has bunch of his minions removing any F1 bits from the various streaming and video channels.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

Problem is Bernie loves TV stations especially when they pay him loads of $$$$$$$$, he also seems to have a great dislike of anything to do with the IT world especially as he has bunch of his minions removing any F1 bits from the various streaming and video channels.

certainly his dislike for IT is well known, but there is, as content providers (like Netflix) and sports leagues are proving is that there is money, often more and from sources of untapped consumers, to be made by embracing the flexibility offered via modern delivery methods.

would be curious to know how MotoGP has done financially with its online service as that could prove a better case and point...one way or the other that is.

[wolfhound]

I think a major issue for Bernie if he went over to live streaming he would have to compensate TV companies as they would be losing exclusive live coverage.
However I wonder what would be wrong with having delayed coverage for providers like Netflix.

[chillibowl]

a tape delay feature on a netflix type service would be great for me! heck i am already watching most races on delay anyways.

might be more problematic for Europe, but a deal for N.America would result in F1 attracting/reaching a whole new audience base. it could literally be the game changer f1 needs in America. the modern version of FTA even. awesome idea

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

To the very best of my knowledge, and I'm 99% sure, Vodafone do not have any cable/satellite services in Spain which provide a free to air TV platform.

Spain has no receiving licence. If you buy a TV, you can watch free to air television.

Movistar+, Vodafone, Orange, etc. are cable or satellite services. There's no pay terrestrial service.

[bjohnsonsmith]

The future of the USGP has at least been guaranteed for this season.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/123188

[JeremySmith]

Yes I spoke with them last week, it's going to
be a great weekend in Austin !!

[chillibowl]

good times! glad they are confirmed.

cant say im a big fan but i imagine this will be quite the draw and a great value added for many others. good bit of promotion!

[chillibowl]

Charlie Whiting with some positive reviews for Watkins Glen...where they would find the money to pay the fee aside, the timing of the quote makes me wonder if this is an attempt to squeeze COTA into signing a longer term contract or something. cynical but wouldn't surprise me me either.

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/wa...hiting-678287/

[wnut]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

Charlie Whiting with some positive reviews for Watkins Glen...where they would find the money to pay the fee aside, the timing of the quote makes me wonder if this is an attempt to squeeze COTA into signing a longer term contract or something. cynical but wouldn't surprise me me either.

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/wa...hiting-678287/

"He added: "It is always a pleasure to come over and see how things are done over here, to see how well things can be done without going to the silly levels of some of the modern tracks that get built by very wealthy governments – what we see here is an absolute gem of a track. It has got heritage and that is what I like."

Seriously, after the damage he and Herman have done all over the world!

[wnut]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

good times! glad they are confirmed.

cant say im a big fan but i imagine this will be quite the draw and a great value added for many others. good bit of promotion!

Great to see a pretty girl on a motor racing promotion!

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by wnut

Seriously, after the damage he and Herman have done all over the world!

i shouldn't laugh but that is so true. i wonder if he was able to say that with a straight face.

and yes, there is something very right about a pretty girl on a racing poster.

[fredd1]

Chezza's mastered forked-tongue speak....

[BSchneiderFan]

Watkins Glen would fit the bill for an East Coast grand prix, which is one of the big areas Brad Hollinger has suggested needs to be targeted (the LA basin is the other).

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Watkins Glen would fit the bill for an East Coast grand prix, which is one of the big areas Brad Hollinger has suggested needs to be targeted (the LA basin is the other).

The obvious choice is Long Beach but I don't see Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe, happily parting with the millions Bernie requires, for the privilege of hosting an F1 GP and that doesn't include all the modifications to the track that Bernie would want.

There's always Fontana, as it has an infield course.

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Watkins Glen would fit the bill for an East Coast grand prix, which is one of the big areas Brad Hollinger has suggested needs to be targeted (the LA basin is the other).

Watkins glen is under the control of the France family. I cannot imagine them doing a deal with Bernie.

[S griffin]

It's refreshing to see Charlie Whiting respect of Watkins Glen, obviously safety has come a long way since the circuit was last on the calendar. I don't know if they would allow the dreaded bog back though!