2011 UK TV coverage - Sky to drop IndyCar?

jondownunder · 28 Jan 2011, 22:40 (Ref:2822061)

I just read this article which says there are rumours Sky is dropping IndyCar.

As the only motorsport they can be bothered to show, I know they'll be losing my subscription if this is confirmed. In the year before IndyCar's most positive changes since the 'merger', they would be crazy to let it go now, having stuck with it through the stagnant years with the hideous old Dallaras. They've got four channels to use, so what's their excuse for treating motorsport fans with such disdain?

Randy Bernard should realise the UK audience is an important one and make sure it's shown live on a popular channel most people have access to.

It's an unbelievably bad time for armchair viewers it seems, with the controversy surrounding ALMS coverage, and NASCAR and WRC going to different pay channels that very few people have. I am not rich and have no intention of signing up to numerous channels just to see one series on each!

dyewat808 · 28 Jan 2011, 23:29 (Ref:2822081)

Hear hear!

And then they complain when there are thousands of people watching online streams.

**ScotsBrutesFan** · 29 Jan 2011, 00:22 (Ref:2822098)

The current head of Sky Sports apparently isn't into motorsports at all. He's not taking anything new and is letting existing contracts die a death as they run out.

jondownunder · 29 Jan 2011, 01:37 (Ref:2822112)

I'll probably let my Sky Sports contract die a death then

I wonder if they'll still have DTM and F3 Euro Series delayed highlights? From what I can see, apart from the Max Power and Racemax magazine shows that's all they've had recently to offer motorsport fans.

Jacques Rabbit · 29 Jan 2011, 02:18 (Ref:2822122)

Not cool. The Indy 500 and INDYCAR champion is from the United Kingdom and they don't even get TV coverage? Shame. And that's not even mentioning drivers like Dan Wheldon, who can still win races, or any of the other Brits in the series (as well as those looking to move up, like Martin Plowman and Katherine Legge).

Still, INDYCAR needs to take care of itself domestically, and then worry about international expansion. I do hope there will be coverage in the U.K., though, and I know Randy Bernard is hoping to try to get as many races in as many European households as possible as contracts begin to expire (selling individual races to networks; this could get the Indy 500 in particular solid coverage overseas, and make it more affordable for a network to just pick up a handful of races).

Down F0rce · 29 Jan 2011, 10:51 (Ref:2822214)

Open Access 3 lost NASCAR to a pay channel for 2011. Maybe they will pick up IndyCar instead?

skells22 · 30 Jan 2011, 14:27 (Ref:2822718)

we got the whole of Feb to worry about this so here we go again hunting a TV channel for a US Motorsport, hopefully we find that out soon.

**Adam43** · 30 Jan 2011, 16:59 (Ref:2822787)

Unfortunately I suspect that if everyone who watched Indycar dropped their Sky Sports subscription Sky would lose about £568.

Maybe Motors will pick it up? Or for improved quality ESPN.

Where has NASCAR gone? ESPN? I hope so they have HD and I have that!

jondownunder · 30 Jan 2011, 17:27 (Ref:2822809)

NASCAR's gone to Premier Sports TV... no, I'd barely heard of it either.

It looks like a season of dubious and endlessly buffering streams may be on the cards then for my US racing fix.

It would be nice if Motors picked it up, or even Eurosport, though they wouldn't do it justice with all the other live stuff they have to find room for.

nickyf1 · 30 Jan 2011, 19:56 (Ref:2822885)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacques Rabbit

Not cool. The Indy 500 and INDYCAR champion is from the United Kingdom and they don't even get TV coverage? Shame. And that's not even mentioning drivers like Dan Wheldon, who can still win races, or any of the other Brits in the series (as well as those looking to move up, like Martin Plowman and Katherine Legge).

Thats the sad reality of the recognition of these drivers within the UK. The only time Dario Franchitti was mentioned in the news is because of his crashes at the end of '07.

Steevp · 31 Jan 2011, 00:23 (Ref:2822978)

I've already cancelled my sky sub. Nascar & Indycar were all I used it for really, Nascar's gone, Indy usually streams on Indycar.com, Freeview channnels supply everything else. (What the hell happened to Motors.tv?)

However, if Premier Sports TV acquire Indycar to go with Nascar, I would definitely subscribe for Nascar & Indy. I won't subscribe for Nascar alone.

**bjohnsonsmith** · 1 Feb 2011, 11:22 (Ref:2823770)

I live over here and quite frankley I don't know why Sky bothered, other than that they seem to like having a monopoly as far as broadcasting any sporting event over here goes.

With the success of F1 returning to the BBC and that the BBC are going to be showing the Superbowl again, hopefully they might show the 500 if nothing else.

mickey29 · 2 Feb 2011, 03:42 (Ref:2824317)

http://www.huewen.com/index.php?p=1_12_Letters

Keith Huewen wrote this in reply to someone's question on this subject.

jondownunder · 2 Feb 2011, 12:38 (Ref:2824488)

That sounds like positive news.

candy-tyrrell · 4 Feb 2011, 15:24 (Ref:2825717)

Well I've already decided to abandon sky sports I'm not paying 20 odd quid a month just to watch Indycars

**bjohnsonsmith** · 4 Feb 2011, 18:11 (Ref:2825830)

Quote:

Originally Posted by candy-tyrrell

Well I've already decided to abandon sky sports I'm not paying 20 odd quid a month just to watch Indycars

I've never liked the way Sky monopolise sports broadcasting in the UK, considering so much of the money they generate goes into the Football League and helps bank roll the exorbitant fees payed by teams for players, e.g. £50m for this Torres guy to quit one team and go to another.

nickyf1 · 4 Feb 2011, 23:17 (Ref:2825966)

The 500 on the BBC, now that would be awesome.

The Rockingham CART races were shown on the BBC in 2001/2002, I remember the 2002 race with Charlie Cox and Johnny Herbert on the mic!

mickey29 · 7 Feb 2011, 17:35 (Ref:2827344)

And its a 2 year contract with sky http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89330

**Adam43** · 7 Feb 2011, 19:18 (Ref:2827386)

HD! Hurrah!

**bjohnsonsmith** · 7 Feb 2011, 19:42 (Ref:2827392)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickey29

And its a 2 year contract with sky http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89330

Nice to see they recognize the British talent in the ICS.

jondownunder · 7 Feb 2011, 22:42 (Ref:2827480)

Well done, Sky.

nickyf1 · 8 Feb 2011, 13:06 (Ref:2827752)

Justin.tv for me again this season!

**Woolley** · 8 Feb 2011, 18:29 (Ref:2827930)

Excellent. Me happy.

Peat · 8 Feb 2011, 19:48 (Ref:2827975)

Monaco GP & Indy 500, on the same day, in glorious HD. I think i need to sit down for a moment.......

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