Sport The Formula 1 Thread

[Mortis]

It doesn't - but then again Bernie isn't thinking of the fans with this decision he's thinking of the huge amount of money that Sky will be paying him.

[Eighthours]

I am spitting mad over all this. Really mad. But what makes me most annoyed is the BBC's statement about it. What a load of spinny steaming bollocks written by an absolute thundercunt.

[wev]

It'll be even more interesting to see which races the BBC loses, I can't see the British GP being lost but the likes of Imola, Monza, Spa and Monaco? very worrying.

[mexos]

It doesn't - but then again Bernie isn't thinking of the fans with this decision he's thinking of the huge amount of money that Sky will be paying him.

It's very short sighted though. Money now, decline later

[PaB]

Sky must be picking up the shortfall from sponsers. I mean obviously their payments will reduce as from next year.

Also, wasnt; there something in the FOTA rules that stated F1 had to be free to air (most likely driven by aforementioned sponsers)

[mirodo]

sidewaysbob - how do you know Sky won't improve F1?

The Beeb improved the itv coverage. Sky have a good record of introducing new tech and expanded coverage on the sports they get. I reckon F1 could be amazing on Sky.

All the F1 broadcasters take the feed from the host nation's broadcaster and tech data from a central resource, don't they? I can't see Sky improving on the actual content of what we see on screen in terms of the live race coverage - the only thing they could have scope to improve is the pre-race build up, which is pretty good already courtesy of the BBC.

[JohnC]

I'm not disputing the cost argument. I'm just pointing out the logical inconsistency of complaining that the cost of Sky Sports isn't compartmentalised when F1 is moving from a broadcaster which like Sky, charges for a multitude of services in a bundle.

BBC charges for everything in a single basic bundle. Sky charges tiers, with this being put on the top tier which costs several times more.

So much for the private sector being able to provide stuff cheaper.

[McCoy]

So, This season, total cost of HD racing all season for me. = £145.

Next season = £745.

How, exactly, does this benefit me?

Well, on the plus side it does mean we get ten free races per year with no advert breaks and highlights of the races not shown. Had the coverage moved to ITV or Five we would have had poor coverage and advert breaks. There are some plus points in this deal.

[mirodo]

It'll be even more interesting to see which races the BBC loses, I can't see the British GP being lost but the likes of Imola, Monza, Spa and Monaco? very worrying.

This article suggesting the Beeb will retain rights to the British and Monaco GPs, plus the final race of the season.

[PaB]

Well, on the plus side it does mean we get ten free races per year with no advert breaks and highlights of the races not shown. Had the coverage moved to ITV or Five we would have had poor coverage and advert breaks. There are some plus points in this deal.

No, we get 10 races next year, for the same price as we pay for 20 this year. None of it is free.

I have to be honest, I am not seeing the plus point in that.

[myoozikk]

from Sniff Petrol on twitter.

Alleged cost of F1 rights per year: £45m. Alleged cost of moving BBC depts (including Sport) to Salford: £900m

[McCoy]

This article suggesting the Beeb will retain rights to the British and Monaco GPs, plus the final race of the season.

Perhaps will take over some of the Summer races and the early morning races in the rest of year so not to interfere with their football coverage?

[Hoodedclaw]

All the F1 broadcasters take the feed from the host nation's broadcaster and tech data from a central resource, don't they?

not any more according to wiki

For the 2010 season, the World Feed was produced by FOM for every race apart from the Monaco Grand Prix, produced by Télé Monte Carlo, and Japanese Grand Prix, produced by Fuji Television.

Two broadcasters provide a service beyond the World Feed, containing elements of the defunct F1 Digital+ service. German Sky Sport offers the most comprehensive live service showing two onboard channels, one dedicated exclusively to German drivers, alongside a live data feed. BBC carries the same general onboard channel as used by Sky Sport,[2] and a driver tracker feed, available from the 2010 British Grand Prix onwards.[3]

For the 2011 season Formula One Management released a High Definition feed to broadcasters for the first time.

[Monbee]

It's very short sighted though. Money now, decline later

He's 81.

[PaB]

All the F1 broadcasters take the feed from the host nation's broadcaster and tech data from a central resource, don't they? I can't see Sky improving on the actual content of what we see on screen in terms of the live race coverage - the only thing they could have scope to improve is the pre-race build up, which is pretty good already courtesy of the BBC.

The actual race feed is supplied by the FOM , it used to be the host nation, but not anymore. In any event, your point stands.

[Froettmaning]

No, we get 10 races next year, for the same price as we pay for 20 this year. None of it is free.

I have to be honest, I am not seeing the plus point in that.

The plus point is that licence-fee payers who don't follow F1 are going to be paying slightly less to subsidise your viewing.

[Bushby]

So much for the private sector being able to provide stuff cheaper.

What are you blathering on about? Sky charge a premium price for premium product. Their aim has never been to make watching television cheaper.

[Hawkeye]

No, we get 10 races next year, for the same price as we pay for 20 this year. None of it is free.

I have to be honest, I am not seeing the plus point in that.

I guess an alternative could have been the BBC think it's too expensive so drop F1 completely, and it was too expensive for either ITV or C5 to pick up so no F1 on the telly at all.

I guess F1 wasn't on of the events outlined as must be on free to view TV. My only issue with any Sky deal regarding sports or films is the 'exclusive' rights, which seems to be a very British concept of selling these things. It's noticeable when visiting other nations that sporting events are often on numerous competing channels, giving you the choice of what provider/package you'd like.

[PaB]

What are you blathering on about? Sky charge a premium price for premium product. Their aim has never been to make watching television cheaper.

I think the point that was trying to be made, is that competition is supposed to put pressure on prices to come down. Not to increase by 600%.

[mirodo]

not any more according to wiki

For the 2010 season, the World Feed was produced by FOM for every race apart from the Monaco Grand Prix, produced by Télé Monte Carlo, and Japanese Grand Prix, produced by Fuji Television.

Two broadcasters provide a service beyond the World Feed, containing elements of the defunct F1 Digital+ service. German Sky Sport offers the most comprehensive live service showing two onboard channels, one dedicated exclusively to German drivers, alongside a live data feed. BBC carries the same general onboard channel as used by Sky Sport,[2] and a driver tracker feed, available from the 2010 British Grand Prix onwards.[3]

For the 2011 season Formula One Management released a High Definition feed to broadcasters for the first time.

I didn't know that. I'd be interested to know how it works - there are cameras in every car, aren't there? So I presume the German TV just choose to stream the coverage from the German drivers on one of their (interactive?) channels.

I mean, it's not a case of them putting their own cameras in cars is it?

[PaB]

Course, you could buy sky italia and watch it on that, with the BBC radio 5 commentary.

[bradigor]

I refuse to get Sky Sports, gutted that they have rights now. Fans being held to ransom really, with them keeping 10 races on the BBC, it means that they are using it to make sure fans are hooked and have no choice but to subscribe

[MrPogo]

The plus point is that licence-fee payers who don't follow F1 are going to be paying slightly less to subsidise your viewing.

But Formula 1 represents about 80% of my BBC viewing time, and I'm losing half of that with very little prospect of it being replaced by 50 hours or so of different programming I'm equally as interested in, so I'm paying a lot more to subsidise their viewing.

[Bushby]

I think the point that was trying to be made, is that competition is supposed to put pressure on prices to come down. Not to increase by 600%.

I think that's a misplaced analogy in TV to a large extent. Viewers aren't the customers, they are the product.

[McCoy]

Course, you could buy sky italia and watch it on that, with the BBC radio 5 commentary.

Sky Italia is still pretty expensive. The only reason it is used by Pubs is that it is significantly cheaper than the commercial cost of Sky in licensed premises. It is also currently unlawful although this may change when the Murphy verdict is issued at some point on from September.

[mexos]

Another thing - the beeb's races will be in dribs and drabs, forcing you to have Sky for the whole F1 season, rather than subscribing to it only for the portion of the year when the beeb are not showing it.

[mexos]

The broadcaster has no plans to introduce a 'pay-per-view' scheme for races, meaning that fans will have to purchase a Sky Sports package and pay for it on a monthly basis.

[McCoy]

James Allen has an article up about it now:

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/

This would be very disappointing if it happened:

Either way the two broadcasters will obviously have two separate presentation teams. if the BBC really want to save money they will host the race from a studio in London and have just the commentators and reporters on site at the races.

It's so much have actually having Jake & Co at the races talking to people. It just won't be the same in a studio in London via a video link. EJ can't run up and accost someone when he's half a continent away.

[kiroquai]

Small crumb: Sky have confirmed no adverts during races (Autosport).

[McCoy]

A pay per view package would be nice but was always unlikely. It would just completely undermine Sky's business model. The whole model works on sports fans paying not only to watch the sports they care about but also having to pay for all the other sports as well.