F1 on Channel 4

[thegreenhell]

London424 said:

Why would they care? Liberty aren't making money from you buying tat or even attending a race in person.

They'll be making money from TV deals and from tracks looking to host races and sponsors of the series itself.

That's a very short-termist viewpoint.

Why do you think TV companies want to show it, or circuits want to host it in the first place? It's all about bums on seats, either at home in front of the box or in person at the circuit. Having fewer viewers/spectators watching their product will drive down the price that Liberty can charge as it will be a less desirable product for them to sell advertising or 'tat' to an ever smaller audience.

Without spectators there would be no F1, televised or otherwise.

[HustleRussell]

It’s rare that I find myself diametrically opposed to somebody on here, but London424 over the past couple of pages...

[London424]

HustleRussell said:

It’s rare that I find myself diametrically opposed to somebody on here, but London424 over the past couple of pages...

And? Life’s about opinions.

I just get really bored of people moaning and complaining about things because they think they’re entitled to something.

Liberty are a business and they will do whatever they can to maximise revenue.

If that means a paywall then so be it. Either watch it or don’t.

[HustleRussell]

London424 said:

I just get really bored of people moaning and complaining about things because they think they’re entitled to something.

Well yeah, but do you know what also grates? Being told what your feelings are on your sport based on whether you subscribe to a particular network or not.

[London424]

HustleRussell said:

London424 said:

I just get really bored of people moaning and complaining about things because they think they’re entitled to something.

Well yeah, but do you know what also grates? Being told what your feelings are on your sport based on whether you subscribe to a particular network or not.

Well be a martyr then...no bother to me.

[Derek Smith]

You asked:

London424 said:

Why would they care?

and then said:

London424 said:

They'll be making money from TV deals . . .

which was rather my point.


You said:

London424 said:

Silverstone is now paying over 15m a year (and will be one of the cheapest on the calendar) with escalations built in every year.

They’ll dump the GP next year. It’s by no means the cheapest on the calendar, but it was, in 2016, the best attended. Even then, they were unable to make a profit on it. In fact, if memory serves, they've made losses for the last three or four years.

You said:

London424 said:

The exclusive SKY rights deal is 200m a year contract (just for the UK).

and then said:

London424 said:

What Liberty are likely wanting to do is go direct to consumer at a cheaper rate than a SKY subscription . . .

but they can’t, at least not in the UK.

There will be a gap before they could implement that. If someone like me, the main habitual viewer type, has two years of no live GP, I’ll probably spend the money on classic events, British GT and WEC. I can’t make Le Mans this year but next is already penciled in. I’m off to Brands at the end of the month for the Classic.

There’re other motor races, some which extend beyond the simple ‘see and then wait for the next one’ scenario of F1. Go to Le Mans, see the cars, then go to Goodwood FoS and see them, touch them, talk with the crew and an occasional driver.

[HustleRussell]

London424 said:

HustleRussell said:

London424 said:

I just get really bored of people moaning and complaining about things because they think they’re entitled to something.

Well yeah, but do you know what also grates? Being told what your feelings are on your sport based on whether you subscribe to a particular network or not.

Well be a martyr then...no bother to me.

You literally don’t know what you’re talking about at this point.

[London424]

HustleRussell said:

London424 said:

HustleRussell said:

London424 said:

I just get really bored of people moaning and complaining about things because they think they’re entitled to something.

Well yeah, but do you know what also grates? Being told what your feelings are on your sport based on whether you subscribe to a particular network or not.

Well be a martyr then...no bother to me.

You literally don’t know what you’re talking about at this point.

Clearly...

[C70R]

Wills2 said:

C70R said:

I just don't understand how anyone can feel so strongly about:

• Murdoch
• Adverts
• Subsidising football
• The way that Sky present sport

It's £20 a month, FFS. It's not a King's ransom. Twenty effing pounds.
You can spend that without even thinking about it - a bottle of nice wine at the supermarket, a takeaway, a couple of cinema tickets, wiper blades.

Even if you were really tight, you can pay £8 for a Now TV day-pass. That's only £16/mth.

Lighten up a bit, guys. Life is too short to be so negative/resentful.

You don't understand why someone wouldn't pay for something they don't like? We should just give our money to something we don't like? Seriously have a word with yourself.

Would buy a bottle wine you don't like? Tickets to a film with actors in you can't stand? Or a take away you didn't like the taste of?

Nowt as queer as folk is there.....

I'm not saying I like or dislike them. It's just that the presenters are such a small part of F1 for me, that I don't know how anyone could get worked up enough to make that a sticking point to subscribe.
I guess I just have more important things to worry about in life...

[C70R]

Eric Mc said:

A die hard fan who is willing to fork out what is needed to get Sky F1 might be looked on as foolish in some circles.

I'm not sure you understand what "die hard" means...

[C70R]

Eric Mc said:

Of course they want casual fans. They want as many fans as possible to watch - of whatever level of interest.

Don't have a go at people who have decided that there are prices beyond which they will not go - even for something that they actually are fans of.

I love building model kits. But I have limits as to how much I am prepared to pay to buy one? Does that make me some sort of "lesser" model kit builder?

Of course not - and your attempt to equate willingness to pay what is being demanded against an individual's personal "entertainment" budget is crass to say the least.

It's £8 per race...

How petty and casual a fan do you need to be that the cost of two pints is the tipping point?

[C70R]

London424 said:

HustleRussell said:

London424 said:

I just get really bored of people moaning and complaining about things because they think they’re entitled to something.

Well yeah, but do you know what also grates? Being told what your feelings are on your sport based on whether you subscribe to a particular network or not.

Well be a martyr then...no bother to me.

This absolutely nails the (somewhat banal) discussion over the past few pages.

A bunch of people who claim to love the sport, but then make a million excuses why £8 per race is too much. It just begins to sound like they are looking for something to moan about. On PH? Never...

[ben5575]

C70R said:

I guess I just have more important things to worry about in life...

Yep, like trolling a thread for the past few days.

Edited by ben5575 on Friday 4th May 07:31

[IforB]

C70R said:

It's £8 per race...

How petty and casual a fan do you need to be that the cost of two pints is the tipping point?

It is not for you to judge. It is the height of arrogance to presume to know how or what value other people out on anything.

How many accounts do you have, as I think a sock puppet has popped up to try and stir things more and the two of you have very similar posting styles...

[HustleRussell]

C70R said:

This absolutely nails the (somewhat banal) discussion over the past few pages.

A bunch of people who claim to love the sport, but then make a million excuses why £8 per race is too much. It just begins to sound like they are looking for something to moan about. On PH? Never...

Apart from the fact that I never said that or anything like it
ETA: and there are two of you now, trying to put words in my mouth in deference to the few in number but reasonable comments I have made

Edited by HustleRussell on Thursday 3rd May 22:13

[Mark-C]

C70R and London24 - we get it. You think how much we are willing to spend to watch F1 on TV (some of spend loads on going to races) is what makes us lesser fans than you.

The rest of us differ.

There really isn't much else to say ... unless Ifor8 is going to liven the thread up with pics of his Au-Pair with custard

Edited by Mark-C on Friday 4th May 09:29

[r11co]

C70R and London24 are both talking st.

A diehard fan wouldn't have a Sky subscription at all as they wouldn't need it because they would attend every session of every race in person.

[Sam993]

LADIES, CAN YOU KISS AND MAKE UP PLEASE. It's getting ridiculous.

[Derek Smith]

London424 said:

Liberty are a business and they will do whatever they can to maximise revenue.

If that means a paywall then so be it. Either watch it or don’t.

Well, you've cracked it I see. They will indeed do whatever they can to maximise their returns. Insightful, to use your term.

But, as many of us on here have been saying, they are unable to do what they want because of the unholy mess that the previous mob left them with. They've got Sky with a monopoly. They can do nothing about it. They are stuck with it.

It doesn't take a lot of working out to realise that they have limited options. If the fans do baulk at the prices Sky charges to fund their purchase of football rights then Liberty are stuck with it.

[JonChalk]

It is perfectly possible to "game" Sky legally and by their own hand, if you have the nerve.

I currently pay £14.74 per month for Sky+ HD, Sports, Entertainment, Docs (everything but Movies, basically), simply by cancelling after the last race of 2016, then holding my breath waiting for the offer flyers to come thru the door.

After a couple in early 2017 which I ignored, I got a 75% off offer from them one race into 2017, and been on that ever since. This is such good value (to me, anyway, as it's not just for F1 (Heresy!!!)), that I mostly watch the C4 races, and use Sky for F3, F2 (in many ways the F2 races justify it alone for me), non-C4 races and practice.

Of course, you may never get an offer flyer.......