F1 owners say UK paywall TV deal they have inherited is detr
Discussion
File this under "no s
t, Sherlock"
F1 owners say UK paywall TV deal they have inherited is detrimental to sport
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jun/21/f1-u...
eta: can a mod fix the title? ta
t, Sherlock"F1 owners say UK paywall TV deal they have inherited is detrimental to sport
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jun/21/f1-u...
eta: can a mod fix the title? ta
Edited by budgie smuggler on Thursday 22 June 10:57
Pretty obvious to everyone not benefitting from the deal (and probably to them as well), but what can they do about it?
IMO part of the problem isn't that it's behind a paywall, but that it's behind a VERY expensive paywall. Luckily I have access to another friend's Sky online sub, but I genuinely couldn't afford to pay for a Sky+SkySports package on a monthly basis.
I'd say the WEC-type paywall is acceptable - £30/year for web access without limits, perfect.
IMO part of the problem isn't that it's behind a paywall, but that it's behind a VERY expensive paywall. Luckily I have access to another friend's Sky online sub, but I genuinely couldn't afford to pay for a Sky+SkySports package on a monthly basis.
I'd say the WEC-type paywall is acceptable - £30/year for web access without limits, perfect.
I live in rural France for most of the F1 season. I have a 2-Mb connection, so anything I can get on the Internet is very poor quality. I certainly would not want to pay for it.
Despite the rapidly changing technology, I think that the reality is terrestrial TV takes a lot of beating.
Despite the rapidly changing technology, I think that the reality is terrestrial TV takes a lot of beating.
Krikkit said:
Pretty obvious to everyone not benefitting from the deal (and probably to them as well), but what can they do about it?
IMO part of the problem isn't that it's behind a paywall, but that it's behind a VERY expensive paywall. Luckily I have access to another friend's Sky online sub, but I genuinely couldn't afford to pay for a Sky+SkySports package on a monthly basis.
I'd say the WEC-type paywall is acceptable - £30/year for web access without limits, perfect.
Yes for existing fans, that's fine. I'd probably stump up £100 for a full season's access.IMO part of the problem isn't that it's behind a paywall, but that it's behind a VERY expensive paywall. Luckily I have access to another friend's Sky online sub, but I genuinely couldn't afford to pay for a Sky+SkySports package on a monthly basis.
I'd say the WEC-type paywall is acceptable - £30/year for web access without limits, perfect.
However I imagine that even a token cost of £10 a year would eliminate the vast majority of new fans discovering the sport. It's not like it has the momentum it once had where you'd see races just playing in the background in sports bars. I mean s
t, I remember as a youngster sitting and watching a race in the lobby of a hotel with a bunch of spanish kids when I was on holiday back in the 90s. Unimaginable now. Firstly it wouldn't be on, and if it were, nobody else would be watching it, and certainly not kids. I also think it will be a real shame to lose the excellent Whisper Films coverage.
I've watched one race this year since dropping Sky.
I've gone from somebody who attended races, bought merch and watched every race to somebody who looks up the results on the BBC Sport website, all because it's behind an expensive Sky paywall.
If F1 offered a direct online package I'd sign up, pretty sure they'd have no trouble getting it added to Amazon Channels, Apple TV etc as per Red Bull TV and so on. As it is I have no interest in paying for Premiership football to watch 40 hours of F1 per year.
I've gone from somebody who attended races, bought merch and watched every race to somebody who looks up the results on the BBC Sport website, all because it's behind an expensive Sky paywall.
If F1 offered a direct online package I'd sign up, pretty sure they'd have no trouble getting it added to Amazon Channels, Apple TV etc as per Red Bull TV and so on. As it is I have no interest in paying for Premiership football to watch 40 hours of F1 per year.
ukaskew said:
I've watched one race this year since dropping Sky.
I've gone from somebody who attended races, bought merch and watched every race to somebody who looks up the results on the BBC Sport website, all because it's behind an expensive Sky paywall.
If F1 offered a direct online package I'd sign up, pretty sure they'd have no trouble getting it added to Amazon Channels, Apple TV etc as per Red Bull TV and so on. As it is I have no interest in paying for Premiership football to watch 40 hours of F1 per year.
Channel 4 coverage is free, why don't you watch the live TV and delayed coverage on there? It really cant be used as an excuse for not watching yet, because at the moment we still have free to air coverage in the UK.I've gone from somebody who attended races, bought merch and watched every race to somebody who looks up the results on the BBC Sport website, all because it's behind an expensive Sky paywall.
If F1 offered a direct online package I'd sign up, pretty sure they'd have no trouble getting it added to Amazon Channels, Apple TV etc as per Red Bull TV and so on. As it is I have no interest in paying for Premiership football to watch 40 hours of F1 per year.
There is a big difference between watching a live event and a recorded and edited event. The immediacy is lost for a start and there is the struggle to avoid hearing results before the recorded version is available (we've all been there).
Of course, once upon a time, all we really had were recorded highlights with just the odd live race - and we were grateful for that. But that was decades ago and the world and our expectations have moved on immensely since then.
We live in a world now where virtually every even can, technically, be watched live. So, the technical restrictions and difficulties of supplying live coverage have eased massively. The restrictions we now face are purely commercial.
Of course, once upon a time, all we really had were recorded highlights with just the odd live race - and we were grateful for that. But that was decades ago and the world and our expectations have moved on immensely since then.
We live in a world now where virtually every even can, technically, be watched live. So, the technical restrictions and difficulties of supplying live coverage have eased massively. The restrictions we now face are purely commercial.
This should always be live on Terrestrial TV and then it's up to the likes of Sky to try harder for you business. F1 on C4 is the race on some interviews but you pay say £10/mth and you get live data, multiple cameras, even more interviews and analysis.
Many of the current racers watched it on normal TV when they were kids and inspired them to do it. If it goes all paid then kids won't see it. If BTCC went behind a paywall it would kill it.
Many of the current racers watched it on normal TV when they were kids and inspired them to do it. If it goes all paid then kids won't see it. If BTCC went behind a paywall it would kill it.
KobayashiMaru86 said:
Many of the current racers watched it on normal TV when they were kids and inspired them to do it. If it goes all paid then kids won't see it. If BTCC went behind a paywall it would kill it.
All the rich kids whose parents can afford to take them karting can also afford the Sky subscription to watch F1. Professional motor racing has always been an elitist sport, and this will just reinforce that.jsf said:
Channel 4 coverage is free, why don't you watch the live TV and delayed coverage on there? It really cant be used as an excuse for not watching yet, because at the moment we still have free to air coverage in the UK.
Once you get out of the habit of watching every race live, it's very easy to lose interest in the season and hence have no motivation to devote 3 hours of a Sunday afternoon to the occasional race that someone has decided you are allowed to watch.alock said:
jsf said:
Channel 4 coverage is free, why don't you watch the live TV and delayed coverage on there? It really cant be used as an excuse for not watching yet, because at the moment we still have free to air coverage in the UK.
Once you get out of the habit of watching every race live, it's very easy to lose interest in the season and hence have no motivation to devote 3 hours of a Sunday afternoon to the occasional race that someone has decided you are allowed to watch.Also, if I can't watch live, Channel 4 take ages to add it to their iPlayer thingy - which doesn't work as well as the BBC one anyway. Bring back video cassettes.
Yep, the poison dwarf did a lot of damage in his last years as boss of F1, the greedy little fker.
This year I have Sky for the first time, just because of the F1 coverage. Here in Germany it costs €30 a month in the first year, and next year nearly €60! A MONTH!
I just got tired of the coverage from RTL, the whole team are embarrasingly bad, and they interupt the race for what feels like an advert break ever 10 mins, which lasts 6 laps or more.
And, since they have to buy the pictures, they can't do a roll-back if anything happens in the break. They're dependant on the F1 director.
I'm in two minds about renewing it next season, it's really a st lot of money for what you get.
When I think I get 72 hrs of good racing, plus all the practice and quali times from the WEC series, for €30 A YEAR, I think I'm going to stop watching F1 next year....
ker.This year I have Sky for the first time, just because of the F1 coverage. Here in Germany it costs €30 a month in the first year, and next year nearly €60! A MONTH!
I just got tired of the coverage from RTL, the whole team are embarrasingly bad, and they interupt the race for what feels like an advert break ever 10 mins, which lasts 6 laps or more.
And, since they have to buy the pictures, they can't do a roll-back if anything happens in the break. They're dependant on the F1 director.
I'm in two minds about renewing it next season, it's really a s
t lot of money for what you get.When I think I get 72 hrs of good racing, plus all the practice and quali times from the WEC series, for €30 A YEAR, I think I'm going to stop watching F1 next year....
I think its quite funny that we're still trotting out the "blame Bernie" line.
If you want to blame someone, blame the BBC.
When ITV pulled out the BBC were the only bidders, their bid was sufficiently high enough for Bernie to accept.
They then decided they didn't want to pay, so approached Sky and worked out the "share" plan, which then they dumped shortly after.
All of this was done on the basis of cost cutting. At best its poor planning, but I'd go for incompetency - after all this is the organisation that spent £100m on digitising their catalog of media and ended up with nothing to show for it.
When the BBC decided to pull out, had Bernie rejected the Sky deal we could have ended up with no coverage at all.
Yes it is expensive, but the sky coverage is the best we've ever had by some way. BBC coverage turned in to a farce with Humphrey gurning at the camera, Coulthard being just plain rude to Jordan and Jordan, well, being Jordan.
The Channel 4 coverage is just lacklustre, I'm not sure they really want to be there half the time.
As an aside, its interesting to note that Liberty say its a bad deal for the sport, but clearly not bad enough to ditch the contract and offer it to FTA TV for a budget price.... clearly it can't be that bad then ?
They could quite easily bin the contract, set up a pay access web streaming serice, hire whoever they want and get on with it for the 2019 season, but they don't want to take the risk.
If you want to blame someone, blame the BBC.
When ITV pulled out the BBC were the only bidders, their bid was sufficiently high enough for Bernie to accept.
They then decided they didn't want to pay, so approached Sky and worked out the "share" plan, which then they dumped shortly after.
All of this was done on the basis of cost cutting. At best its poor planning, but I'd go for incompetency - after all this is the organisation that spent £100m on digitising their catalog of media and ended up with nothing to show for it.
When the BBC decided to pull out, had Bernie rejected the Sky deal we could have ended up with no coverage at all.
Yes it is expensive, but the sky coverage is the best we've ever had by some way. BBC coverage turned in to a farce with Humphrey gurning at the camera, Coulthard being just plain rude to Jordan and Jordan, well, being Jordan.
The Channel 4 coverage is just lacklustre, I'm not sure they really want to be there half the time.
As an aside, its interesting to note that Liberty say its a bad deal for the sport, but clearly not bad enough to ditch the contract and offer it to FTA TV for a budget price.... clearly it can't be that bad then ?
They could quite easily bin the contract, set up a pay access web streaming serice, hire whoever they want and get on with it for the 2019 season, but they don't want to take the risk.
Crafty_ said:
I think its quite funny that we're still trotting out the "blame Bernie" line.
If you want to blame someone, blame the BBC.
When ITV pulled out the BBC were the only bidders, their bid was sufficiently high enough for Bernie to accept.
They then decided they didn't want to pay, so approached Sky and worked out the "share" plan, which then they dumped shortly after.
All of this was done on the basis of cost cutting. At best its poor planning, but I'd go for incompetency - after all this is the organisation that spent £100m on digitising their catalog of media and ended up with nothing to show for it.
When the BBC decided to pull out, had Bernie rejected the Sky deal we could have ended up with no coverage at all.
Yes it is expensive, but the sky coverage is the best we've ever had by some way. BBC coverage turned in to a farce with Humphrey gurning at the camera, Coulthard being just plain rude to Jordan and Jordan, well, being Jordan.
The Channel 4 coverage is just lacklustre, I'm not sure they really want to be there half the time.
As an aside, its interesting to note that Liberty say its a bad deal for the sport, but clearly not bad enough to ditch the contract and offer it to FTA TV for a budget price.... clearly it can't be that bad then ?
They could quite easily bin the contract, set up a pay access web streaming serice, hire whoever they want and get on with it for the 2019 season, but they don't want to take the risk.
That might be the case in the UK, specifically due to the usual BBC fIf you want to blame someone, blame the BBC.
When ITV pulled out the BBC were the only bidders, their bid was sufficiently high enough for Bernie to accept.
They then decided they didn't want to pay, so approached Sky and worked out the "share" plan, which then they dumped shortly after.
All of this was done on the basis of cost cutting. At best its poor planning, but I'd go for incompetency - after all this is the organisation that spent £100m on digitising their catalog of media and ended up with nothing to show for it.
When the BBC decided to pull out, had Bernie rejected the Sky deal we could have ended up with no coverage at all.
Yes it is expensive, but the sky coverage is the best we've ever had by some way. BBC coverage turned in to a farce with Humphrey gurning at the camera, Coulthard being just plain rude to Jordan and Jordan, well, being Jordan.
The Channel 4 coverage is just lacklustre, I'm not sure they really want to be there half the time.
As an aside, its interesting to note that Liberty say its a bad deal for the sport, but clearly not bad enough to ditch the contract and offer it to FTA TV for a budget price.... clearly it can't be that bad then ?
They could quite easily bin the contract, set up a pay access web streaming serice, hire whoever they want and get on with it for the 2019 season, but they don't want to take the risk.
kwitery, but it was Bernie that had the idea to centralize the TV broadcasting, so that world-wide everybody has to buy the stream from F1 TV, or whatever it's called. RTL in Germany was better too before Bernie changed the system to make even more money for his bosses, as they at least had control over how to film and direct it, as they were on the track with their own team. And, before RTL got their greasy hands on the TV broadcasting rights in Germany, Eurosport used to show all the races live, with John Watson doing the commentary. Those were happy days, the racing was better too.Good old Watty, Now he does the WEC race commentary, and very well too.
jsf said:
Channel 4 coverage is free, why don't you watch the live TV and delayed coverage on there? It really cant be used as an excuse for not watching yet, because at the moment we still have free to air coverage in the UK.
As has been said you "follow" a sport, or you can just catch up with it, we generally base our sundays around F1 and motoGP action; other motorsports may be watched if they fit around the main events or at other odd times, but are not followed religiously, not because WSB or BTCC or BSB or blancpain or many others can't offer excitement and engagement, but because we have a certain capacity for full engagement and those 2 series is enough.But the more difficult/expensive F1 becomes to watch, the more enticing other series will become, we have the sky F1 "HD legacy" deal and don't subscribe to any movie or sports channels, and even though I could easily afford it I would deeply resent paying sky £400/year or whatever for a load of billion £ greenfield cr@p I have no interest in just to get my once-a-fortnight F1 fix. Sadly I fear this will be skys intention when they have exclusive rights.
I've watched the sport for 25 years or so, but my interest did wane once during the schumacher/fez dominance and while I love it and I'm absorbed by it and have paid to go to races and this year I'm even basing a holiday to italy around monza, it's simply not irreplaceable.
It comes from a time when F1's owners were so busy filling thier socks with whatever money they could squeeze out of everything that the long term interests of fans, manufacturers, sponsors and circuits came about 19th on the list of priorities.
Money which was, amongst other things, squandered on such fripparies as breast enlargements and princess palaces for Ecclestone's two vacuous daughters...
Money which was, amongst other things, squandered on such fripparies as breast enlargements and princess palaces for Ecclestone's two vacuous daughters...
Crafty_ said:
The Channel 4 coverage is just lacklustre, I'm not sure they really want to be there half the time.
Horses for courses, but for me C4 coverage is one of the best things to happen to F1 in years. The last word I would use to describe it is lacklustre. It is dynamic, funny, the guys give the impression that they genuinely love being there, like each other and more importantly the drivers pick up on it and respond in kind. The C4 get far better interviews from the drivers than sky as a result. Sky coverage is three fat middle aged blokes in beige trousers and pink shirts moaning. If ever you were to design a programme to turn off young viewers, this is it. To agree with the point of the article, Sky caters for the audience that pay to see it; fat middle aged blokes in beige trousers and pink shirts who like to moan a lot.
I finally cancelled my sky subscription yesterday - the thought of Sky + Azerbaijan pushed me over the edge. Like others, I've been an avid fan over three decades and attended races. I don't know what I'm going to do in 2019.
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