F1 TV - Initial Impressions

[Sam993]

How did the race stream work, anyone? Did they manage to fix the stream dropping out issues?

[The Moose]

Sam993 said:

How did the race stream work, anyone? Did they manage to fix the stream dropping out issues?

In short, no! It already was not working properly 90 mins before lights out.

After quali they sent an email to everyone saying they’re going to refund 2 weeks worth of subscription.

Hope they can get it sorted!

[Sam993]

The Moose said:

Sam993 said:

How did the race stream work, anyone? Did they manage to fix the stream dropping out issues?

In short, no! It already was not working properly 90 mins before lights out.

After quali they sent an email to everyone saying they’re going to refund 2 weeks worth of subscription.

Hope they can get it sorted!

I'm glad I didn't waste my time trying to get a subscription then. Not sure what's worse them going live with an early alpha version of premium service that everyone wants access to or calling Niki Lauda "Nicki Lauder".

[rdjohn]

That is pretty poor. I thought that this OTT broadcast stuff was Liberty’s main business.

Fortunately C4s highlights was the perfect package for yesterday’s race.

[The Moose]

Whilst it is poor, yes, it’s hardly surprising there are teething issues.

Will be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks.

It looks like Tata Comms are delivering the feed - they should be able to sort that out!

[Mr Tidy]

Yes, because they are at the cutting edge with their products!


https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&a...

I'm off for a cuppa - but definitely not Tetley!

[The Moose]

For those of you who are interested, I have just received a refund in full for F1 TV. The practice sessions are fine and the archives are interesting. The live quali and race are poor performance.

Maybe will buy again in the future if they can get their st together.

[carl_w]

Of course Tata delivers the feeds from the track back to the editing suite at Biggin Hill, so you'd think they'd be able to get that leg of it right.

I'm no marketing guru but I would have thought offering it up for free on a trial basis while the teething problems were sorted out might have resulted in more subscription conversions?

[The Moose]

carl_w said:

Of course Tata delivers the feeds from the track back to the editing suite at Biggin Hill, so you'd think they'd be able to get that leg of it right.

I'm no marketing guru but I would have thought offering it up for free on a trial basis while the teething problems were sorted out might have resulted in more subscription conversions?

They do the usual bs telling you how it’s sorted etc.

It’s useless to me if I can’t watch the F1!

[F1GTRUeno]

It's terrible in the UK at the minute.

Definitely not worth having.

Can't wait though until it's fleshed out a bit with content and the rights are renegotiated so we get live races like elsewhere.

Shame that seemingly the more modern years aren't going to have full races and there isn't enough for the older seasons yet.

[Chrisgr31]

I think the commentary team is Will Buxton and someone else. They did the NBC commentary last year. I guess they are using Sky for the archive stuff as thats what they have.

[Mr Pointy]

carl_w said:

Of course Tata delivers the feeds from the track back to the editing suite at Biggin Hill, so you'd think they'd be able to get that leg of it right.

Do you have any actual knowledge of the F1TV infrastructure or are you just making it up?

[carl_w]

Mr Pointy said:

Do you have any actual knowledge of the F1TV infrastructure or are you just making it up?

Only what I read. Google is your friend: https://arstechnica.com/cars/2015/11/the-real-race...

[Mr Pointy]

carl_w said:

Mr Pointy said:

Do you have any actual knowledge of the F1TV infrastructure or are you just making it up?

Only what I read. Google is your friend: https://arstechnica.com/cars/2015/11/the-real-race...

That was written in 2015 before Liberty Media were in control.

[carl_w]

Mr Pointy said:

That was written in 2015 before Liberty Media were in control.

Has the contract with Tata been torn up then? They don't seem to think so https://www.tatacommunications.com/sports/formula-... -- they even mention the 300 Mbit/s MPLS link back to the UK in the "Connectivity" section.

Ross Brawn mentions the Biggin Hill production facility earlier this year https://www.telegraph.co.uk/formula-1/2018-preview...

More hints on how it works in the official announcement: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2018/...

Sounds like the raw video stream is backhauled over the Tata MPLS link to the production facility in Biggin Hill, which then distributes it to iStreamPlanet who then package up what they want with appropriate codecs and then dump it back into the Internet via Tata's CDN.

Edited by carl_w on Sunday 3rd June 11:55

[The Moose]

Chrisgr31 said:

I think the commentary team is Will Buxton and someone else. They did the NBC commentary last year. I guess they are using Sky for the archive stuff as thats what they have.

I’m pretty certain the live commentary team were the Sky team (for the few live sessions I watched before getting rid)

[Sam993]

Chrisgr31 said:

I think the commentary team is Will Buxton and someone else. They did the NBC commentary last year. I guess they are using Sky for the archive stuff as thats what they have.

Would be great if they could hire Ben Edwards from C4 once C4 is done with F1. He's my favourite commentator out of the current English speaking F1 bunch. Him and Coulthard make a good unbiased team (unlike Croft and Brundle).

[geeks]

Sam993 said:

Chrisgr31 said:

I think the commentary team is Will Buxton and someone else. They did the NBC commentary last year. I guess they are using Sky for the archive stuff as thats what they have.

Would be great if they could hire Ben Edwards from C4 once C4 is done with F1. He's my favourite commentator out of the current English speaking F1 bunch. Him and Coulthard make a good unbiased team (unlike Croft and Brundle).

Interesting thing opinion isn't it? Personally can't stand Edwards or DC, while I am far from Crofts biggest fan, I quite enjoy Brundles insights and the rest of the Sky team, the rest of the C4 team aren't up to much IMO either.

Still, life would be boring if we all liked the same thing!

[Sam993]

geeks said:

Sam993 said:

Chrisgr31 said:

I think the commentary team is Will Buxton and someone else. They did the NBC commentary last year. I guess they are using Sky for the archive stuff as thats what they have.

Would be great if they could hire Ben Edwards from C4 once C4 is done with F1. He's my favourite commentator out of the current English speaking F1 bunch. Him and Coulthard make a good unbiased team (unlike Croft and Brundle).

Interesting thing opinion isn't it? Personally can't stand Edwards or DC, while I am far from Crofts biggest fan, I quite enjoy Brundles insights and the rest of the Sky team, the rest of the C4 team aren't up to much IMO either.

Still, life would be boring if we all liked the same thing!

Opinion is one thing but facts are such that C4 team comes across as more knowledgeable whereas Sky uses lots of "expert" sounding filler e.g. C4 knew straightaway what happened when Vettel pitted under VSC in Australia whereas Sky team were clueless. I can't stand Brundle for exactly that. Once he retires I see Joylon Palmer as his successor, he's already started so good luck to him.

[geeks]

Sam993 said:

geeks said:

Sam993 said:

Chrisgr31 said:

I think the commentary team is Will Buxton and someone else. They did the NBC commentary last year. I guess they are using Sky for the archive stuff as thats what they have.

Would be great if they could hire Ben Edwards from C4 once C4 is done with F1. He's my favourite commentator out of the current English speaking F1 bunch. Him and Coulthard make a good unbiased team (unlike Croft and Brundle).

Interesting thing opinion isn't it? Personally can't stand Edwards or DC, while I am far from Crofts biggest fan, I quite enjoy Brundles insights and the rest of the Sky team, the rest of the C4 team aren't up to much IMO either.

Still, life would be boring if we all liked the same thing!

Opinion is one thing but facts are such that C4 team comes across as more knowledgeable whereas Sky uses lots of "expert" sounding filler e.g. C4 knew straightaway what happened when Vettel pitted under VSC in Australia whereas Sky team were clueless. I can't stand Brundle for exactly that. Once he retires I see Joylon Palmer as his successor, he's already started so good luck to him.

Calm down petal!