Loss of free to air coverage

Loss of free to air coverage

Author
Discussion

Newscuttlepanel

Original Poster:

126 posts

133 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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As the title really, just gauging people’s reactions to SKY only live races, over the past few seasons I’ve gone from watching every race on BBC/ITV/C4/NOW- TV, to listening to Radio coverage whilst doing more productive stuff to, checking results/ race “analysis” on here when I remembered, until this weekend when for the first time in my memory I was totally unaware there was a GP on. This isn’t an anti F1 post by the way, it’s been a cracking season by all accounts, and in general I’ve enjoyed most years I’ve been watching, apart possibly from the Schumacher domination years.

Edited by Newscuttlepanel on Sunday 17th November 09:41

Gary C

12,313 posts

178 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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Newscuttlepanel said:
As the title really, just gauging people’s reactions to SKY only live races, over the past few seasons I’ve gone from watching every race on BBC/ITV/C4/NOW- TV, to listening to Radio coverage whilst doing more productive stuff to, checking results/ race “analysis” on here when I remembered, until this weekend when for the first time in my memory I was totally unaware there was a GP on.
Still got legacy Sky F1 that was given free with Sky HD at the time, but if I lose it, I wouldn't pay the price they are asking for it now.

But it is great to have it auto-record every race & feature. Become quite a family thing to watch the race. Its even meant the wife has been to two GP's since we got it.

TheDeuce

21,272 posts

65 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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This has been discussed on the sky F1 thread at length.

Half those with a view on the matter simply want F1 to be free. The other half mostly don't mind paying in principle, but want to pay for F1, not also an entire and often unwanted SKY subscription too. Or sky sports via now TV, which is also expensive.

But the deal is done, sky have the rights and it ain't changing for another 5 years.


Zarco

17,703 posts

208 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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Doesn't bother me as I rarely have the time to watch it live anyway (same goes for most sport I follow).

mikecassie

608 posts

158 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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I'd the legacy Sky HD package but decided last year to ditch Sky and just watch Freesat and what is available through Amazon.
I'd stopped watching all sessions and sometimes wouldn't even watch a race so the cost of Sky was getting too much for my fiscal prudence. If I'm home and have time to watch a race I'll buy a Now TV pass for a tenner, that lets me watch any Sky Sports channel for a week, which is more than I need. I've bought 3 or 4 passes this year, so my wallet is happier.

cuprabob

14,419 posts

213 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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I thoight I would miss watching the live races but the reality is the Channel 4 highlights are now enough for me. It doesn't even bother me anymore if I know the result in advance.

Athlon

4,998 posts

205 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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I used to base my weekend around F1 when it was free, then I made the effort to catch the Ch4 live shows, now I watch the highlights if they are on at a sensible time.

So it has freed up my weekends no end! It's a shame that I don't get to see the best British driver in F1 to take his championships and by all accounts I have missed some great racing but I will not pay to watch and so it meant I saw far more BTCC this year which was great!

Derek Smith

45,513 posts

247 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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I used to be an F1 nerd, and even had the Sky package when it was live FTA on Ch 3 (that was just me and Kevin I think). I don’t have Sky now.

I’ve watched just over half the races live on Now. Otherwise, I’ll use Radio 5, f1.rfeed.net for timings, and PH. I went on dedicated F1 fanzine website a couple of years ago but found posts very argumentative and often quite abusive. Not to mention downright silly. I know we have one or two similar posters on here (I know he’s won 6 WDCs, but he’d be nothing without a car to drive) but they are outnumbered (and you’d think embarrassed, but, unfortunately no) by the more sensible type who are F1 fans.

I've had some Sundays where I'm out doing something else. I go to classic car shows a lot so the £10 I 'save' balances the ticket prices.

Oddly enough, I find following the races I follow on timings, and commentary on radio, just as, maybe more in some cases, exciting as you ‘see’ more (some?) of the midfield battles. The most exciting GT races I’ve watched have been from in the pits, where there’s just the timing screen. I often follow the timings when watching Now, but the images take my attention. Austin showed some of the midfield overtakes, but they missed the build-up, the green sectors, and the reducing gaps.

Around 20 races a season is too much for me. The cost of Sky with F1 is prohibitive, although I’d probably pay it if there was no Now. As it is, I’m happy with my current balance. The races in America cry out for Now, but otherwise I pick the circuits I like.

Not missing Sky. I cringe at the shouty starts on Now.



Kraken

1,710 posts

199 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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I pretty much lost all interest in F1 when the drivers I supported either retired or were in cars that had no hope. That left me in the situation of only really watching to see if other drivers fail which isn't a healthy mindset. Like most sports if you don't have an interest in supporting a participant it get's pretty boring especially when there is plenty of other sport of the same genre available. All that coincided with Sky only so it worked out ok for me.

If the racing improves in 2021 I might get back into at the level I was before as there are a couple of drivers I like in the new crop but until then reading the reports after the event is enough for me. Too much good touring car and GT racing around for me to miss F1.

LosingGrip

7,806 posts

158 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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TheDeuce said:
This has been discussed on the sky F1 thread at length.

Half those with a view on the matter simply want F1 to be free. The other half mostly don't mind paying in principle, but want to pay for F1, not also an entire and often unwanted SKY subscription too. Or sky sports via now TV, which is also expensive.

But the deal is done, sky have the rights and it ain't changing for another 5 years.
That's annoyed me a bit. I only want the F1 not all the others, yet it only comes in one package. Not too bad though as I got it for £12.50 a month. I prefer the C4 coverage though.

Teddy Lop

8,294 posts

66 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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Gary C said:
Still got legacy Sky F1 that was given free with Sky HD at the time, but if I lose it, I wouldn't pay the price they are asking for it now.

But it is great to have it auto-record every race & feature. Become quite a family thing to watch the race. Its even meant the wife has been to two GP's since we got it.
have the legacy HD too and keep it for the same reason but thought you could get f1 without the full sports pack now?

Sacked sky landline/BB off the other year after they stole some money, would love to kick sky off entirely but we love our F1. I know online is "coming" but our experiences of motogp.com and tales I hear of f1.com where its available say online streaming is not as reliable or resolved as some would have you believe.

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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Newscuttlepanel said:
As the title really, just gauging people’s reactions to SKY only live races, over the past few seasons I’ve gone from watching every race on BBC/ITV/C4/NOW- TV, to listening to Radio coverage whilst doing more productive stuff to, checking results/ race “analysis” on here when I remembered, until this weekend when for the first time in my memory I was totally unaware there was a GP on. This isn’t an anti F1 post by the way, it’s been a cracking season by all accounts, and in general I’ve enjoyed most years I’ve been watching, apart possibly from the Schumacher domination years.

Edited by Newscuttlepanel on Sunday 17th November 09:41
Schumacher domination years? Mercedes 2014 to at least 2019 and you are enjoying it?

biggrin

TheDeuce

21,272 posts

65 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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ELUSIVEJIM said:
Schumacher domination years? Mercedes 2014 to at least 2019 and you are enjoying it?

biggrin
But... The Schumacher domination years always had a whiff of BS about them. Not cheating so much as enjoying some not exactly sporting advantages.


2 sMoKiN bArReLs

30,230 posts

234 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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Still love F1, love the Sky coverage. Happy to pay to keep it live (you forget that for years there was little if any live F1 available).

thumbup


Newscuttlepanel

Original Poster:

126 posts

133 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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Schumacher domination years? Mercedes 2014 to at least 2019 and you are enjoying it?

biggrin
[/quote]

Yes. Don’t derail the thread.

Stan the Bat

8,843 posts

211 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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I'm quite happy with the CH4 highlights.

Kraken

1,710 posts

199 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
quotequote all
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Still love F1, love the Sky coverage. Happy to pay to keep it live (you forget that for years there was little if any live F1 available).

thumbup
Maybe but that was nothing to with the current situation. Very little worldwide sport was live and besides the full races were often shown on delay or an unrestricted set of highlights was shown which is far from the case now.

MitchT

15,788 posts

208 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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Happy with the C4 highlights as it frees up my Sunday afternoon. The only annoying thing is when it's a race in the far Western hemisphere which is shown so late that I have to watch it online on Monday evening and try not to hear the result in the meantime. If NowTV did a whole race weekend for £5 I might consider paying for it, but £9.99 for one day is far too much and I prefer the C4 coverage anyway.

Derek Smith

45,513 posts

247 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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MitchT said:
Happy with the C4 highlights as it frees up my Sunday afternoon. The only annoying thing is when it's a race in the far Western hemisphere which is shown so late that I have to watch it online on Monday evening and try not to hear the result in the meantime. If NowTV did a whole race weekend for £5 I might consider paying for it, but £9.99 for one day is far too much and I prefer the C4 coverage anyway.
I buy a week's access to Sky Sports, which includes F1, for £10 at Tesco. That gives all FP and qually as well as the race.


thebigmacmoomin

2,796 posts

168 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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Would rather watch highlights than a live race now, just want to see the best bits. Its just the adverts I hate that you don't get with the live races.