F1 TV audience dwindling.
Discussion
8.6 million viewers gone since SKY became the exclusive live coverage broadcaster.
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/f...
Doesn't surprise me.
Once you put aside the dedicated fans, the numbers you're chasing are transient and can be swayed, even if Fred has the full sky sports package, if Rod and Gaz and Barry from work aren't prepared to pay to watch the f1 then he might drift from it too as he can't share that experience.
Once you put aside the dedicated fans, the numbers you're chasing are transient and can be swayed, even if Fred has the full sky sports package, if Rod and Gaz and Barry from work aren't prepared to pay to watch the f1 then he might drift from it too as he can't share that experience.
Doesn't surprise me either. It used to be free, now it's not... That's what happens!
I do think sky have botched the pricing and have limited what can be viewed outside of sky to the extent that people are more likely to give up and forget about the sport as opposed to bring convinced to pay for access. Although for all any of us know sky's analysts are perfectly happy with the conversion rate and the data they have suggests they're getting as much revenue from the setup as expected.
I do think sky have botched the pricing and have limited what can be viewed outside of sky to the extent that people are more likely to give up and forget about the sport as opposed to bring convinced to pay for access. Although for all any of us know sky's analysts are perfectly happy with the conversion rate and the data they have suggests they're getting as much revenue from the setup as expected.
From what I remember of the 2018 figures they were claiming an increase in worldwide viewers but when it was broken down it was massive rises in countries that had gone back to free to view. There is pretty much always a difference of millions between pay for view and free for view when both are available. People argue that pay per view is better for the sport as the proportion of people watching are more likely to be the individuals that sponsors are interested in. To me that is a poor argument as it ignores the younger audience. No-one else in my family had the slightest interest in F1 or any motorsport so if I wasn't able to watch it for free on the BBC all those years ago I would probably have never gotten into it and would have latched onto another form of motorsport or a different sport entirely.
Kraken said:
From what I remember of the 2018 figures they were claiming an increase in worldwide viewers but when it was broken down it was massive rises in countries that had gone back to free to view. There is pretty much always a difference of millions between pay for view and free for view when both are available. People argue that pay per view is better for the sport as the proportion of people watching are more likely to be the individuals that sponsors are interested in. To me that is a poor argument as it ignores the younger audience. No-one else in my family had the slightest interest in F1 or any motorsport so if I wasn't able to watch it for free on the BBC all those years ago I would probably have never gotten into it and would have latched onto another form of motorsport or a different sport entirely.
That's true, although they may feel it's entrenched enough at this stage in British minds and media to be able to charge, and that 'enough' will pay to make it worthwhile. If that's working out for sky, then it's what they will continue to do until they detect a drop in future potential customers and will no doubt adjust their methods to address that.On the flip side, liberty apparently sell rights to new territories for relatively little to ensure the sport igoes out FTA to build a following and expand the sports global footprint.
If sky sports f1 was more a dedicated motorsport channel very much like motors tv was then I would be tempted to get it however im not paying the sum sky want to watch 20 or so f1 races where I can watch the highlights on channel 4 usually in the evening leaving me to do stuff during the day.
Tbh my interest in f1 has dwindled massively missed several races last year and a few turned of half way through. In that same time ive watched the full formula e season last year and continue to watch the btcc which is getting better and better each year.
Tbh my interest in f1 has dwindled massively missed several races last year and a few turned of half way through. In that same time ive watched the full formula e season last year and continue to watch the btcc which is getting better and better each year.
MG CHRIS said:
If sky sports f1 was more a dedicated motorsport channel very much like motors tv was then I would be tempted to get it however im not paying the sum sky want to watch 20 or so f1 races where I can watch the highlights on channel 4 usually in the evening leaving me to do stuff during the day.
Tbh my interest in f1 has dwindled massively missed several races last year and a few turned of half way through. In that same time ive watched the full formula e season last year and continue to watch the btcc which is getting better and better each year.
that was a point I made in a thread the other day, sky sports f1 was rerunning old practice session footage. How many people are going to be into that?Tbh my interest in f1 has dwindled massively missed several races last year and a few turned of half way through. In that same time ive watched the full formula e season last year and continue to watch the btcc which is getting better and better each year.
Even for the dedicated you can't help but notice you're paying 12 months sub for 9 months of racing...
Teddy Lop said:
MG CHRIS said:
If sky sports f1 was more a dedicated motorsport channel very much like motors tv was then I would be tempted to get it however im not paying the sum sky want to watch 20 or so f1 races where I can watch the highlights on channel 4 usually in the evening leaving me to do stuff during the day.
Tbh my interest in f1 has dwindled massively missed several races last year and a few turned of half way through. In that same time ive watched the full formula e season last year and continue to watch the btcc which is getting better and better each year.
that was a point I made in a thread the other day, sky sports f1 was rerunning old practice session footage. How many people are going to be into that?Tbh my interest in f1 has dwindled massively missed several races last year and a few turned of half way through. In that same time ive watched the full formula e season last year and continue to watch the btcc which is getting better and better each year.
Even for the dedicated you can't help but notice you're paying 12 months sub for 9 months of racing...
MG CHRIS said:
I can understand the dedicated football channels as there is enough games to cover the broadcast but that isn't the same with f1. If it contained wec/rallying/rallycross/touring cars even some club level stuff then its worth it but just for f1 its just a rip off.
I dunno if rip offs the right word as f1 is expensive and the other stuff will all be a fraction of the cost but "added value" would help, in the same way an f1 weekend has support races to give the crowd full days of entertainment. Of course when most motorsport is happening concurrently that's not so easy for a broadcaster to manage so you may need more than just the one channel..stevemcs said:
I'd happily pay Sky if the races were worth watching, but they are not. I don't even bother with the highlights anymore. Maybe the problem isn't just the cost its the racing too.
Your comment demonstrates the wider issue with restricted TV coverage.This year has seem some of the best races of the modern era; arguably of any era. Yet because access is limited, people like you (and there are many with the same view) do not get the opportunity to see this for yourself.
StevieBee said:
Your comment demonstrates the wider issue with restricted TV coverage.
This year has seem some of the best races of the modern era; arguably of any era. Yet because access is limited, people like you (and there are many with the same view) do not get the opportunity to see this for yourself.
When there is less than 2 seconds between first and second and overtaking happens on the track not through pit lane strategy then i may reconsider.This year has seem some of the best races of the modern era; arguably of any era. Yet because access is limited, people like you (and there are many with the same view) do not get the opportunity to see this for yourself.
StevieBee said:
stevemcs said:
I'd happily pay Sky if the races were worth watching, but they are not. I don't even bother with the highlights anymore. Maybe the problem isn't just the cost its the racing too.
Your comment demonstrates the wider issue with restricted TV coverage.This year has seem some of the best races of the modern era; arguably of any era. Yet because access is limited, people like you (and there are many with the same view) do not get the opportunity to see this for yourself.
From an avid never missed a F1 race in the era of Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill, right through Schumacher and a lot of Lewis Hamilton, I've switched to BTCC on itv4 almost entirely, rarely even look at the highlights.
As my missus marshalls these days I even get to see live motorsport - Brands is my favourite track for spectating. I still love motorsport, but F1 is a side note to me these days.
Where are the younger F1 enthusiasts going to come from?
As my missus marshalls these days I even get to see live motorsport - Brands is my favourite track for spectating. I still love motorsport, but F1 is a side note to me these days.
Where are the younger F1 enthusiasts going to come from?
StevieBee said:
stevemcs said:
I'd happily pay Sky if the races were worth watching, but they are not. I don't even bother with the highlights anymore. Maybe the problem isn't just the cost its the racing too.
Your comment demonstrates the wider issue with restricted TV coverage.This year has seem some of the best races of the modern era; arguably of any era. Yet because access is limited, people like you (and there are many with the same view) do not get the opportunity to see this for yourself.
I think we all know that if certain teams, or maybe just one certain team, have or has a clear edge in the first few races, the championships are all but done and dusted.
We’ve always had the odd season like that but the last 6 years has been stultifying in this respect, for many.
I have been watching F1 since 1998 Suzuka. I never missed a race, always read the various F1 forums, bought the magazines but in 2019 I just got bored of the repetitiveness of the same driver/team winning and just stopped watching. If I did bother watching a race I immediately turned off after the checkered flag.
You could argue the early 2000s were just as boring but there werent that many other sports you could easily tune into, no Youtube, no social media etc so you were forced to put up with it in a sense.
I cant see F1 making new fans, existing fans are getting bored, they're still no closer to breaking the American market, the field spread is still too big and the sport is too expensive for new entrants. Its basically a tier 1 vs tier 2 sport and the gap seems to be getting bigger wheras in the past after rule stabilisation the field spread got very tight.
I hope Ferrari or Verstappen can end the Mercedes-Hamilton dominance otherwise 2020 will just be another yawn fest.
All in my humble opinion.....
You could argue the early 2000s were just as boring but there werent that many other sports you could easily tune into, no Youtube, no social media etc so you were forced to put up with it in a sense.
I cant see F1 making new fans, existing fans are getting bored, they're still no closer to breaking the American market, the field spread is still too big and the sport is too expensive for new entrants. Its basically a tier 1 vs tier 2 sport and the gap seems to be getting bigger wheras in the past after rule stabilisation the field spread got very tight.
I hope Ferrari or Verstappen can end the Mercedes-Hamilton dominance otherwise 2020 will just be another yawn fest.
All in my humble opinion.....
I saw my first GP in 1971 - 7 years before it was regularly shown on TV . Now I can see 20 odd races on TV but is it better? Not really , just very different . Back then I could see one GP and up to 3 non championship races in England , and I could wander around pit and paddock for pennies without a hint of privacy tape or security heavies . You felt like you belonged to an exclusive club whose bible was Autosport.
And then came blanket TV and millions of fans who'd never been a near race track , or , if they did , behaved ,like young teens at an Ariana Grande gig .
More viewers better? Part of me wishes they'd all bugger off back to where they came from ....
And then came blanket TV and millions of fans who'd never been a near race track , or , if they did , behaved ,like young teens at an Ariana Grande gig .
More viewers better? Part of me wishes they'd all bugger off back to where they came from ....
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