Official 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[TheDeuce]

Sandpit Steve said:

Teddy Lop said:

I'm mixed on that, for all skys faults having a broadcaster with the capacity/willingness to broadcast everything is nice, gotten quite into the f2&3

• memories of itv cutting the coverage before the podium for Hamilton's first ever win*

The actual Sky TV product is very good, the original deal with Bernie was to set up a model of how to cover the event over three days, with a lot of access to drivers and team managers. The Sky coverage is also sold to various extents across the English-speaking world, something like 60 countries.

F1 have learned a lot from how Sky have done it, and are starting to do more of their own feature pieces and magazine shows across the weekend. I’d expect that, if and when Sky lose the contract, a number of their team both in front and behind the camera will move across and work for F1 directly.

That's the dream - that FOM own production team are learning from Sky with a view to at some point producing entirely in house, probably with several familiar faces moving across. That way the UK can indeed at last move on to the F1TV platform for live races and we can all enjoy more whilst paying considerably less.

Sadly, the other possibility as has been mooted in the press previously is that Sky are keeping FOM pretty happy in-spite of the ''awkward' agreement, as the Sky output is pretty good and is keeping the sport popular and attracting new viewers. Perhaps crucially Sky via their sub-brands and licensed content delivery to other networks represent a very large part of the F1 audience - not all of whom will easily translate in to F1TV customers if their traditional providers lose the content.

At some point FOM must want to cut out the middle man and take more direct control, but I wouldn't assume that will happen automatically when the current Sky deal is up for renewal. If FOM still feel reliant upon Sky and it's reach and expertise at that point, we could easily see Sky negotiate another painfully long and restrictive rights deal.

[SturdyHSV]

I am another that would more than happily pay for an F1TV Pro subscription to pay the money directly to FOM for the content they produce. I'm not interested in also paying for a VPN and to jump through various hoops to watch it, so will just continue to enjoy the Ch 4 Highlights until there is either a better FTA option (unlikely) or I can pay FOM for the content directly (fingers crossed).

[ggdrew]

Yeah the phrase used by Liberty a lot this year is "Over the Top" broadcasting of F1 direct to subscribers instead of thru Sky

[London424]

TheDeuce said:

Sandpit Steve said:

Teddy Lop said:

I'm mixed on that, for all skys faults having a broadcaster with the capacity/willingness to broadcast everything is nice, gotten quite into the f2&3

• memories of itv cutting the coverage before the podium for Hamilton's first ever win*

The actual Sky TV product is very good, the original deal with Bernie was to set up a model of how to cover the event over three days, with a lot of access to drivers and team managers. The Sky coverage is also sold to various extents across the English-speaking world, something like 60 countries.

F1 have learned a lot from how Sky have done it, and are starting to do more of their own feature pieces and magazine shows across the weekend. I’d expect that, if and when Sky lose the contract, a number of their team both in front and behind the camera will move across and work for F1 directly.

That's the dream - that FOM own production team are learning from Sky with a view to at some point producing entirely in house, probably with several familiar faces moving across. That way the UK can indeed at last move on to the F1TV platform for live races and we can all enjoy more whilst paying considerably less.

Sadly, the other possibility as has been mooted in the press previously is that Sky are keeping FOM pretty happy in-spite of the ''awkward' agreement, as the Sky output is pretty good and is keeping the sport popular and attracting new viewers. Perhaps crucially Sky via their sub-brands and licensed content delivery to other networks represent a very large part of the F1 audience - not all of whom will easily translate in to F1TV customers if their traditional providers lose the content.

At some point FOM must want to cut out the middle man and take more direct control, but I wouldn't assume that will happen automatically when the current Sky deal is up for renewal. If FOM still feel reliant upon Sky and it's reach and expertise at that point, we could easily see Sky negotiate another painfully long and restrictive rights deal.

They’re also paying a shedload of money. £200 odd million a year is a lot of subscribers you have to convince to pay another subscription fee.

[TheDeuce]

London424 said:

TheDeuce said:

Sandpit Steve said:

Teddy Lop said:

I'm mixed on that, for all skys faults having a broadcaster with the capacity/willingness to broadcast everything is nice, gotten quite into the f2&3

• memories of itv cutting the coverage before the podium for Hamilton's first ever win*

The actual Sky TV product is very good, the original deal with Bernie was to set up a model of how to cover the event over three days, with a lot of access to drivers and team managers. The Sky coverage is also sold to various extents across the English-speaking world, something like 60 countries.

F1 have learned a lot from how Sky have done it, and are starting to do more of their own feature pieces and magazine shows across the weekend. I’d expect that, if and when Sky lose the contract, a number of their team both in front and behind the camera will move across and work for F1 directly.

That's the dream - that FOM own production team are learning from Sky with a view to at some point producing entirely in house, probably with several familiar faces moving across. That way the UK can indeed at last move on to the F1TV platform for live races and we can all enjoy more whilst paying considerably less.

Sadly, the other possibility as has been mooted in the press previously is that Sky are keeping FOM pretty happy in-spite of the ''awkward' agreement, as the Sky output is pretty good and is keeping the sport popular and attracting new viewers. Perhaps crucially Sky via their sub-brands and licensed content delivery to other networks represent a very large part of the F1 audience - not all of whom will easily translate in to F1TV customers if their traditional providers lose the content.

At some point FOM must want to cut out the middle man and take more direct control, but I wouldn't assume that will happen automatically when the current Sky deal is up for renewal. If FOM still feel reliant upon Sky and it's reach and expertise at that point, we could easily see Sky negotiate another painfully long and restrictive rights deal.

They’re also paying a shedload of money. £200 odd million a year is a lot of subscribers you have to convince to pay another subscription fee.

Exactly - that's my point really. Long term it makes sense for FOM to learn from and copy Sky's production in house and go direct to the viewer via their own F1TV platform... But that's an end goal, a lot has to happen and be judged well to get there!

Which is why anyone hoping for Sky to leave the equation when the current agreement is concluded, is probably being a little optimistic..

[Mr Pointy]

There's nothing that Sky do that C4 & Whisper weren't doing before & given the antipathy towards Croft, some of it was better. It doesn't necessarily make sense for F1TV to take the whole production in-house, it's just a shed load of cost that can be contracted out. They key element is the talent in the producers & presenters who come up with the ideas for the coverage.

[HustleRussell]

There’s been some talk of Amazon getting it hasn’t there?

[Jasandjules]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

He got one go in the Merc. He was beating Bottas including overtaking him on track. He got within 1/10th of him for Quali (IIRC) You can't tell me that is not bad going for a guy in his first race in that car??!?

[Northernboy]

Jasandjules said:

He got one go in the Merc. He was beating Bottas including overtaking him on track. He got within 1/10th of him for Quali (IIRC) You can't tell me that is not bad going for a guy in his first race in that car??!?

Domenicali and Toto have both said that they believe he’ll be a future world champion, but what do they know?

[Sandpit Steve]

TheDeuce said:

Exactly - that's my point really. Long term it makes sense for FOM to learn from and copy Sky's production in house and go direct to the viewer via their own F1TV platform... But that's an end goal, a lot has to happen and be judged well to get there!

Which is why anyone hoping for Sky to leave the equation when the current agreement is concluded, is probably being a little optimistic..

Yes, there’s a right tangle of existing contracts in place, all of which have a higher or lower value depending on the others.

In an ideal world we have Sky continuing to do their thing, C4 or another terrestrial broadcaster doing their thing too, and the standalone F1 TV product over the top, including the live race broadcasts.

If Sky walk away completely, because they only want exclusive deals including web content, then the UK terrestrial package becomes more valuable, and may also include live races. F1’s sponsors want eyeballs.

Currently, Sky pay very well but also resell their content to many other countries. Those other countries could take the live F1 TV feed and pay F1 directly, so perhaps it’s not quite the £200m shortfall that F1 has to make up from UK OOT subscriptions.

[talksthetorque]

Remember that a LOT of people who get SkyF1 get other sports as well.
I waited until there was an awesome offer was on as I'm not fussed about the other sports and was not paying £18 a month contracted for 18 months for the F1 channel when they were offering all of the Sky Sports channels for £25 a month.
But as part of a package of TV, Phone, Fibre broadband, Sky ents and Sports (no UHD, movies or kids) for £55 a month, it becomes more hideable from the missus palatable.

TL:DR F1 have to work out what to charge the people who want to only watch F1, as opposed to getting a full sports package from their national suppliers.

Anyway, I don't know why we're discussing this on the Bahrain thread as it was on FTA sky Sports Main event as well

[stemll]

talksthetorque said:

Remember that a LOT of people who get SkyF1 get other sports as well.
I waited until there was an awesome offer was on as I'm not fussed about the other sports and was not paying £18 a month contracted for 18 months for the F1 channel when they were offering all of the Sky Sports channels for £25 a month.
But as part of a package of TV, Phone, Fibre broadband, Sky ents and Sports (no UHD, movies or kids) for £55 a month, it becomes more hideable from the missus palatable.

TL:DR F1 have to work out what to charge the people who want to only watch F1, as opposed to getting a full sports package from their national suppliers.

Anyway, I don't know why we're discussing this on the Bahrain thread as it was on FTA sky Sports Main event as well

Sky F1 doesn't seem to be available as a standalone channel any more according to their package builder. I certainly don't have it listed on my contract any more and I've had Sky F1 since it launched. Taking F1 out of Sky Sports will not reduce the cost of the package (because Sky) so any direct F1TV sub will be additional expense for anyone that has it for more than just F1.

[exelero]

I'll just leave this funny video here about the Race. So unfortunate that we have wait another week for the next one





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5blTsLWZss

[ajprice]

2010 - 2021. 6/7 so far.

[HustleRussell]

stemll said:

Sky F1 doesn't seem to be available as a standalone channel any more according to their package builder. I certainly don't have it listed on my contract any more and I've had Sky F1 since it launched. Taking F1 out of Sky Sports will not reduce the cost of the package (because Sky) so any direct F1TV sub will be additional expense for anyone that has it for more than just F1.

£18 add on for me. I had it at £10/month for two years but unfortunately had to unsubscribe when it ended and we were suddenly paying £25 for the whole Sports package?

[stemll]

HustleRussell said:

£18 add on for me. I had it at £10/month for two years but unfortunately had to unsubscribe when it ended and we were suddenly paying £25 for the whole Sports package?

Are you adding that to your current package? I was looking as a new subscriber and it only seems to offer it as part of £22 Sports.

Certainly when I renegotiated my contract last June, I just have TV, Sports Complete and Ultimate add on. No mention of F1 as a stand alone channel but it's there.

That said, Sky's site has always been rather "opaque" in the way it presents things. It's almost like they want you to choose the expensive options so it would not surprise me in the slightest if different people see different prices and options

[Stan the Bat]

exelero said:

I'll just leave this funny video here about the Race. So unfortunate that we have wait another week for the next one





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5blTsLWZss

[Deesee]

Stan the Bat said:

exelero said:

I'll just leave this funny video here about the Race. So unfortunate that we have wait another week for the next one





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5blTsLWZss

Alphamaxnova1 style super quality!

[thatsprettyshady]

stemll said:

HustleRussell said:

£18 add on for me. I had it at £10/month for two years but unfortunately had to unsubscribe when it ended and we were suddenly paying £25 for the whole Sports package?

Are you adding that to your current package? I was looking as a new subscriber and it only seems to offer it as part of £22 Sports.

Certainly when I renegotiated my contract last June, I just have TV, Sports Complete and Ultimate add on. No mention of F1 as a stand alone channel but it's there.

That said, Sky's site has always been rather "opaque" in the way it presents things. It's almost like they want you to choose the expensive options so it would not surprise me in the slightest if different people see different prices and options

Thats strange, I got sky in Feb 2020 when they were offering a package with just the F1 channel. I know previously to this they were only offering it if you got all of the sports channels, not sure why they have reverted back to doing that.