Will F1 go pay TV?

[Satsearching]

Below, an extract (credit to the BBC) of the recent discussion about F1 going pay tv, at the fans forum organised by the teams umbrella group Fota at McLaren's base in Woking, Surrey.

But will certain other broadcasters get their own way in the near future??

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh - the Fota chairman - repeated his view that as far as the teams were concerned, the sport had to remain on free-to-air television, as is required in the teams' contracts with Ecclestone's companies at the moment.

"All of the Fota teams believe in free-to-air," Whitmarsh said. "There will be parts of the market where there will be some differentiated service offered, but F1 teams are creating brand exposure and all the names we have on our cars require us to have a large audience.

"Our current contract requires it remains on free-to-air and the teams are going to safeguard our interests and those of the fans in this regard.
"But it isn't as simple as we must stay free-to-air and we must stay away from pay per view.

"We have to really embrace that media is really multi-faceted. We have to make sure there is a mass free entry to be able to see grands prix. But there's an awful lot of people who want a lot more information than you're going to get on free-to-air."

[PaphosAL]

Well I read earlier this week in the Holy Grail that due to the freeze on the TV Licence, Auntie is considering dropping F1 coverage. Now that would be a disaster!

Even if ITV were to regain it, we'd have those ridiculous ad breaks back.

Doom and gloom...

[Satsearching]

And I guess the "Holy Grail" is a News Corp publication?

Originally Posted by PaphosAL

Well I read earlier this week in the Holy Grail that due to the freeze on the TV Licence, Auntie is considering dropping F1 coverage. Now that would be a disaster!

Even if ITV were to regain it, we'd have those ridiculous ad breaks back.

Doom and gloom...

[PaphosAL]

Daily Mail, m8- so I don't think so

[Satsearching]

Originally Posted by PaphosAL

Daily Mail, m8- so I don't think so

I stopped buying any of those rags years ago, only people who lost out was charity paper collections.

Back on topic please, views on the future of F1 on free tv?

[lincsat]

There was speculation several Months ago that the Beeb were dropping F1. If the teems contract insists on FTA TV, then it's all down to the bidding, I have no doubt that BBC would win it if they were not contested I suppose it's possible that Sky could show the race and qualifying FTA with ads, then the other sessions with race, qualifying and multi-screen un-interrupted on a pay channel. It's a shame that BBC don't get the proper widescreen graphics for their HD channel, the leader-board that comes up down the left of the screen, is nowhere near the edge as it's in the 4:3 safe zone - how many HDTV's are 4:3? Even Setanta Ireland have the widescreen graphics.

[renwich]

I for one will find some other means of watching it rather than add to Hacker Murdoch's coffers

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...066182,00.html

[lincsat]

Well the deal looks more like BBC cost cutting than Bernie money grabbing or Murdock poaching. Sky have confirmed no adverts in the action, although I don't know if that includes between qualli sessions or during warm up/parade laps.

At least Sky will have all sessions in proper HD, not the HD Lite used by BBC, I suspect they will have the proper widescreen graphics as well.

Overall it seems a good deal for F1 fans, my main concerns are if there is a rain delay (Like Canada) How long would Sky stick with it, especially if they have some soccer scheduled and what commentary team will they use, John Watson and Ben Edwards would be an excellent choice - I hope they keep well clear of Andrew Marriott. I hope they Anchor the coverage from the circuit and not from the London Studio (like they do with most overseas sports), the thought of 3 talking heads around a table makes me cringe

[Satsearching]

Thank fook for my motor dish

List of Formula One broadcasters - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I really didn't think it would happen, but I aint going to re-subscribe to sly or that 2 faced (bacon faced) midget. Shame on the BBC as they was doing a cracking job.

And reading that the BBC needed to make cuts to keep Tennis?

I hope the big sponsers pull out.

SS

[PaphosAL]

Just one query here... When we're talking about 'Sly pay tv', are we referring to Sly Sports 1/2/3/4, or are we looking at Sly SBO for their F1 coverage?

Second query (I lied)- HOW can this filthy-rich greedy-bastard little poison dwarf, who gives F1 to Monaco for nothing but gives Silverstone and the British F1 GP all that grief, possibly tarnish the good name of F1, by aligning it with the known criminal and corrupt operation run by the Murdochs?