I think this thread is a good example of why F1 on TV has dropped. Some hard core fans love the Sky coverage, lots of detail, lots of TV, lots of F1 in general. The problem is, the casual viewer is what makes the numbers, not the enthusiast. Whatever you liked in the year, Sky got it wrong, they havent pulled in the viewer they should have, leading to a depressing drop in viewers. The big question will be, if Sky become the sole live broadcaster, will numbers drop like a stone?
BBC Vs Sky - Who was best?
- Thread starter Tweaker
- Start date
I expect so - no matter how good their coverage is, most people won't want to pay for it, so that rules out many millions. They will just watch the highlights instead.
Sky never aimed to get the casual viewers? No casual viewer is going to stump up the money for SSF1 for something they only watch occasionally. If they were after the casual viewers then SSF1 would be a channel included in the basic package.
SSF1 was aimed at the same type of viewer as those who by Sky Sports for the football. They aren't (yet) trying to take over totally from the BBC.
As for the numbers, I wonder how many people stopped watching due to the Vettel walk over last year, and nothing to do with it going to Sky?
Soldato
You don't need a Sports Subscription for F1. It's included with the HD pack, so it's going to attract some casual viewers. Not as many as with the basic/entertainment packs but it's better than nothing.
Soldato
They are completely separate companies/production to Sky in the UK.
That doesn't mean a lot of what we see on sky wasnt done on sky germany and italy already in the past.
unless you believe the UK is some special country that leads the way in broadcasting of sports
Soldato
LOLarknor.
The TV companies would prefer many people watched F1 but Sky need to recoup what they've paid somehow, placing the F1 channel as part of the HD sub instead of Sports seems like a sensible middle ground.
The sponsors? They don't really care about the Uk TBH. They recognise that F1 is a global sport and any loss of product awareness in the UK (and some of Europe) by the move to PPV coverage is dwarfed by the potential in Asia. Lose 750k people who know Vodafone sponsor Mclaren? Not a problem when you gain an extra 4 million people in India who are aware of this and many are brand new customers.
The sponsors? They don't really care about the Uk TBH. They recognise that F1 is a global sport and any loss of product awareness in the UK (and some of Europe) by the move to PPV coverage is dwarfed by the potential in Asia. Lose 750k people who know Vodafone sponsor Mclaren? Not a problem when you gain an extra 4 million people in India who are aware of this and many are brand new customers.
Im not sure that comparison works to be honest.
For instance there will be an initial boost in India, but they are unlikely to keep the interest continually for X amount of years which is what the UK audience has done and continues to do
Also bare in mind that for the most part India is incredibly poor, there may be a gigantic tv audience over there (split into many many dialects and 100's of channels) but they have little disposable income.....so while its a growing economy the "rich" advertisers in F1 arent likely to see much of it or get much benefit from it
Soldato
bbc for me
saw the first two races on sky and didnt like it at all
if only bbc could have all the races!
saw the first two races on sky and didnt like it at all
if only bbc could have all the races!