F1 tv viewing set to plummet further

[F1Guy]

Originally Posted by wnut

In order to get racing you would also have to dump the over complicated and restrictive engine regulations that Mercedes and their stooges wrote.

Mercedes wrote???? It was in fact Renault that lead the request to change to turbocharged 4 cylinder engines for 2014. Renault spearhead the regulation changes as they believed they would have an advantage over Ferrari and Mercedes.

But Ferrari (Montezemoron) demanded a V6 engine, and would not except a 4 cylinder turbo 'Ferrari' engine. I remember him stating "We don't do four cylinder engines" or something similar at the time (2011).

To put it short, in the beginning FiA wanted a 4 cylinder turbo (was open to twin turbo) with KERS for 2013. Renault wanted a 4 cylinder single turbo with KERS. Ferrari wanted a V6 single turbo, 50/50 on the KERS. Mercedes happy with either engine configuration, but KERS was a must.

What we ended up with was a V6 single turbo with ERS-K and ERS-H in 2014. And Mercedes had the lease to do with the engine regulation changes, originally planned for 2013, although Mercedes made the most of it in the end. So before calling anyone stooges, best you do some homework.

[wnut]

More so, the reason Eccelstone thinks why Mercedes got an advantage in the hybrid era is because of Ross Brawn's presence during the time of the decision. "The key time was when Ross Brawn was in the engine work group, who would decide which engines to put up from 2014." Bernie Ecclestone

https://drivetribe.com/p/bernie-eccl...Q9qiBllGrYUN9Q

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Perhaps the point is that we are discussing this on the basis that many are discouraged by the current rules and regs to the extent that when it dissappears from FTA, many won't be bothered by its loss.

I think you're right. I just wonder how many people will cut their loses and stop watching before it goes behind the pay wall?

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by pole2pole

That’s a great sports package you have. Unfortunately for me in the UK the motor sport I watch is very similar to yourself and is available via BT Sports which I get free with my broadband account, however if you want to watch all F1 race weekends live then you have to subscribe to Sky. It’s a lot of money for one race series. I think the V8 Super Cars are superb. BT Sports did cover all races live with no breaks and in full HD, I never missed a race. Unfortunately from last year BT Sports lost the coverage and a FTA motor sport channel took over. Only half the races are live and the highlights can be seen a week after the race takes place. The picture and sound quality is absolutely terrible. It’s so disappointing because I think it’s one of the best race series on earth.

There is another problem with FTA.I have got used to F1 and Moto GP coverage where I can watch live and mostly ad free -except for F1 practice- all practice,qualifying and races.To go back to getting only the races and maybe qualifying sessions and having 10-15 minutes of ads per hour would be terrible.
I have followed both F1 and motorcycle GP racing pretty fanatically for over 40 years and probably have enjoyed the last 3 years more than ever mainly because of the depth of coverage.The single biggest problem in F1 is the Mercedes domination of most of the last 4 years with the exception of the first 4 months of the 2017 season.

[bella]

i dunno where you guys are watching motogp on free to air - if you don’t have access to the bt subscription or have a sky/virgin connection it isn’t free to air. unless i’m missing something?

[wnut]

Originally Posted by bella

i dunno where you guys are watching motogp on free to air - if you don’t have access to the bt subscription or have a sky/virgin connection it isn’t free to air. unless i’m missing something?

There is a list of FTA broadcasters here Bella:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...P_broadcasters

Channel 5? UK, highlights only/

[chunterer]

I recently had to organise a new tv package and went with Talk Talk which is a bit basic even with a couple of subscription channels.
My wife cancelled sky. The only reason we had it was for the F1.
Tbh i could get by with highlights, it's the F2, V8 Supercars and Blancpain i'm going to miss unless i try and get hold of Zak TV or something mysterious that you plug into a usb port...

[justracing]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Perhaps the point is that we are discussing this on the basis that many are discouraged by the current rules and regs to the extent that when it dissappears from FTA, many won't be bothered by its loss.

I think this sentiment just about sums it up, the only intrigue left in F1 appears to be the the latest helmet designs and the atrocious fashion attire.
For the majority of viewers including myself, who are governed by financial limitations a paywall tips the balance having already come to the conclusion that F1 is but a shadow of its former "must see" glory. I have been passionate about motorsport all my life and have been fortunate enough to attend many major events both home and abroad over the last 50 years but I find myself reverting back more and more towards club racing meetings which afford better racing and are certainly more accessible. If it's FTA I'll watch it with partial interest only.

[S griffin]

It's a shame that we're losing it from FTA, it's bad enough you can't afford to go to a race unless you save up a lot. It just seems this is a self destruct move to me

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by S griffin

It's a shame that we're losing it from FTA, it's bad enough you can't afford to go to a race unless you save up a lot. It just seems this is a self destruct move to me

That's the other side of the coin, falling track attendance because it's too expensive.

[bella]

Originally Posted by wnut

There is a list of FTA broadcasters here Bella:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...P_broadcasters

Channel 5? UK, highlights only/

i rest my case. NOT free to air, if you’re one of the unlucky few to not be in control of the phone line subscription.

my family cancelled sky last year instead, and bought a massive telly with the money they saved. the old boy has the bt sport thing via bt infinity, and picks and chooses which united matches he wants to watch through a chromecast.

personally i have netflix and the proper free to air channels in the uk online. sky’s f1 stuff isn’t affordable in the same way a netflix or amazon prime subscription is. i presume it’s the same situation across the world in the pay tv markets.

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

That's the other side of the coin, falling track attendance because it's too expensive.

it can be expensive, but it isn’t necessarily. you just have to be a bit clever about it, and do proper research. barcelona in particular is easy to do on a budget, especially if you get creative with airports. monaco can be pretty cheap too, again, if you’re creative.

[Peter Mallett]

But, balance that with whether you have a desire to watch it anyway.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

But, balance that with whether you have a desire to watch it anyway.

Yes there are a few blades of grass in my garden that caught my eye with the way they are growing. More interesting than F1.

[loon]

I watched Turismo Carretera free on facebook on sunday, mega!!

[justracing]

Originally Posted by loon

I watched Turismo Carretera free on facebook on sunday, mega!!

Oh damn, I missed that one!

[djinvicta]

Not many years ago, £3.99 bought you a cheap air ticket to Turin or Genoa..Hire a car cheap, drive 60 miles round to Monaco and walk the track Saturday night...Blag a drink on a yacht..
Listen to the echoing blistering noise of V8's on the Sunday round the track...
Wouldn't even bother now...I doubt you could hear the echo.

[pole2pole]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

That's the other side of the coin, falling track attendance because it's too expensive.

Its going to be very interesting to see what direction F1 will end up over the next view years. Dropping the FTA coverage will have a damaging effect on the sport, but I think what will cause the most damage will be Formula E. A healthy list of manufactures already taking part with others waiting to join speaks volumes for the future of the race series. Twin that up with many different sponsors we see around the Formula E tracks, like the manufactures, they are queuing up to be part of Formula E. Also with races in cities, they are easy to get to.

[justracing]

Originally Posted by djinvicta

Not many years ago, £3.99 bought you a cheap air ticket to Turin or Genoa..Hire a car cheap, drive 60 miles round to Monaco and walk the track Saturday night...Blag a drink on a yacht..
Listen to the echoing blistering noise of V8's on the Sunday round the track...
Wouldn't even bother now...I doubt you could hear the echo.

I hate to say it but I did the Monaco GP in 1989 and even back then nearly 30 years ago the race tickets alone were £130 in the grandstand at the exit of Tabac facing the harbour. £3.99 would have bought you a coffee outside the station at the top of the hill without much change!

[MGDavid]

Originally Posted by djinvicta

Not many years ago, £3.99 bought you a cheap air ticket to Turin or Genoa..Hire a car cheap, drive 60 miles round to Monaco and walk the track Saturday night...Blag a drink on a yacht..
Listen to the echoing blistering noise of V8's on the Sunday round the track...
Wouldn't even bother now... I doubt you could hear the echo.

the nearer of those two Italian cities is 120 miles from Monaco - that's inflation for you...

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by bella

it can be expensive, but it isn’t necessarily. you just have to be a bit clever about it, and do proper research. barcelona in particular is easy to do on a budget, especially if you get creative with airports. monaco can be pretty cheap too, again, if you’re creative.

I haven't been to a GP for a long time but with the racing being almost non existent, going to an actual race just doesn't appeal. I'd rather watch it on TV, than spend the money on going to a GP. However, if the racing did improve, I would consider going to see a race again as I used to really enjoy it but I'm not going to hold my breath.

[bella]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I haven't been to a GP for a long time but with the racing being almost non existent, going to an actual race just doesn't appeal. I'd rather watch it on TV, than spend the money on going to a GP. However, if the racing did improve, I would consider going to see a race again as I used to really enjoy it but I'm not going to hold my breath.

as down f0rce said in the other thread, it's about multitasking. travel AND motorsport. i can recommend going out to australia with 5 days either side of the gp to get the flights cheap, and doing a bit of exploring either side. same with monaco. or barcelona. or er... maybe not the nurburgring basically just using motorsport as an excuse to go and visit somewhere.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by bella

as down f0rce said in the other thread, it's about multitasking. travel AND motorsport. i can recommend going out to australia with 5 days either side of the gp to get the flights cheap, and doing a bit of exploring either side. same with monaco. or barcelona. or er... maybe not the nurburgring basically just using motorsport as an excuse to go and visit somewhere.

If only I had the time. I went to Indy in 2016 for the 100th running. Flew out on Thursday, was advised to do the museum on Friday, because it's a zoo on Saturday. Had Saturday to my self, race day was Sunday and flew back on the Red Eye Monday and arrived in London Tuesday.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by bella

as down f0rce said in the other thread, it's about multitasking. travel AND motorsport. i can recommend going out to australia with 5 days either side of the gp to get the flights cheap, and doing a bit of exploring either side. ..... basically just using motorsport as an excuse to go and visit somewhere.

Make that a week before Melbourne and go and do the Phillip Island Classic (Historic) meeting. (This year celebrating 50 years of F5000.)
http://vhrr.com/wp/phillip-island/

Edit: Just realised this year its 2 weeks prior..... usually the weekend before.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by bella

as down f0rce said in the other thread, it's about multitasking. travel AND motorsport. i can recommend going out to australia with 5 days either side of the gp to get the flights cheap, and doing a bit of exploring either side. same with monaco. or barcelona. or er... maybe not the nurburgring basically just using motorsport as an excuse to go and visit somewhere.

Just interested to know what you did and enjoyed in Melbourne 5 days either side of the GP Bella?

Customs that slow?

[wnut]

I think we need a thread:

Things to do when visiting X Grand Prix.