If you have Sky, who did you watch the Chinese Grand Prix with -Sky or the BBC?

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Rennen

Is BBC in HD?

as with pretty much all BBC programmes, yes.

[p-matt]

Flicked between Sky and BBC for the pre-race, but watched mainly Sky. Watched the race and post-race live and Sky and then watched post-race and the forum on the BBC later in the day. I figured that I probably wouldn't have gone back to watch the Sky post-race coverage if I didn't watch it live, but actually I thought it was very good. Herbert is a much better pundit than Damon, Lazenby was much more relaxed this weekend, and, dare I say it, Gerogie wasn't awful this weekend.

I was surprised at how blatant Sky were about not taking breaks pre and post race while BBC was still airing.

And Lau in the F1 forum was absolutely priceless.

[LC2guy]

I watched sky. They had the race and 2 fit birds .....

[ECW Dan Selby]

*slaps forehead*

That's why they have to have them on there, then...

Selby

[Born Racer]

I watched the entire re-run show on Sky last night and the coverage was improved. The Sky Pad became less of a gimmick and they used it for something a bit more useful. There was more analysis with it. Plus, although Georgie may not know much about F1 (yet), neither does Simon, she somehow has some semblance of charm about her that belies the perception of her as a token 'babe'; this is good news, because we could obviously point out that she's not necessary for Ant to do his bit, but she's there anyway, so at least she seemed to have a bit more something this weekend.

Fake Jake (Simon) seemed a bit more relaxed as well.

Johnny Herbert was just what the show needed. His banter with Martin Brundle was natural and could only come from two people who know each other. It gave it that BBC Forum feel that they were probably seeking with the handing them all ice creams bit, but in a real way. Damon Hill is a top guy, but I think Johnny fits into that role naturally. Maybe Damon just needs to loosen up to to let himself come to the fore.

[Born Racer]

I watched the entire re-run show on Sky last night and the coverage was improved. The Sky Pad became less of a gimmick and they used it for something a bit more useful. There was more analysis with it. Plus, although Georgie may not know much about F1 (yet), neither does Simon, she somehow has some semblance of charm about her that belies the perception of her as a token 'babe'; this is good news, because we could obviously point out that she's not necessary for Ant to do his bit, but she's there anyway, so at least she seemed to have a bit more something this weekend.

Fake Jake (Simon) seemed a bit more relaxed as well.

Johnny Herbert was just what the show needed. His banter with Martin Brundle was natural and could only come from two people who know each other. It gave it that BBC Forum feel that they were probably seeking with the handing them all ice creams bit, but in a real way. Damon Hill is a top guy, but I think Johnny fits into that role naturally. Maybe Damon just needs to loosen up to to let himself come to the fore.

Originally Posted by LC2guy

I watched sky. They had the race and 2 fit birds .....

It's funny because I thought Natalie looked like a young fangirl with an autograph pad when trying to get a word from Kimi on the way to the grid. He briefly answered (but not that brief for Kimi) and as he walked off she excitedly and desperately cried after him "Good luck for the race!"

[ECW Dan Selby]

lmao So funny you say the 'Fake Jake'. As soon as I saw him I cracked a load of my friends up by shouting something about 'Fake Humphrey'...



Selby

[MarkG]

Originally Posted by Peat

Does it matter?

Considering there is a squillion page thread on the subject already. If this really is a contentious issue in your lives, i'll happily swap with you!

Agreed.

Bet there'll be yet another squillion-pages about Sky though because it REALLY does matter to some people.

[LC2guy]

It'll matter even more in a few years when the bbc drop F1 altogether.

[Born Racer]

It doesn't matter as much as h2O and air, but I was interested in knowing what option people went for if they had the choice of both. I don't need to remember not to go onto celebrity forums and suggest to them that it doesn't matter what Rihanna's wearing this week and who's going out with who.

[MagnetON]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Johnny Herbert was just what the show needed. His banter with Martin Brundle was natural and could only come from two people who know each other. It gave it that BBC Forum feel that they were probably seeking with the handing them all ice creams bit, but in a real way. Damon Hill is a top guy, but I think Johnny fits into that role naturally. Maybe Damon just needs to loosen up to to let himself come to the fore.

I really did think the banter between them was excellent.

[Born Racer]

It was totally natural. Jake, David and Eddie also have a rapport, but they try to always live up to that, to their detriment of their performance (like the Top Gear guys).

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

It was totally natural. Jake, David and Eddie also have a rapport, but they try to always live up to that, to their detriment of their performance (like the Top Gear guys).

I always thought that there was a fair amount of tongue in cheek, as with the Top Gear Guys.

[Born Racer]

I suppose, but then you're getting into the realm of 'ironic performances', which is complicated. I guess they should force it just that bit less. Is EJ's poetry corner at the bit supposed to be watched with a straight face, incidentally?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

I suppose, but then you're getting into the realm of 'ironic performances', which is complicated. I guess they should force it just that bit less. Is EJ's poetry corner at the bit supposed to be watched with a straight face, incidentally?

A wry smile.

[boyracer019]

I watched on the BBC, but I am doing this F1 year a little differently and watching with F1 in Pubs which is a Twitter and Facebook get together oddly enough in bars around the country - just google it!! (A pint, and a full english with like minded souls)
We had a vote and decided to give the beeb a go this week - cannot honestly say I preferred Ben ad DC over Crofty and Martin, but I was not totally put off either

[brands]

I watched FP1 on iPlayer (BBC), the first 40 minutes of FP2 on Sky, the rest on Iplayer when I got home. Qually watched on Sky, the race on iPlayer when I got home from the F2s at Silverstone.

When it's a BBC live GP, and I'm away from home, I will use iPlayer as it's access on demand. When it's a Sky only I will use the Sky+ box.

If I'm at home during any sessions I will watch on Sky.


ps.....The BBC 5liveX radio coverage on FP1 etc is dreadful. The combination of James Allen and Jaime Alguersuari has to be the worst pairing in F1, ever. IMHO.

[m1fcf]

I recorded both, and watched them both later in the day, just in case one had a different result

From watching both, BBC team had the better rapport with each other, but I felt that Sky had the better pre-race coverage and team member interviews, maybe even the edge on the Grid Walk (but that might just be the experience of the presenter)

The commentary of the race goes to Sky I'm afraid. Brundle was the ever present professional and Crofty getting a little carried away. The BBC crew never really kept me enthralled.

I would happily drop the Sky's F1 Show after the racing, and replace it with the BBC's F1 Forum though. In fact, take all the Sky F1 Shows and replace them with more of the F1 Forum type programme would be great in my opinion.

[Paradise City]

I did enjoy Herbert and Brundle sharing the same screen. It was like seeing people I was familiar with rather than strange Sky people.

Lazenby, through no fault of his own really, does come across as an imitation Jake. At one point I was listening from the other room and it took a good, long while to realise it was not Jake but Lazenby I was listening to!

Originally Posted by MarkG

Bet there'll be yet another squillion-pages about Sky though because it REALLY does matter to some people.

Just a bit of harmless cultural criticism, philistine!

[Adam43]

Simon has been doing that for years on the Rugby.

[Alfaholic]

Originally Posted by brands

The BBC 5liveX radio coverage on FP1 etc is dreadful. The combination of James Allen and Jaime Alguersuari has to be the worst pairing in F1, ever. IMHO.

"Ooooffff" (copyright James Allen all too often last Sunday) used in response to any incident as if he'd just been punched in the stomach is starting to drive me mad. I really enjoyed the Ant Davidson/David Croft broadcasts last year and James/Jaime just don't come anywhere close.

However having been subject to TalkSport's football commentary I really hope they don't make a bid for the F1 radio contract.

[Adam43]

Perhaps he was punched in the stomach?!

[Alfaholic]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Perhaps he was punched in the stomach?!

Where do I apply to help in this aspect of the commentary?

[Paradise City]

I thought Jamie might be a poor choice with respect to the fella. He hasn't the voice and is too young. I know his unique DRS expertise was his niche but you need the voice and the vocabulary to deliver that expertise.

[strider]

I stuck with the BBC throughout and thoroughly enjoyed it. I cannot understand why anyone would channel hop between the two.