I know everyone has a preference for where they watch it, but even though i have Sky F1 i always preferred the beeb. Sky just seems like a bunch of fanbois fighting to tell you how much they know about everything.

It has been the most boring season since Michael Schumacher used to win all the time, except without people deliberately crashing cars to force conveniently timed safety cars. Its as if F1 don’t want anyone in the UK to watch it any more.

The BBC really is shit for sport now!

C4 – least nearly half of the races are free
And all still on R5 Live (except when something more important is on)

This Tory government has been intent on running the BBC into the ground for some time, Rupert Murdoch has far too much influence

It sucks ass that a media company can “buy” the coverage of a sport previously on free to air then charge us to watch it. We must all be bloody stupid.

I said on the F1 thread this was going to happen. BBC need to reduce costs, if you were BBC management it is an easy decision, do you fund programs you can sell around the world or pay for non-exclusive rights to F1 with its dwindling audience?

You have to remember also this is on the back of what was one of the dullest seasons ever, apparently 86% of all laps were led by a Mercedes 👿

Good riddance, about as interesting as Horse racing.

The amount of money paid for paid for the likes of F1 could pay for a raft of coverage of more minority sports, and maybe help get Britain off of the sofa.

rather the license fee wasnt used to pay for F1 – i can understand the fans frustrations, the ppv channels manage to ruin it.

BBC need to reduce costs

charge us to watch it

How do you think it gets to you? who pays for the kit, the presenters and all the other paraphanlia involved in getting it to your telly?

It never was free, it was covered by the license fee / government funds (BBC) or adverts (non BBC or Sky channels) or monthly subscription (sky).

I won’t be paying to watch it as I’ve already stopped. They’ve managed to make a sport that involves racing cars at 200 mph extremely boring, which is a hell of an achievement.

Indeed – is this news?

How do you think it gets to you? who pays for the kit, the presenters and all the other paraphanlia involved in getting it to your telly?

It never was free, it was covered by the license fee / government funds (BBC) or adverts (non BBC or Sky channels) or monthly subscription (sky).
Yeah, I know – but given the vast array of services delivered by the BBC, I have no problem paying a licence fee, whether that includes F1 coverage or not.

Yeah, I know – but given the vast array of services delivered by the BBC, I have no problem paying a licence fee, whether that includes F1 coverage or not.

An interesting / good point. Not to argue against it but in my recent perusal of STW / my own thread comparing Sky with Virgin media – and removing any hate for Murdoch, other than introductory cost the prevailing opinion seemed to be that when you looked in detail, Sky provided the best albeit not the cheapest overall services. But you really have to examine the detail, and many will choose not to. Its a bit like the old BMW vs Ford argument, in my head anyway.

Cars that can’t be driven fast because they will run out of fuel or the tyres will wear out, bland circuits replacing great ones, punitive penalties for trying to overtake, manufactures and politics dominating the sport, grubby behind the scenes deals and cost spiralling out of control forcing competition out of the paddock has all resulted in falling viewers numbers; I am surprised the BBC didn’t pull the plug earlier.

If the savings allow the BBC to make more drama programs such as Wolf Hall or documentaries such as The Hunt then I am all for it.

As an ex-F1 fan, who watched every race from the early 1980’s till Sky bought the rights, I can honestly say I haven’t missed it at all. I am quite glad that none of the money I gave the BBC in the licence fee will now be going to the diminutive one, after he screws a break of contract fee out of them of course.

Said elsewhere, this looks like mirroring cricket. Off to C4 shared with Sky, and then chances are Sky will buy up exclusive rights once the 3 year contact is up, and it’s pay TV only. End result is even less TV audience. Bernie won’t care as long as a rich Arab pays him loads of money to host in an unsuitable country to race in front of an empty stadium.

It never was free, it was covered by the license fee / government funds (BBC) or adverts (non BBC or Sky channels) or monthly subscription (sky).

..well its actually a license fee (that you are paying anyway) and adverts and a monthly subscription with Sky 🙂

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/formula-one-on-tv-channel-four-take-over-bbc-deal-to-broadcast-for-next-three-years-a3142226.html

Pleased to be honest. All that dosh saved can be put to far better use in doing what the Beeb do best..

Documentaries on BBC4, that Wolk Hall thing (well remembered ^^)

And ..

Strictly..

Cum..

Prancing.

If they’re not paying for F1 maybe they can reduce the license fee. Those that feel the BBC are still worth it – feel free to pay mine more

Yes all it’s very sad as the coverage will again be blighted by adverts at the wrong moment!
I will still be watching it on C4, but wonder who presenters will be, bring back Gary Anderson’s technical input, I really miss that.
If the BBC hadn’t waisted a whole load of money moving from TV Centre to Manchester, which has cost far more than they initially said it would and haven’t saved any money and lost quite a few popular presenters into the bargin.

I will miss it but it got boring.

At least Schumacher had to fight for it.

wrightyson – Member
The BBC really is shit for sport now!
POSTED 7 HOURS AGO # REPORT-POST

I can’t remember the last time I watched a BBC channel. I hope my TV licence fee is helping out… Wish we had a choice to subscribe as I would just bulk up my Sky package with sone foreign channels or Porn.

And of course, we have to factor in the people who don’t pay the licence fee and ‘only watch catch up’.
Hopefully, this loophole will be closed soon.

Defender – Member
Yes all it’s very sad as the coverage will again be blighted by adverts at the wrong moment!

C4 promises it will be ad free.

That’s good to know, but I wonder how long that’ll last?

Boo, no more F1 on BBC

Hooray !!

No more Eddie Jordan = Result 😀

Over here it’s not ad free, but they keep showing the race “picture in picture” style through the incredibly long ad breaks.

Defender – Member
That’s good to know, but I wonder how long that’ll last?

They’ve got a three year contract, but as I said earlier, my guess is Sky will then buy up the exclusive rights and it’s gone from terrestrial TV anyway.

I’m glad it’s ended with the BBC. F1 seems to be won in the pits, they may as well just have tyre changing races, cut out all that processional nonsense.

It’s a shame, but it’s been on the cards for ages – I doubt it’s news to anyone the current government it’s keen on the Beeb, it’s one of the few remaining non-right of centre broadcasters so they’re not “on message” with No10 but I think more than that they’re a big thorn in the side of thier financial backers who’d all like it gone, or at least privatised and made to be pay to view like them.

Ultimately F1 is very expensive, I tiny drop in the ocean compared to Football, ironically thanks to Sky, but expensive all the same and whilst for most outlets that investment is sound because of the viewing figures it gets, to the Beeb it’s just expensive.

I hear C4 will at least show the races without ads and as they’re a commercial outshoot of the BBC anyway I doubt much will change for end users – they may even take the current presenters over.

You never know, the current government may not win in 2020 which will likely mean a more secure future for BBC and they might bid again – I just hope ITV never get it again – admittedly they had the darkest days of F1, the 3 on track passes a season years – but he ads were crap.

It sucks ass that a media company can “buy” the coverage of a sport previously on free to air then charge us to watch it. We must all be bloody stupid.

We are – the same thing with the football – first you have to pay for coverage then they bought in pay per view, if we didn’t pay for it then it would stop. But people like to brag & show off how rich they are, so they make it profitable.

Nice, F1 with advertising breaks 😕

At least Sky show thev whole race ad free

C4 are doing the races ad free too.

Are the BBC still keeping exclusive coverage of Wimbledon?
It must now be 99% of its sports budget how can showing 7+ days of this snoozefest be justified (couldn’t even bring myself to watch first British to win it in God knows how long) why not get rid and spred the cash around on some other less expensive/exclusive sports

How long will it be before Sky up the price now that minor competition has gone.
Its included in my package at the moment and I watch it a lot (practice and racing) but I wont be paying any more for it.

Thanks god, no more Suzi Perry ….. Bloody awful presenter !

Sadly this was on the cards from the second the Sky deal was hinted about. Not surprised C4 have snapped it up, will be a headline event for them! Will give them a few races before I judge them on it though.

As for those that are saying it’s good so that the BBC can go back to doing the quality stuff they’re known for: the last full BBC season of F1 won many awards for it’s quality among it’s peers. The viewing figures were regularly up in the 6-8m mark, far more than a lot of their other shows. Now it’s gone. Pity I can’t stand the Sky effort 🙁

its one of those minority sports seemingly watched by people who have no chance of ever competing in the closed shop that is f1.
The money should and must be spent on bringing sports like cycling to the uk masses,to run alongside ITV 4,and do we really ned darts, snooker or golf on mainstream bbc.