USA F-1 TV off Speed TV?

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Originally Posted by jarrambide

Ratings are bad because no one cares about Indy Cars, way before NBC Sports their ratings were a joke and getting worst every year, and I was an American Open Wheel fan, I just don't care, which is why I don't wach, not because of NBC Sports Network.

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agreed

This is bad news. I can't stand the screen format NBC is using for IndyCar. Take a look here for an example (2012 IndyCar race):

[HD] IndyCar 2012 - Sonoma (Finish) - YouTube


A fifth of screen is wasted for no good reason. The scrolling line is extremely annoying, and for some reason it's at the top of screen making it worse. I guess I would have to find some kind of internet feed to watch F1.

I doubt that NBC will be able to use their own 'scroll lines' as FOM delivers their own on the feed. I'd bet Bernie has that as a clause in the contract.

NBC claims they'll broadcast over 100hours per year, including FP, Qual & Race coverage across broadcast, cable and digital platforms.

4 races will be on the mothership broadcaster...Canada, Monaco, Austin and (Brazil?) and the rest on NBCSports and streaming.

Speed said that they were simply out-bid on the 4-year contract.
Hopefully, Speed will still produce 'Formula 1 De-Brief' despite this setback for them.

I wonder who the broadcast team will be, and whether or not they will be live on-site at the races or reporting from the studio in front of a screen...

Will NBC provide their own commentators or simply pick up the FOM audio feed with Edwards, Coulthard et al?

In Canada we haven’t had F1 coverage by Speed since last year :( . TSN has been providing coverage of all quals and races, but irritatingly no pre or post race coverage, similar to what Buxton provides for Speed.

I can only state my opinion. One of the reasons that I watch and so enjoy F1 coverage on Speed is because of the amazing job that Varsha, Hobbs and Matchett do in each and every session and on Formula One Debrief. And one of the reasons (the main reason) that I stopped watching IndyCar qualifying on NBC Sports around mid season was because of the dreadful job that Jenkins, Dallenbach and (especially) Beekhuis did during the qualys. I met Beekhuis many years ago and I like him as a person. But his "Professor B" routine wore very thin with me when he proved completely unable to convey fundamental data and stats during the broadcasts. IMO, the IndyCar races this year were very good... in some cases they were amazingly good and very action packed. But the broadcast team had no ability to convey any sense of drama or excitement, the way that Varsha, Hobbs and Matchett usually do... even when a particular F1 race is a boring, parade-like affair.

I can only hope that NBC Sports will do a better job with F1 than they have with IndyCar, because their IndyCar broadcasts (direction, production, commentating and graphics) is complete Amateur Hour. Only when compared to the (even worse) coverage on ABC/ESPN does the NBC Sports coverage of IndyCar look relatively good. My fondness for American open wheel formula car racing used to be on par with my fondness for F1. But that changed about the time that CART went away. Then I gave it another chance very recently and tried to get back in tune with it. But now Tony George is re-emerging and I'm prepared to go away again... this time for good. It's just that the NBC Sports coverage certainly has given me no reason to tune in or get excited about what I'm seeing, even when it's a good race.

I'll wait and hold out some hope. I love F1 way too much to completely give up on it, no matter where it's broadcast.

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Originally Posted by Jag_Warrior

... But the broadcast team had no ability to convey any sense of drama or excitement, the way that Varsha, Hobbs and Matchett usually do... even when a particular F1 race is a boring, parade-like affair.....

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I agree.
I miss the Speed commentators.
I particularly enjoyed Steve Matchett’s technical input. David Hobbs is a bit of a fossil, but he did provide a good chuckle from time to time.
Paxton does a decent job from "on-site" too.

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Originally Posted by call_me_andrew

The ratings aren't bad because the coverage is bad. The ratings are bad because it's a SERIES no one watches.

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fixered

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Originally Posted by Jag_Warrior

I just heard this horrible news! I am literally sick to my stomach right now! I'm not even watching the race. I'll just DVR it. I have no spirit to watch F1 right now.

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Dude,
Macho up.

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Originally Posted by Jag_Warrior

Varsha, Hobbs and Matchett were like constants in my sports viewing life - and auto racing is the only sport that I watch and follow these days. Unlike most of the other Fox related channels, Speed has been a great source of television entertainment for me. Speed has done an amazing job covering F1 all these years. It was a godsend when Speedvision got the contract away from ESPN. I was so happy! But from what I hear, F1 is going to NBC - possibly the only network even worse than ESPN for motorsports. I can dream that they'll have enough sense to beg Varsha, Hobbs and Matchett to come over and tempt them with large sacks of cash. But in reality, they'll probably turn the broadcast commentating over to the town clowns who do the IRL/IndyCar coverage on NBC Sports: Wally Dallenbach, Jon Beekhuis and whatever skid row bum they find walking past their offices, now that Jenkins has retired. #$@$!!_*&$#*!$#!$(~$(#($%%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !! :angryfire :hot:

Lewis is going to Mercedes. Tony George is trying to buy the IndyCar series... so he can finish killing it off. And now this! :mad: So would anyone like to come by my house and shoot my dog?

Hell, nothing good lasts forever. I should know that by now! :rolleyes:

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NBC Sports will offer 100 hours of F1 coverage. That adds up to 5 hours per weekend event. They will offer live streaming of all events. They are planing on broadcasting all of the races live.

Word is they are already talking to Varsha and Matchett and are just waiting for the OK from Fox to release them from their contracts(a formality)

So I view it as a definite improvement from NASCAR TV

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Originally Posted by Jag_Warrior

I'm not sure if you're being serious or if that's cruel sarcasm. Given the continuing ratings plunge since the IndyCar Series moved to NBC Sports, I must assume that you're kicking the one-eyed, three-legged dog. Bad Andrew. Bad! :vader:

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Indycar's ratings were in the tank before the NBC Sports Network even existed. If anything they have maintained it but I don't blame the network It is 100% the fault of the series.

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Originally Posted by Jag_Warrior

Unless I can find some other means of watching the races (legal or not), and that's highly doubtful, I guess I'll just have to make the best of what looks like a totally crappy situation. All of us unfortunate American F1 fans are in the same boat. So I guess we'll suffer together. :beer:

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So your are already assuming that NBC's Coverage will be bad?

I just hope NBC does it up right and gets the three amigos.