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Its also worth noting that the Beeb have signed Tom Clarkson as pit lane reporter alongside Lee. It'll be interesting to see how Suzi takes to the role as main presenter, but Tom is accomplished before he's started IMO. Having been disappointed Jake was leaving it looks like once again the Beeb have a strong line up. Roll on Australia.
I might sound like an egit, but who is Tom ClarksonQuote:
Originally Posted by henners88
Oh that must be Tom Clarkson who used to write for F1 Racing when I used to get it every month (back in 99-2000).Quote:
Originally Posted by steveaki13
Was never sure at the time whether I felt he was good or pompous... :)
Ah. Thanks very much.Quote:
Originally Posted by rjbetty
Well I am sure he can do a decent job.
Tom filled in for Lee during the Olympics as Lee was filling in for Jake whilst he covered the Olympics. He was very good and knowledgeable as an established F1 writer in his own right.Quote:
Originally Posted by steveaki13
The cost of watching F1 on Sky in the UK will rise to £510 per season next month.
On April 9th the Sky F1 channel will become part of the Sky Sports package which costs £21 per month on top of a £21.50 per month Sky subscription (excluding offers), with a minimum 12-month contract.
The F1 channel is currently part of the HD pack which costs £381 per year (discounted to £349.50 at present). Existing Sky customers who receive the F1 channel through the HD pack will continue to do so after the move. According to Sky, 4.5 million subscribers have the HD pack.
Sky is also planning to offer on-demand access to Sky Sports via its Now TV streaming website. This service, which does not require a Sky contract, will offer 24 hours’ access to Sky Sports, including the F1 channel, for £9.99.
Nine of this year’s nineteen races will be shown on free-to-air television in the UK. All the rounds are being shown on Sky.
Sky F1 channel price rising to £510 per season in the UK - F1 Fanatic
What a huge increase!, although I guess I shouldn't be surprised.... and 24 hours access to Sky Sports via TV streaming for £9.99 is cut price? :/
I think we all knew that was coming. My guess now is that they'll be showing adverts during the races after next season.
As if/when they take it off of the HD pack - which is not for this year, but who knows for next, that will be the end of my Sky subscription. I wouldnt have signed up just for sport/F1 anyway, simply had a deal to get an HD box and pack already.
Simply cannot justify that kind of money in these times of austerity and prices rising on everything, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.
I wonder how many there are who have F1 on the HD pack but NOT the Sports?
Well I'm one of them. If F1 were to disappear for HD only subscribers I would also look into cancelling my HD sub too.Quote:
Originally Posted by acescribe
I think the rise is also a good thing though. Its made any future decisions for me and many others who have looked into the financial means of possibly getting the channel a foregone conclusion. It was a stretch as it was but now its moved completely out of reach. Sky have not confirmed whether existing HD customers will be able to receive the channel without the Sports pack beyond the end of 2013 either. I would imagine if it means customers are suddenly made to pay significantly more, you'll see yet another dramatic drop in Sky's F1 audience as there will be a percentage who will not pay extra. I don't think this makes any difference to Sky because they have the coverage and at the moment its affordable for them, how many people who are watching doesn't matter. It needs the sport and sponsors to care really for an decision to be made IMO. If Sky's audience drops from their 700k average per race to say 400k, you have to ask yourself whether Sky will spend as much money on delivering the coverage to fans? At the moment they are spending huge amounts trying out new things with a large presenting team. If they can see their rivals the BBC pulling in 5 times their audience on a fraction of the budget, are they going to continue maximum effort in the long term? Who knows but I think having such a popular sport on pay TV with full coverage knowing that several million are watching a cut down version elsewhere is always going to end badly. The overall audience is down 3 million after just one year, let see what the effects will be in 3 years time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zico
I would imagine most of your average Sky F1 audience are not full sports subscribers. Obviously that's just an opinion but there was a poll not so long ago elsewhere hinting at this. I don't think any of my friends who watch F1 on Sky have the Sports pack to go with it? Most of them are my age and if they are spending extra for a package, its most likely the entertainment pack for their children.Quote:
Originally Posted by acescribe