BBC vs Sky - The Story so Far

Didn't find them that special this time, but then I don't have sky to compare :)

Sky commentary is very sluggish. Ben Edwards on the BBC has got much more steam, Sky's team have run out of steam.

^yep
The missus wondered why she had to tape the Spanish coverage when I then go and watch the BBC first :p

James Allen quoted on twitter saying that the BBC's Indian GP highlights drew in 3.1 million at peak, compared to 5.5 million when the race was live in 2011. That is a significant drop.

You can't always compare because different season different outlook.

Agreed, the coverage hasn't been improved, it's been diluted.

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Originally Posted by henners88

Its even more alarming when the Sky figures are analysed. Viewing figures with both channels combined is down on last year with Sky really struggling to pull in the viewers. Its laughable when you consider the selling point of this deal was to make the sport more widely available for fans. If you live in the UK and own a TV you can get BBC 1. Slashing the coverage and placing some of it on a satellite channel was always going to have an effect like this and this deal is only good for the fans who have full access. Those that don't are just told how great it is and expected to shut up. It doesn't work like that thankfully.

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The selling point was to make the sport more widely available to fans. Really? I thought the whole point of the deal was to allow the BBC to save money while increasing overall revenue for F1? Another Bernie masterstroke.... not that it's his fault that the BBC decided they didn't want to continue with their existing deal.

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Originally Posted by IceWizard

The selling point was to make the sport more widely available to fans. Really? I thought the whole point of the deal was to allow the BBC to save money while increasing overall revenue for F1? Another Bernie masterstroke.... not that it's his fault that the BBC decided they didn't want to continue with their existing deal.

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I don't know the terms of the contract but I think they should have been made stick to what they agreed. Doesn't appear like that has happened however.

I don't mind the Sky coverage but the BBC coverage last year was vastly superior, in my opinion. The best thing about Sky coverage is the red button.

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Originally Posted by henners88

but it was supported by claiming it would reach more fans as a result.

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That was Bernie's spin on the whole deal - which he doesn't get much out of considering that both Sky and Channel 4 had bid near enough the same money and the Beeb colluding with Sky to keep their free-to-air rights.

Sky can't be to blame. They offer a premuim subscription service and have done their bit by tempting viewers.

We wouldn't be in this situation if the Beeb were willing to compromise their portfolio.

It's confusing for the viewer as you don't know one race to the next. Is this one going to be live on BBC or is this a Sky only one.