planetf1.com

I thought it was a disaster when the sky deal was announced but things move on and I really like the C4 coverage. Not being able to watch live has been a surprisingly easy transition. I thought I would miss Brundle (or at least the DC/Brundle team), but turns out I don’t.

For me weekend afternoons are the absolute best part of the week, so not spending that time in front of the TV has been such a positive thing that I don’t think I’d go back to the old way of viewing even if it were available to me.

Biffa wrote:I thought it was a disaster when the sky deal was announced but things move on and I really like the C4 coverage. Not being able to watch live has been a surprisingly easy transition. I thought I would miss Brundle (or at least the DC/Brundle team), but turns out I don’t.

For me weekend afternoons are the absolute best part of the week, so not spending that time in front of the TV has been such a positive thing that I don’t think I’d go back to the old way of viewing even if it were available to me.

the main issue for me with doing this would be that hearing the resuts would ruin it. And it is so hard to avoid seeing no internet involving the results, tv, hearing radio, seeing news for the multiple hours sky make you wait before channel 4 are allowed to show you the highlights. Then I prsonally find the adverts between the race too annying, so if i was doing this, i would probably rather pause it for half an hour before watching and flicking through the ads.

In terms f what channel 4 do cover, and the way they do it, i still think it is more enjoyable than sky. Sky are shockingly poor given that they cost so much.

Agree, the coverage of qualifying and GP at Abu Dhabi was excellent, there was an interview with Toto Wolff where he gave a brilliant insight into the negotiations with Hamilton and I'm sure Toto said more than he intended. The questions from Steve Jones are gently in your face and there are elements of humour. Its a very good watch.

TheGiantHogweed wrote:Does anyone else find that despite paying for Sky, they never end up watching anything but qualifying and the races? While also skipping out the coverage before both too... I started following F1 to the point where I would watch F1 every race and every practice session if i could from 2014 onwards. When it was on the BBC and live on Channel 4, I would always watch all of this and the full program if I could.

But now, despite having paid nearly £200 for the sky 9 months deal, I find myself skipping everything other than 5 minutes before the race and qualifying starts. It isn't the action on track that i am finding boring or anything, it is down the the simply awful presentation from sky and certain particular members of the team. Crofty being the worst and in my case closely followed by Kravitz (although i can understand why some may like him). But he was actually a good presenter when he was on the BBC. He seems to have got infected by crofty with his stupid and painful jokes that i find him really tedious. Especially when they both discuss unrelated rubbish at length during coverage!

I really am thinking to myself that I may not bother watching F1 live next year. The Channel 4 highlights was more enjoyable to watch and showed most of what I felt I needed to see. The only disadvantage being as I said, less coverage and it isn't live. But man are the commentators and team as a whole so much better. I record and keep every channel 4 race and flick through it to get a different point of view in the race and qualifying to what sky have given, and they certainly seem more focussed to what is happening. And if Ben Edwards makes a mistake, he will apologise. Not interrupt like Crofty only to talk about unrelated rubbish.


It is a real shame, but I really do feel like it is because of sky that I am loosing interest in wanting to watch as much of the coverage. Despite paying, I find myself far less bothered about missing a weekend, maybe because I know the Channel 4 coverage will be better later on.

Unless the Sky coverage price drops significantly, I feel I may not get the deal for 9 months next year. I may just buy the occasional race weekend pass. It really doesn't feel worth the price I paid given how irritated i get every time I watch any session.

I'm exactly the same got the Sky F1 Pass, started off with good intentions... but found myself watching just thr live sessions, or even waiting for Channel 4s highlights.

Might not bother getting sky next year.

It might partly be down to how the season panned out? Wasn't the most exciting of years....

I may be going against the trend here, but I really enjoy the sky coverage. OK, Croft is always on top of things, but then I loved Murray Walker and he was never on top of things!

I enjoy their insights on the sport, the radio control car challenges are always amusing, Ted's post race notebook is normally excellent with him getting inside all the teams and getting more reasoned comments from the teams as they've had a little time to digest the race.

I also love the bits away from races like Brundle driving Senna's 88 McLaren, Karun driving the first Williams F1 car and other older cars being driven.

I also enjoy watching F2 racing and that's well covered by Sky. Listening to Davide Valsecchi is a lot of fun. So much passion!!!!!

Slightly off-topic but has anyone watched Amazon Prime's UK football coverage this week? I have to say I was very impressed.

Some highlights for me:
- 4K streaming
- Ability to switch off commentary (I didn't think I'd like it as much as I did)
- Split-screen stats
- Viewing on multiple devices (three I believe)

As much I want it back, I'm enough of a realist to know that FTA coverage is dead. But once the Sky deal with F1 ends, Liberty should seriously consider switching to Amazon. Imagine being able to watch the main feed on your TV, an on-board on your tablet and the timing screen on your phone.

MistaVega23 wrote:Slightly off-topic but has anyone watched Amazon Prime's UK football coverage this week? I have to say I was very impressed.

Some highlights for me:
- 4K streaming
- Ability to switch off commentary (I didn't think I'd like it as much as I did)
- Split-screen stats
- Viewing on multiple devices (three I believe)

As much I want it back, I'm enough of a realist to know that FTA coverage is dead. But once the Sky deal with F1 ends, Liberty should seriously consider switching to Amazon. Imagine being able to watch the main feed on your TV, an on-board on your tablet and the timing screen on your phone.

I have two relatively minor problems with Amazon’s coverage this week.

1. The opta win percentage predictor thing. People watching football don’t need/want to know what the statistical chances of a team winning are. That belongs with the tyre life graphic, in the bin.
2. The games aren’t completely live, they’re about 30 Seconds behind meaning that if you switch off the Amazon commentary, you can’t replace it with radio commentary for example. And as someone who likes to see what others are saying on Twitter about a game, I have to be careful when refreshing that I don’t see any spoilers.

Did anyone use this last year?

I bought the 9 month offer for £195 meaning just over £9 a race weekend

Now the best option seems to be the monthly £34 so nearly £14 per weekend

There's no contract so you can stop / start whenever you want

But was the £195 option in place this time last year? If it appeared later in the year maybe there's hope it will come again?

I will pay the £34 per month but it's pushed me to my personal limit

I've done that deal the last two years. 2018 it was about £160 (it may have been even cheaper still) and for 2019 it was about £190.
I'm hoping we'll be in our new property by then and I can get Sky properly as it is expensive using NowTV and it is only in 720p and capped at 24fps. Though if sky is not available I'll stick with it again.

A thing to watch out for. They ended up showing the first 3 races last year on Sky One which is available on the Entertainment pack. I can't remember if they shown all the practice sessions but I do remember feeling a bit bitter that I could've watched them for free!

edit: Sorry didn't answer the most important bit. I think they start advertising it around testing

Junglist wrote:I've done that deal the last two years. 2018 it was about £160 (it may have been even cheaper still) and for 2019 it was about £190.
I'm hoping we'll be in our new property by then and I can get Sky properly as it is expensive using NowTV and it is only in 720p and capped at 24fps. Though if sky is not available I'll stick with it again.

A thing to watch out for. They ended up showing the first 3 races last year on Sky One which is available on the Entertainment pack. I can't remember if they shown all the practice sessions but I do remember feeling a bit bitter that I could've watched them for free!

edit: Sorry didn't answer the most important bit. I think they start advertising it around testing

The trick with Now TV is to go through their online cancellation after one month. It will automatically offer you 3 months for £60 (£20 per month).

Alienturnedhuman wrote: The trick with Now TV is to go through their online cancellation after one month. It will automatically offer you 3 months for £60 (£20 per month).

Very familiar with the cancellation dance! I often get the movies and entertainment for a fraction of the cost.

Hoping to have proper sky for the new season. Can't wait to see it in UHD and 50fps.

I got it the last 2 years, but found i was using it less and less... waiting for Channel 4 hughlihts... might be a reflection on the predictable championships... though I must say i preferred Channel 4s coverage.

I created a thread already here: http://forum.planet-f1.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15389

It discussed the coverage as well as this deal so they could possibly do with being merged as they are exactly the same really.

I don't know how we can get the mods to merge them? It would probably be best.



The 9 month deal was only out about 2 weeks before the season started. So I think if it is an option, it will be right at the last moment again.....

I myself was getting very frustrated that even by the 10th of march last year, i posted on this thread saying sky still had not done a deal, then a day or two later, the deal was out. But they really do leave it until very late.

I'm not sure if i will get it though as I found myself just not caring at all for their pre race coverage and often didn't care if i missed the race and watched channel 4 after. It is just a pain avoiding the internet and news for that time between. But the sky coverage is dreadful and way too expensive IMO.

I never understand why the Sky coverage has been dumbed down so much. The same has happened on BTSport with MotoGP. Cant imagine many F1 fans tuning into a free practice on a Friday want to hear about bacon sandwiches etc

Zazu wrote:I never understand why the Sky coverage has been dumbed down so much. The same has happened on BTSport with MotoGP. Cant imagine many F1 fans tuning into a free practice on a Friday want to hear about bacon sandwiches etc

The presentation team is the only reason I don't take Sky. C4 practice sessions gave you a wealth of information and actually told the story of the practice phase so you had an idea about who was struggling, or who was on an upward trajectory. Sky is about the presenters weekend and who ate the most/hottest at the last meal.

As for MotoGP, I am watching more of the Moto2/Moto3 sessions as both the sessions chaired by either Gavin Emmet or Neil Hodgson are interesting and more informative.


These two ain't bad.

I think the one saving grace of NowTV is that you're able to have it on 5 devices so I rarely missed a session the last two seasons as I could have the Friday practice sessions on my iPad whilst it was on my desk at work.

Channel 4 have agreed a deal to cover extended highlights for 2020, race coverage allowance has been increased from 45 to 60 mins.

They'll also be allowed to air the highlights 2 and a half hours after the race rather than 3 hours as in 2019...

Slightly better than 2019, and making it easier to go Sky Free for 2020

https://www.planetf1.com/news/channel-4 ... ighlights/

Seanie wrote:Channel 4 have agreed a deal to cover extended highlights for 2020, race coverage allowance has been increased from 45 to 60 mins.

They'll also be allowed to air the highlights 2 and a half hours after the race rather than 3 hours as in 2019...

Slightly better than 2019, and making it easier to go Sky Free for 2020

https://www.planetf1.com/news/channel-4 ... ighlights/

yea, i feel i may do this, depending on how much sky is. If it is significantly cheaper, say £150 or under for the 9 month deal, i may go for it, but how likely is this. otherwise i probably will watch many on channel 4 and just pay for the odd time i really feel i need to see it live. I remember the time it was £5.99 for 24 hours, and last year it was quite a bit over that. I hope Sky will reduce their prices. I feel they may do if channel 4 have more air time as they may loose customers if not.

'The likes of David Croft are being retained' was enough for me to stay with C4; but this extra 30 mins is welcome news.

TheGiantHogweed wrote:

Seanie wrote:Channel 4 have agreed a deal to cover extended highlights for 2020, race coverage allowance has been increased from 45 to 60 mins.

They'll also be allowed to air the highlights 2 and a half hours after the race rather than 3 hours as in 2019...

Slightly better than 2019, and making it easier to go Sky Free for 2020

https://www.planetf1.com/news/channel-4 ... ighlights/

yea, i feel i may do this, depending on how much sky is. If it is significantly cheaper, say £150 or under for the 9 month deal, i may go for it, but how likely is this. otherwise i probably will watch many on channel 4 and just pay for the odd time i really feel i need to see it live. I remember the time it was £5.99 for 24 hours, and last year it was quite a bit over that. I hope Sky will reduce their prices. I feel they may do if channel 4 have more air time as they may loose customers if not.

Yeah, it was more expensive last year, I cant see them making it cheaper. May just do day passes for races if i feel i need to see it live.

Seanie wrote:Channel 4 have agreed a deal to cover extended highlights for 2020, race coverage allowance has been increased from 45 to 60 mins.

They'll also be allowed to air the highlights 2 and a half hours after the race rather than 3 hours as in 2019...

Slightly better than 2019, and making it easier to go Sky Free for 2020

Yes, good news. The 3 hour wait has been a pain. 2 1/2 will be a bit better. I wonder if it shows Sky are struggling to get enough viewers so have agreed to charge C4 more for more coverage?

Hopefully 60 mins race coverage will ensure we lose the unexplained changes in the racing order in 2019 due to pitstops or retirements which weren't shown. I'm surprised only 45 mins per race was shown. I'd have said it was more - which is probably a compliment!

We'll, surprisingly, I'm currently still able to watch Sky F1 via Now TV despite cancelling my subscription

I won't tell them if you don't ☺

Mods, can we merge these two threads? They are about the exact same thing and it would be best to have just one thread for this sort of topic each year. Especially so we can look back and compare how these things were done in previous years. Both of these threads are being used now and they are too similar to both be active really. But it is worth having all the posts from both put together.

http://forum.planet-f1.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15819

TheGiantHogweed wrote:Mods, can we merge these two threads? They are about the exact same thing and it would be best to have just one thread for this sort of topic each year. Especially so we can look back and compare how these things were done in previous years. Both of these threads are being used now and they are too similar to both be active really. But it is worth having all the posts from both put together.

http://forum.planet-f1.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15819

Ask, and ye shall receive.

jiminwatford wrote:We'll, surprisingly, I'm currently still able to watch Sky F1 via Now TV despite cancelling my subscription

I won't tell them if you don't ☺

Are you sure about that? If you would like to PM me your username and password I can double check for you

Mod Yellow wrote:

TheGiantHogweed wrote:Mods, can we merge these two threads? They are about the exact same thing and it would be best to have just one thread for this sort of topic each year. Especially so we can look back and compare how these things were done in previous years. Both of these threads are being used now and they are too similar to both be active really. But it is worth having all the posts from both put together.

http://forum.planet-f1.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15819

Ask, and ye shall receive.

May I ask the title to have the words "and onwards" or something added on so it doesn't get recreated ever year?

Or even just remove the year and discuss whatever is relevant at the time.

tim3003 wrote:

Seanie wrote:Channel 4 have agreed a deal to cover extended highlights for 2020, race coverage allowance has been increased from 45 to 60 mins.

They'll also be allowed to air the highlights 2 and a half hours after the race rather than 3 hours as in 2019...

Slightly better than 2019, and making it easier to go Sky Free for 2020

Yes, good news. The 3 hour wait has been a pain. 2 1/2 will be a bit better. I wonder if it shows Sky are struggling to get enough viewers so have agreed to charge C4 more for more coverage?

Well, there were a few races simulcast on Sky One last year - so wouldn't be surprised if viewership was low.

Though, I doubt they've willingly just given C4 more coverage, Liberty have probably requested it - or C4 have negotiated it.

They don't appear to be doing a pass this year. Very annoying

Junglist wrote:They don't appear to be doing a pass this year. Very annoying

The very reason why I thought these two threads should be merged was because I thought some of last years information could be relevant. I was moaning as last as the 10th of march last year about the offer still not being there (5 days before Fridays practice sessions). One or two days later, it was finally available. We are still over a full week away, so given how close the offer was to the start of the season last year, there is still certainly a chance.


Because of the possibility of less races as well as Sky being forced to allow channel 4 highlights to have more minutes highlights of the race, Sky would certainly get less viewers if they kept it to the saem price as last year. I actually think they could reduce it from £195 (last years price) back to around £150 for the 9 month deal.

.

This article indicates that Sky's UK audience is relatively small. but maybe their audiences elsewhere makes up for it.

( Please note, the article is not wonderfully clear, and their advertising doesn't help)

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/mot ... 80406.html


.

Just popped up on Facebook: https://www.nowtv.com/watch-f1-online?D ... RO_SPT_VID

£198 for 9 months.

JN23 wrote:Just popped up on Facebook: https://www.nowtv.com/watch-f1-online?D ... RO_SPT_VID

£198 for 9 months.

I honestly am shocked this is more expensive than last year. Admittedly by just £3, but i expected it to be significantly cheaper. With the disruption of some races likely not going ahead due to the virus as well as Channel 4 being allowed more highlights time this year (as well as a reduced delay between the end of the race and the start of their coverage), it is already the case that less people would get this offer. Now Channel 4 get more time, you will almost certainly get many more viewers going this direction this year. With it being this expensive, I can see a significant drop of people getting this compared to last year.

I've also noticed the 24 hour pass has gone up to £9.99, week pass £14.99 (if you want to watch practice and qualifying). These used to be £5.99 and £9.99 in that order some years ago. Now channel 4 have been allowed more coverage closer to the race, sky should be getting cheaper, not more expensive. You are paying this much for 720p coverage, something which was available on Iplayer over a decade ago. (even freeview had better quality footage 10 + years ago at 1080i). Given how things have moved on and this hasn't quality wise, I think this deal is hopeless value. They sure know how to put people off going for them entirely.....

I really am stuck now. I said to myself last year that I wouldn't want to pay for it if the 9 month deal is the same as last years price at £195. But I was thinking I would just buy several week passes, but now they have gone up a great deal too.

Given how enjoyable the highlights I have recorded of Channel 4 have been, I may just have to start getting used to not watching it all and having a delay between it happening and me catching up. What is annoying about that is that the news spreads everywhere and even if you try and avoid the internet, you will likely hear the results on the radio or in peoples discussions.

I'm almost wondering if some thread could be created each race for viewers watching the delayed channel 4 coverage who don't know the results yet so you can enjoy discussing it as if it is live. The thread will obviously to have some rules though. I may see if I can ask about this being a possibility.


Edit:

I have just seen that there is £5.99 per month offer for mobile devices (under £60 if you get it for 9 months), which I assume will work with tablets tablets. I happen to have a large android 11.6 inch tablet that has allowed me to install nowTV. I use this tablet with HDMI and my TV all the time. But something makes me think that as soon as you start playing the coverage, it won't allow you to output it to another device. They usually restrict you to everything.

I might just get a week pass for Aus, its the only weekend i really need Sky for.

Once the season is underway I'll probably just wait for Channel 4.

Might consider the pass next year, the rule changes might make the season a bit more unpredictable.

Nowtv may guarantee a free week pass for any race postponed, but if the season gets dramatically shortened, the value of this pass then becomes incredibly poor value.

It says in the terms and conditions that this free week pass is not applicable for cancelled races. Given I feel we will get so many of these this year, the value of this is to the point where I am wondering about changing my mind yet again.

I know these situations can't be helped, but given they will have been aware of what could happen regarding totally cancelled weekends / championship point weekends, I don't know why they didn't do the offer for far less this year. Especially given Channel 4 has been granted permission to show extended highlights which will already trigger more people to not bother paying for their offer of "just" £198....


I'm just so stuck on weather to go for this.

https://www.nowtv.com/updates

Good on nowtv for looking like they will change this offer when they get an opportunity. But at the time they confirmed it, one race was cancelled and it was literally days before Australia which was also looking incredibly unlikely. They couldn't have predicted everything, but charging more than last year at the stage they released it under these circumstances was ridiculous IMO. I feel sorry for any of those who paid full price.

Lets see how well the world deals with this virus and see if they do an offer that is better value when the time comes.

So then, what is happening about having the races at decent value?? £9.99 for 24 hours? That is the most expensive NowTV has ever been and it is 720P which is worse than iplayer was a decade ago....

People can't watch the race at the track. I understand F1 itself is losing money, but Sky shouldn't be struggling that much. We should have more access to entertainment under these circumstances and it looks like the only offer NowTV have is £25 per month for 3 months rather than £33. That deal would just, just about cover the 8 confirmed races, but then with the unpredictability and any later than that, you would have to pay more. And paying so much for a messed up season is just so frustrating. The season can't be helped, but Sky could be far more generous.

The worst thing by far is that they have totally removed the week pass offer. Meaning if you want to you want to watch practice and qualifying, you would have to buy 2 - 3 day passed which would be roughly the same as the month pass. Basically, this is indicating to watch what I normally would want to (qualifying and the race - practice on sky with crofty is too painful), is going to be much more expensive over the next few months than it has ever been before. If any other races get confirmed after the final one that currently is, if i want to watch all the sessions, the only way would be to by 3 24 hour passes or a whole month which will probably be back at £33.99.

Honestly, I think their prices at the moment are simply unacceptable given the circumstances. Where did the week pass go?? This may sound so obvious, but it just is getting more and more clear. They don't care about the customers, they just want money. I am so put off going for any deals that will require cancelling as that process is the most painful thing I've ever come across as they just try and trick you in to buying something else you will be stuck with and can't cancel.

Why can't they just do a reasonable deal to cover the rest of the possible season at a low fixed price? This won't always be the case. It was originally £200 for the full season. Something like around £50 just covering the F1 season (and not the other channels a lot of us are not into) under these circumstances can't be that difficult can it?

I think you need to youtube business 101 if you think the fair price for a shortened season of F1 should be £50

Sky UK pay $150million a year for exclusive rights

Zazu wrote:I think you need to youtube business 101 if you think the fair price for a shortened season of F1 should be £50

Sky UK pay $150million a year for exclusive rights

They did a 9 month deal for £150 a few years back. If they shortened it to 4 - 5 months, that would likely cover every race that may happen this year. I specifically did mention that I thought it should be around this price if they did an offer JUST for F1. Although I'm not a fan of it, they make a big deal about including all 11 channels, In that case, the price understandable is a fair bit more. But even £100 for a deal such as that should seem reasonable for the lack of races this year and that you won't get the deal lasting anywhere near as long. They won't offer a 9 month deal like they did in march for £200 will they. I honestly think £100 should be more realistic given the circumstances and if they did something specifically for F1 (very unlikely) I don't think £50 is that unreasonable.

If you actually added up their current offer (3 x £25 for 3 months) that would just about cover the confirmed races. If you watched any other races after that, you probably would be getting close to £100. This is what makes me think they should do some Specific F1 deal that reduces the cost a bit compared to having to by passes every time as they have done this every year.

The main thing that I just can't understand is why they have got rid of the week pass. There is now no sensible option on NowTV for watching a single full race weekend of formula 1. You either have to buy a month pass or 3 24 hour passes. This is nonsense IMO.

I've just subscribed to Sky F1 for £10 a month on a 1 month rolling contract, so I can cancel anytime.
It's valid for 12 months so I should be able to see in next season as well.
This offer should be valid to anyone who has a standard Sky TV package.

The issue is that a great deal of us won't have any sort of existing sky package. To get one, you will have to pay for F1 and then the package itself over the top. I really hope they will come up with some decent offer in the next few days or I may just stick with Channel 4 highlights.