SpeedTV Loses F1 Broadcast Rights

[xbook]

Pretty big news to come out of Korea. Fox has announced that Speed will no longer be broadcasting the F1 races after this season.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ap-so...1-after-season

NBC is possibly bidding for the rights.

I appreciate all that Speed has done for F1 in the US. But their coverage is woefully inept now, I hope another broadcaster can breath some new life into F1 Broadcasts for US fans.

[M_Six]

Damn, NBC will screw this up. They'll package just the races into a 2-hour daytime slot like Fox does.

Fox probably low-balled F1 and Bernie gave them the finger. Fox is already set to completely screw up MLB coverage for the next 8 years.

[E90SLAM]

SpeedTV, I don't miss you at all. Sick and tired of the commercials, and the 4 races delayed at FOX channels every summer.

But not holding breathe on NBC will do something good about it.
Most American sports just too much breaks and commercials, Football (Soccer) and F1 just doesn't fit to commercial ads based TV Stations here.

[jkoral]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Fox probably low-balled F1 and Bernie gave them the finger.

What's interesting is the tweet from @JennaFryer says they were outbid. But the quote from Fox says "a fiscally responsible bid" (i.e. low-balled)


"It's disappointing to learn that F1 has elected to move forward with a different media partner. SPEED had been the US voice of F1 since the mid '90s, and it was a passion for many people at the network. FOX Sports Media Group made what we believed to be a fiscally responsible bid based on the sport's current viewership levels, but F1 has elected to go in another direction. We wish them well." - FOX Sports Media Group spokesman

[Rich_Jenkins]

I think Speeds coverage could do with a makeover.

At least they got rid of Posey (mostly).

Hobbs is ok but seems to be limited to pithy comments like "he's really legging it there." Geez.

The Pit guy Will Buxton is animated, but they give him about 20 seconds a race it seems.

Matchett is knowledgeable but has such a deadpan delivery.

I get that F1 has a huge British culture but maybe we could do with a German or Brazilian or Italian commentator for some flair?

Varsha is ok. Maybe could get a new tag line other than "turn up the volume"?

I guess we can't get Murray Walker.

[xbook]

Originally Posted by MMME30W

At least they got rid of Posey (mostly).

Not by his or Speed's choice, he is suffering with Parkinsons.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by E90SLAM

SpeedTV, I don't miss you at all. Sick and tired of the commercials, and the 4 races delayed at FOX channels every summer.

But not holding breathe on NBC will do something good about it.
Most American sports just too much breaks and commercials, Football (Soccer) and F1 just doesn't fit to commercial ads based TV Stations here.

They should do it like the German's broadcast F1 over here. There are TWO channels that carry F1 coverage. One is on public TV, ie: RTL (Radio Tv Luxemburg). RTL will interrupt the race for tv commercials thru out the race. Or you can subscribe on pay tv channel - with NO commercials!

You can choose HOW you want to watch the race! Choosing from 16(or so) incar cameras and pit lane cameras. You can split your TV screen and set it up to view your favorite team. You can even turn on(audio) what is said from the car to the pits. It is all VERY cool! F1 is big money over here. And people will gladly pay per month for their cable/sat tv which includes "pay for view" F1 and Soccer games.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

They should do it like the German's broadcast F1 over here. There are TWO channels that carry F1 coverage. One is on public TV, ie: RTL (Radio Tv Luxemburg). RTL will interrupt the race for tv commercials thru out the race. Or you can subscribe on pay tv channel - with NO commercials!

You can choose HOW you want to watch the race! Choosing from 16(or so) incar cameras and pit lane cameras. You can split your TV screen and set it up to view your favorite team. You can even turn on(audio) what is said from the car to the pits. It is all VERY cool! F1 is big money over here. And people will gladly pay per month for their cable/sat tv which includes "pay for view" F1 and Soccer games.

I'd do that here. I buy MLB's package just to watch the Red Sox lose, so F1 would be a better investment.

[Rich_Jenkins]

Originally Posted by xbook

Not by his or Speed's choice, he is suffering with Parkinsons.

I see. That is unfortunate, and he has my sympathies.

However in my view he added nothing of value to the discussion on F1 and was annoying to listen to.

[Rich_Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

They should do it like the German's broadcast F1 over here. There are TWO channels that carry F1 coverage. One is on public TV, ie: RTL (Radio Tv Luxemburg). RTL will interrupt the race for tv commercials thru out the race. Or you can subscribe on pay tv channel - with NO commercials!

You can choose HOW you want to watch the race! Choosing from 16(or so) incar cameras and pit lane cameras. You can split your TV screen and set it up to view your favorite team. You can even turn on(audio) what is said from the car to the pits. It is all VERY cool! F1 is big money over here. And people will gladly pay per month for their cable/sat tv which includes "pay for view" F1 and Soccer games.

That would be awesome.

[KingOfJericho]

I may be in the minority here but I think that the Speed coverage is great. I tried watching some clips from the BBC coverage and found the animated announcing to be quite annoying. It's a classy sport and it deserves classy announcing and I think Speed does a great job of that.

[Tirpitz]

Wow, that is fairly big news. Does anyone here think NBC is going to give F1 the level of coverage Speed has? I can't imagine NBC showing Friday practice live or frankly at all. You'll be lucky to get qualifying. It will be a disaster for F1 fans in the US if all we get is the race shoved into a 2 hour time slot.

As for announcers we will have to see what NBC comes up with. I like the Speed team, especially the level of technical expertise Machett brings to the table. Hopefully NBC doesn't send in a bunch of NASCAR folks to call the races.

[jkoral]

Originally Posted by Tirpitz

I can't imagine NBC showing Friday practice live or frankly at all. You'll be lucky to get qualifying. It will be a disaster for F1 fans in the US if all we get is the race shoved into a 2 hour time slot.

I could care less about the broadcast team or Friday practice, but live qualifying and live (full) race is key for me. Anything other that will be a huge step backwards.

That said, with 2 US races on the 2013 calendar, wouldn't this be the time to increase media exposure of F1 in the US?

[Impervious]

That's not good for the future of F1 in the USA. Especially considering there will be a gp here this year which is sure to pique new interest.

[M_Six]

Did they announce this on the Friday Practice broadcast?

[john08135i]

damnit.. i used to bittorrent every race a week after but i broke down and got dishTV si i could watch the races and qualifing..now i dont need it ...

hate SPEED.. it used to be a great channel when they played all of the old shows like shade tree machic and the commercials were from OLD tv.. like 60's and 70 commercials.

[mike the snake]

This would be awesome if it came about. I'd gladly pay for special coverage.

While I don't especially like SPEED's coverage, it's all I've known, and I set my alarm clock for practice, qualifying, and the race EVERY race. I LOVE F1.

I suspect NBC will show only the race, and probably not live, and it will be filled with commercials and much much worse than it is now. I actually only dislike all the commercials, which are out of control.

On a 1/2 hour show, maybe MAYBE 11-12 minutes is actually show. Then there's the commercials that are obscenely loud, forcing you to constantly adjust the volume.

Originally Posted by Dackelone

They should do it like the German's broadcast F1 over here. There are TWO channels that carry F1 coverage. One is on public TV, ie: RTL (Radio Tv Luxemburg). RTL will interrupt the race for tv commercials thru out the race. Or you can subscribe on pay tv channel - with NO commercials!

You can choose HOW you want to watch the race! Choosing from 16(or so) incar cameras and pit lane cameras. You can split your TV screen and set it up to view your favorite team. You can even turn on(audio) what is said from the car to the pits. It is all VERY cool! F1 is big money over here. And people will gladly pay per month for their cable/sat tv which includes "pay for view" F1 and Soccer games.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by mike the snake

This would be awesome if it came about. I'd gladly pay for special coverage.

While I don't especially like SPEED's coverage, it's all I've known, and I set my alarm clock for practice, qualifying, and the race EVERY race. I LOVE F1.

I suspect NBC will show only the race, and probably not live, and it will be filled with commercials and much much worse than it is now. I actually only dislike all the commercials, which are out of control.

On a 1/2 hour show, maybe MAYBE 11-12 minutes is actually show. Then there's the commercials that are obscenely loud, forcing you to constantly adjust the volume.

I have habitually muted commercials for years. Drives me nuts when I'm at someone else's house and they don't mute commercials. Then I remember that it's my habit and not theirs.

I certainly hope FOM has pushed for a "must broadcast" clause or some such thing with whomever gets the deal. Suffice it to say I'll probably never watch Speed again.

[M3_WC]

If we lose live race coverage...Epic FAIL.

They also better show live practice and quali.

I have a feeling they will use the new NBC Sports Network, ch. 603 on directv.

[mike the snake]

Agreed, aside from actual racing coverage, the rest of the shows on SPEED are useless

Originally Posted by M_Six

I have habitually muted commercials for years. Drives me nuts when I'm at someone else's house and they don't mute commercials. Then I remember that it's my habit and not theirs.

I certainly hope FOM has pushed for a "must broadcast" clause or some such thing with whomever gets the deal. Suffice it to say I'll probably never watch Speed again.

[Timujin]

Where ever F1 ends up just make it good. Give us at least what we have now p l e a s e.

[ptack]

So, as always, it comes down to Bernie and his bank account. One wouild think that bids would have been based on some specifications such as broadcasting all qualifying and races in their entirety. UNLESS, it's really only about the money and high bid wins - even if the winner elects to show only half the races.
I'm sure we would find out if we ever learn about the contract. Hopefully the parent company NBC will handle this no worse than Fox/Speed and show practices and qualifying live on one of their cable channels. The worst would be these yutzes trying to fit it into a regular, network programming slot - say during Sunday football.