2014 WEC Livestream

[isynge]

Originally Posted by Mal

I don't know how but I completely missed any TT'ers in the club stand. I was in there from 11 till 1pm and didn't see anyone I recognised!

All the stands I could see that were open were pretty full at the start

There were a few of us there (me, GT6, Bentley03, D0wnforce, Gingers4Justice etc) but frankly we were all so wrapped up in the manner of Michelin Men against the cold it's entirely unsurprising we were unrecognisable.

[bella]

it tickled me somewhat to note that after the elms people declared they weren't really after the family demographic (paraphrased slightly), i reckon half of people there were "dad and a lad" family days out. good to see superman, batman, spiderman and a power ranger enjoying a day off on saturday too

also, interesting to see lots of people with radios really absorbing what was going on, and very scary to see just how many thousands of pounds of camera kit so many people were carrying around!

[isynge]

There were indeed a lot of young children there, and beyond "dad and lad" quite a few family groupings, especially on the Saturday.

I guess they managed to pitch it reasonably effectively with the right price point and other activities going on (little things like showing Turbo in the big black tent) making it sufficiently family friendly.

I did notice a steady stream of cars leaving about 2 hours into the ELMS round, which again would fit with families exhausting the level of interest small children were capable of.

[GT6]

Originally Posted by Mal

I don't know how but I completely missed any TT'ers in the club stand. I was in there from 11 till 1pm and didn't see anyone I recognised!

All the stands I could see that were open were pretty full at the start

Well we were there in the first bit of the stand that was open that the cars reach but we were all wrapped up as ian said.

[Mal]

Originally Posted by GT6

Well we were there in the first bit of the stand that was open that the cars reach but we were all wrapped up as ian said.

OK - I was at the opposite end - at the top of the first staircase you reach as your arrive from the pit straight

[Ferrari333SP]

Official statement/article from the WEC regarding their new pay system:

http://www.fiawec.com/en/news/thousa...-app_1917.html

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by EricS

He said weekend attendance. So, that means anyone who bought a 3-day pass were counted 3 times.

Makes sense. Thanks.

FWIW, it was full in the best bits, patchy in others (sorry the pictures are rejects, but show that Sportscar fans congregate in sensible places, like corner exits - Club).

Whatever it was more than subscribed to live streaming!

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Ferrari333SP

Official statement/article from the WEC regarding their new pay system:

http://www.fiawec.com/en/news/thousa...-app_1917.html"

I think that this press release debunks the messages we heard about the crisis meetings at Silverstone - it is hear to stay. The only really positive news is that the live timing will be free again from now on - they probably got scared with the furious feedback, no-one in their right mind believes that half-ass "configuration error" excuse they've given on that article. Though admittely their web designers have proven not to be worth their salaries...

Other bits from there:

If the live streaming is free for all, this will cause problems for our first screen broadcasters. First screen participants, such as our TV Broadcaster, will not sign a contract if the content is available for free in an application.

Such as our TV broadscaster? Who, Motors TV which has had no problem whatsoever with free streaming for as long as the championship has existed, or Eurosport's half ass commitment that is likely only hanging on because their series deal is somehow tied up with Le Mans broadcasting rights (that's what I always assumed)? They are the only real broadcasters. Why would they start caring now all of a sudden? Motors in particular has plenty of other series that follow the same model as WEC used to do with free streaming

Apple’s terms and conditions are such that if you pay for a premium application, you cannot have the same product available on any other device for free.

Why do they have to have the "same product" on every device?

Why such a late announcement?

First of all we didn’t have anything to show to the public before the qualifying session, and we have to say we weren’t prepare for such a success. After only one day without even promoting it the figures were higher than expected.

In order to ensure that the app was ready and running well we had to test it at the Official Test, The Prologue in Le Castellet, with a full TV set up. Once this test was complete we applied further updates to ensure that the app would work at the opening round at Silverstone, which was the first televised session, qualifying for the 6 Hours of Silverstone on Saturday 19 April.

Even if all of this were true, which I doubt it is, it still doesn't explain why to leave the freaking ANNOUNCEMENT and marketing campaign at the very last moment possible.

FREE ACCESS FEATURES
---
• LIVE TIMING: Access to the FULL LIVE TIMING including best laps, position in category, gaps, average speed, pits, category filter… The marshaling system will allow you to know the location of each car on the track!

So that's on the free version as well. Was it always there or have they shuffled it around?

All in all you get ONLY live streaming + (most likely selected) onboards if you actually wish to pay for the ACO, nothing else.

USA - FIA WEC iPad app is the 36th most downloaded app (ahead of NASCAR)

Wasn't that nice of them to make such comparisons. Especially when you have brand new just released product going against those that have been long in the market

“You cannot win the World Title in one race but within a full season; this is the same situation for an application,” Mr. Neveu concluded.

What does that even mean?

[Adam43]

It means we are turning a blind eye to Le Grand Messup.

[EricS]

Originally Posted by Chiana

So that's on the free version as well. Was it always there or have they shuffled it around?

I think they even screwed up this press release. There are two versions of live timing listed under "Free Access Features". The bottom one is probably intended for the pay access:

• LIVE TIMING: Light information regarding the timing for Qualifying sessions and Race.

• LIVE TIMING: Access to the FULL LIVE TIMING including best laps, position in category, gaps, average speed, pits, category filter… The marshaling system will allow you to know the location of each car on the track!

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Chiana

I think that this press release debunks the messages we heard about the crisis meetings at Silverstone - it is hear to stay. The only really positive news is that the live timing will be free again from now on - they probably got scared with the furious feedback, no-one in their right mind believes that half-ass "configuration error" excuse they've given on that article. Though admittely their web designers have proven not to be worth their salaries...

Such as our TV broadscaster? Who, Motors TV which has had no problem whatsoever with free streaming for as long as the championship has existed, or Eurosport's half ass commitment that is likely only hanging on because their series deal is somehow tied up with Le Mans broadcasting rights (that's what I always assumed)? They are the only real broadcasters. Why would they start caring now all of a sudden? Motors in particular has plenty of other series that follow the same model as WEC used to do with free streaming

You are forgetting Eurosport who are the main channel for the casual fan.
Having a free live stream also eliminates any possibility of selling the TV right on a national basis, and through this create an income to lift the series.
Imagine what a economical boost it could be for the small privateers to receive a part of the TV rights income.

Originally Posted by Chiana

Why do they have to have the "same product" on every device?

As per the Apple Terms and Conditions.
You cannot have something in the Apple store which you have to purchase, when it's available free somewhere else.

Originally Posted by Chiana

Even if all of this were true, which I doubt it is, it still doesn't explain why to leave the freaking ANNOUNCEMENT and marketing campaign at the very last moment possible.

Because making an announcement and start the marketing campaign for something you don't know if will work.

Originally Posted by Chiana

So that's on the free version as well. Was it always there or have they shuffled it around?

All in all you get ONLY live streaming + (most likely selected) onboards if you actually wish to pay for the ACO, nothing else.

Isn't that fair?, seeing that it's the live streaming which is the most expensive service to run?

Originally Posted by Chiana

Wasn't that nice of them to make such comparisons. Especially when you have brand new just released product going against those that have been long in the market

Come on, do not be that pessimistic.
We all know that WEC are having a hard time in the US, and highlighting that there is some success is very normal for a business.

Originally Posted by Chiana

What does that even mean?

That launching and running such an app is never a success from the start, but that it takes some time to getting it to run smoothly. Have patience.

[TF110]

Still cant bring myself to purchasing it. I think many are on both sides. As long as the races are available online I am good without the "premium" features.

[Adam43]

and in the meantime pay twice!

As you know I don't have a problem, but when I pay I have expectations.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by EricS

I think they even screwed up this press release. There are two versions of live timing listed under "Free Access Features". The bottom one is probably intended for the pay access:

Yup. Doesn't help that in typical ACO fashion these are (badly) translated from French

"Share your feelings, become an actor of the Championship… With Live text."

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by CTD

You are forgetting Eurosport who are the main channel for the casual fan. Having a free live stream also eliminates any possibility of selling the TV right on a national basis, and through this create an income to lift the series. Imagine what a economical boost it could be for the small privateers to receive a part of the TV rights income.

I'm not forgetting Eurosport, I mentioned them. With Eurosport I just always thought they were only covering WEC (in minimal capacity) because they "had to" due to their Le Mans exclusive rights. Now that is my own view of things and not necessarily true, but that's how I always saw that.

I was also questioning why NOW all of sudden the streaming has become a problem for the TV partners. It just sounds like an excuse.

Anyway, let's be brutally honest here, the only even somewhat realistic way for WEC to ever get TV explosure on national TV like ITV or RTL or something if the broadcast is in HIGHLIGHT form... no non-specialing channel wants to pick niche live sportscar racing

As per the Apple Terms and Conditions.
You cannot have something in the Apple store which you have to purchase, when it's available free somewhere else.

Which part of "why do they have to have the same product on every device?" did you miss?

Because making an announcement and start the marketing campaign for something you don't know if will work.

Even now right as we speak they have plenty of "there will be more features soon" and "we promise we are working on these things for the future" "it is in development" lines in their press releases so it's not like they're ready even now.

The core element of this whole thing was that the live streaming was going behind the pay wall = they could've announced it ages ago. It's the same freaking stream that's been in use for years ago, nothing has changed in that department (well apart from the fact that the sessions are not archived anymore...)

Come on, do not be that pessimistic.
We all know that WEC are having a hard time in the US, and highlighting that there is some success is very normal for a business.

Fair enough but it still strikes in the eye.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Which part of "why do they have to have the same product on every device?" did you miss?

If someone has an Android phone and sees the same application from the same developer/company on an iOS device, but then downloads it and sees it doesn't have the same features as it does on iOS, that someone is going to be quite annoyed and uninstall the app/shout at the developer on the review page/etc. If you develop a mobile app and you want wide market penetration, you must have the same features (at least 80-90%) on both Android and iOS. Which basically amounts to THE SAME PRODUCT.

You can't have a multi-platform product if one platform gets one set of features and another one gets a totally different set of features, because then it's two separate products with little functionality crossover. One would expect a multi-platform mobile app to work in the same way whether you're on Android or iOS (with platform-specific design cues respected of course).

I'm sorry, but that's just how the mobile market goes. If you want multi-platform, you have to have the same product on all devices to keep people at least moderately satisfied.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Chiana

I'm not forgetting Eurosport, I mentioned them. With Eurosport I just always thought they were only covering WEC (in minimal capacity) because they "had to" due to their Le Mans exclusive rights. Now that is my own view of things and not necessarily true, but that's how I always saw that.

I was also questioning why NOW all of sudden the streaming has become a problem for the TV partners. It just sounds like an excuse.

Anyway, let's be brutally honest here, the only even somewhat realistic way for WEC to ever get TV explosure on national TV like ITV or RTL or something if the broadcast is in HIGHLIGHT form... no non-specialing channel wants to pick niche live sportscar racing

I didn't see you mentioning them, but fair enough.
We both know that things have changed with Porsche joining the fight, and making it a three-way fight. This means more viewers, and making WEC much more profitable to show.

And I agree, we will never see a National Tv station show the whole race, but the start, ending and highlights is still some rights you can sell!

Originally Posted by Chiana

Which part of "why do they have to have the same product on every device?" did you miss?

Are you suggesting that FIA/ACO should only have chosen one platform/device and the cutting the rest of the market from accessing the race!?

That would create an even bigger, and more justified uproar than what is happening now.

Originally Posted by Chiana

Even now right as we speak they have plenty of "there will be more features soon" and "we promise we are working on these things for the future" "it is in development" lines in their press releases so it's not like they're ready even now.

Again, you don't market and make announcements for something you are not sure is going to work.
FIA/ACO played it safe, and choose to test that it was going to work (with the stream) before making the announcement and starting the marketing campaign.

Originally Posted by Chiana

The core element of this whole thing was that the live streaming was going behind the pay wall = they could've announced it ages ago. It's the same freaking stream that's been in use for years ago, nothing has changed in that department (well apart from the fact that the sessions are not archived anymore...)

I do not know if you work in IT, but I do not.
But I do know that what we often take for granted as a "little" online thing, can be a major headache to work properly. I think this is the case of the Pay Wall.
Besides, we do not know if there has been any politics going on between different parties before the season start, which could have allowed it to be free. (like a major sponsor pulling out shortly before)

Originally Posted by Chiana

Fair enough but it still strikes in the eye.

It does, and it is meant to

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by CTD

I do not know if you work in IT, but I do not.
But I do know that what we often take for granted as a "little" online thing, can be a major headache to work properly. I think this is the case of the Pay Wall.
Besides, we do not know if there has been any politics going on between different parties before the season start, which could have allowed it to be free. (like a major sponsor pulling out shortly before)

To emphasize on this point from CTD: I work in programming/IT, and I can attest that building a mobile app and a full streaming solution (even without archives) isn't as simple, effortless and/or cheap as it seems to the naked eye. And last year's streaming was done through an existing platform (Dailymotion), the stream this year is on a different platform.

Basically, some big money needs to change hands behind the scenes for a software solution to be built correctly within a given window of time, and software development is a really expensive thing in terms of effort and money paid to the people who put in that effort (why do you think us programmers get paid relatively much in comparison to the average salaries? How do you think DHH made his money to go racing?)

Sorry, just my view as a programmer (and someone who has also paid for the season pass).

[EricS]

A lot of the pay TV sports services here in the US give a free preview weekend (e.g. NFL Sunday Ticket). WEC should have just done that for Silverstone, since it was such a sudden change.

Also, I'm not so sure about this:

As per the Apple Terms and Conditions.
You cannot have something in the Apple store which you have to purchase, when it's available free somewhere else.

As an example, Angry Birds on iPhone is 99c, while on Android it's Free.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by EricS

As an example, Angry Birds on iPhone is 99c, while on Android it's Free.

The free Android version is plastered with advertising in various places.

[Adam43]

You can have something on the Apple store which you have to purchase, when you have already paid for it!

[Maelochs]

I notice they don't mention On-Demand viewing, which is the key feature needed to make the paid stream worthwhile for a lot of viewers who simply cannot be at a computer (or mobile device) for six hours every race weekend and don't want to pay $5 for a race they cannot watch.

[FLGTFAN]

I wonder if the deep pockets of the manufacturers enjoy knowing that the "first screen" media contracts are more important to the FIA WEC than the millions they are dumping into this championship, especially when a market as big as North America gets zero first screen coverage on a race weekend. (outside of LM24 and COTA)

[Christian Mogami]

There will be no change because per WEC,"the child already lift the barn"

Contracts are signed,so it will be pay-to view this year

But live-timing will be free

The manufactures are not happy that WEC did this behind their backs!

[seanyb505]

Maybe I shouldn't bring attention to it, but any idea if the work around will live on?