F1 goes to Sky sports

[herowassenna]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

The Cult of Mediocrirty has spread to popular music, resulting in diminishing sales,

My favourite musician is Prince. No doubt some will have their own views on that, but during a concert he will always say to the crowd, "Real music, by real musicians"
I see it everywhere.
I don't know about over in the states, but here in the supermarket, you can buy ready made salad, grated cheese, ice!!! There's nothing even in day to day living that is designed for longevity, everything is dispensible. Still...

[Marbot]

As a 'Prog Rock' fan, I often wondered what happened to 'real music' a very long time ago. Still, we have the likes of Porcupine Tree and one or two others that aren't too ashamed to put an 8 minute piece of magic together. Some, thankfully, still want music that lasts longer and is more memorable than a can of coke. One hour races for F1? Maybe not that far away.

[herowassenna]

Originally Posted by Marbot

As a 'Prog Rock' fan, I often wondered what happened to 'real music' a very long time ago. Still, we have the likes of Porcupine Tree and one or two others that aren't too ashamed to put an 8 minute piece of magic together. Some, thankfully, still want music that lasts longer and is more memorable than a can of coke. One hour races for F1? Maybe not that far away.

Great band Marbot, and as to the 1 hour races, didn't F1 races use to be 3 or 4 hours originally?
They used to be 3 day events too, and value for money.
A MotoGP meeting now is a great day out, all the classes racing, but even that is being dumbed down.
Maybe its the younger generation, maybe they TV doesn't think their attention span is long enough

[Flavio Galtieri]

Originally Posted by herowassenna

SKY sells advertising doesn't it? I ask because I have never watched any broadcast by Sky whatsoever.
Is their advertising revenue larger than their subscribers revenue?

Yes Sky sells advertising but it's value is dwarfed by the subscriber revenues, which is where the real profit comes from.

Average revenue per subscriber is now £535. Total revenue for the last quarter was £1.66 Billion. Subscriber growth is slowing despite a price freeze this year, with just 26,000 net new subs against 96,000 in that period last year.

Essentially, whilst a sponsor wants maximum viewership, Sky cares not a jot. It would be happy with a modest increase in subscribers not the mass viewing figures advertisers want. There is no chance of Sky achieving anything like peak BBC or ITV viewing figures, but that doesn't matter so long as an extra ten thousand or so subscribers roll in and the BBC is further weakened.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Flavio Galtieri

Yes Sky sells advertising but it's value is dwarfed by the subscriber revenues, which is where the real profit comes from.

Average revenue per subscriber is now £535. Total revenue for the last quarter was £1.66 Billion. Subscriber growth is slowing despite a price freeze this year, with just 26,000 net new subs against 96,000 in that period last year.

Essentially, whilst a sponsor wants maximum viewership, Sky cares not a jot. It would be happy with a modest increase in subscribers not the mass viewing figures advertisers want. There is no chance of Sky achieving anything like peak BBC or ITV viewing figures, but that doesn't matter so long as an extra ten thousand or so subscribers roll in and the BBC is further weakened.

I don't see how the BBC is futher weekened, when a subscriber to Sky has to have a TV licence and if they want they can watch BBC1-4 on Sky.

[Flavio Galtieri]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I don't see how the BBC is futher weekened, when a subscriber to Sky has to have a TV licence and if they want they can watch BBC1-4 on Sky.

The BBC is further weakened because it is yet another product moved from free to air to SKY. This further diminishes the "value" of the TV License fee. Murdoch's entire game plan is to hobble the BBC by whatever means, by using his political influence and favours to get the licence fee frozen and the website presence reduced.

[mikestow]

I once owned a Ferrari Dino 246, in the dim and distant,but it suffered from Magneti Marelli blackbox ignition,which kept going kaput whenever it got hot!!I view SkySports version of the now superb BBC Coverage we receive to be exactly the same-going kaput when it gets hot-without the same commentators and without the nice repartit it will be just a means for Murdoch to lose money as Bernie makes it!Maybe I should google Eve Lawrence to see what I appear to be missing.It may produce a heart rate better than the one I have now,with the thought of only seeing 10 races with decent commentary next year.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Flavio Galtieri

The BBC is further weakened because it is yet another product moved from free to air to SKY. This further diminishes the "value" of the TV License fee. Murdoch's entire game plan is to hobble the BBC by whatever means, by using his political influence and favours to get the licence fee frozen and the website presence reduced.

Having a product moved from free to air to Sky doesn't weaken the BBC per se. The BBC could argue they are saving money, now that they don't have to pay Bernie full whack and that puts them in a better position regarding future programming.

That might very well be Murdoch's game plan but as long as the TV licence fee remains, it's not going to happen. As it is Murdoch's had his plans dented, with the revelations regarding the News of the World and the latest revelations can do nothing but more harm.

[herowassenna]

Originally Posted by mikestow

it will be just a means for Murdoch to lose money as Bernie makes it!

For how much longer, I know the man is slippery but...

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/174721/...stigation.html

I know, I know, it's Crash, but the story is taken from the Telegraph. I know, I know, The Telegraph... yadda yadda

Wouldn't it be justice for Bernie...

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by herowassenna

Wouldn't it be justice for Bernie...

Would it ?

Of course, after Bernie's gone, we can have FOTA running the show or CVC running the show or even Mr Murdoch running the show ?

And the teams might have been happier with 50% of a lot rather than 75-80% of a little.

Perhaps another instance of 'better the devil you know' ?

[Flavio Galtieri]

If Bernie is found to have been controlling his Bambino trust and has to pay £2 billion tax as a result I can't see any downside to F1, just an upside for the UK exchequer.

Despicable liar-in-chief and corrupt police paymaster James Murdoch faces MPs again on thursday, all live and free to air on BBC Parliament. Of course you can watch it on SKY too if you prefer....

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Flavio Galtieri

Of course you can watch it on SKY too if you prefer....

I'll not be watching it on SKY, might miss something when the ads come on.

[kart_racer]

I recently added Sky Sports to my Package. I did this purely at the time to watch the Dan Wheldon Tribute they did.


I think I will keep it because they do show motorsport and obviously the GP is with them next year. It was a tenner a month extra

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by herowassenna

My favourite musician is Prince. No doubt some will have their own views on that, but during a concert he will always say to the crowd, "Real music, by real musicians"
I see it everywhere.
I don't know about over in the states, but here in the supermarket, you can buy ready made salad, grated cheese, ice!!! There's nothing even in day to day living that is designed for longevity, everything is dispensible. Still...

Not true, the greatest band in the world are reforming; Black Sabbath.

[strider]

Originally Posted by kart_racer

I recently added Sky Sports to my Package. I did this purely at the time to watch the Dan Wheldon Tribute they did.


I think I will keep it because they do show motorsport and obviously the GP is with them next year. It was a tenner a month extra

I did the same, but I think you'll find the tenner a month is only for the first three months. After that it doubles, unless you got a better deal than me.

[kart_racer]

Originally Posted by strider

I did the same, but I think you'll find the tenner a month is only for the first three months. After that it doubles, unless you got a better deal than me.

Seriously? I hope not... SKy sports isnt THAT good....

Wouldn't mind, but its 90% Football. A sport to which I have no interest at all.

[Born Racer]

I saw Sky Sports in a pub recently and discovered they don't just show sports. They show wrestling too.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

I saw Sky Sports in a pub recently and discovered they don't just show sports. They show wrestling too.

What sort of "pub" were you in? !!

[wolfhound]

I thought wrestling was a soap opera.

[VIVA GT]

I have now officially started my traing for when Sky Sports take over the coverage of Grand Prix.
I didn't watch, but have recorded last weekends race, and plan to watch it at some obscure time, all on my own...

[Paradise City]

I got Sky first to watch all the motoracing and the multitable Snooker. They had all the American racing stuff, World Motorsport and they even flirted with live sportscars albeit briefly. They had GP Masters with Murray, Mansell and Fittipaldi making racing comebacks before most of it died a quick death. A1GP too.

They must have had a change in management since then because it almost all got the chop before all the F1 talk this year. I wonder is it Murdoch or one of his merrymen imposing himself on a motorphobic management? If so will the coverage suffer?

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

I have now officially started my traing for when Sky Sports take over the coverage of Grand Prix.
I didn't watch, but have recorded last weekends race, and plan to watch it at some obscure time, all on my own...

If you didn't record qualifying you'll have missed the best bit.

[Born Racer]

Originally Posted by Marbot

What sort of "pub" were you in? !!

It was a reunion with old friends from my time at university, so it was a mainly student-populated pub.

[Marbot]

Nigel Mansell to be Sky Sports F1 pundit?

http://www.pitpass.com/45287-Mansell...in-Sky-F1-team

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Marbot

Nigel Mansell to be Sky Sports F1 pundit?

http://www.pitpass.com/45287-Mansell...in-Sky-F1-team

His boring monotone voice should be a good cure for insomnia! Another reason I'm pleased to be saving my money by not subscribing...