Sky Sports F1 and the BBC in 2012: What are your thoughts on the coverage so far?

Home » F1 Blog » March 19 2012 at 8:33 | posted by James Wilson | Comment with facebook

Australian GP Coverage - how did it stack up?

For the vast majority of the world, it's now Monday the 19th of March - which means there has been plenty of time to digest a weekend of Australian GP coverage, which ever channel you watched it on.

Still on my travels and unlikely to be back in the United Kingdom until May, I'm obviously keen to gauge opinion on the TV coverage F1 fans got over the Australian GP weekend. In the UK, there were two options for Grand Prix viewing. Sky Sports F1 had all the sessions live on their satellite subscription service, where as the free to air BBC service had a full race re-run and highlight show on Sunday.

The presenting and commentary teams have changed compared to last year - so just how good of a job did both channels do? Did Sky Sports customers feel they were getting value for money with the coverage offered. Were any BBC viewers gutted not to be able to watch the race live, or was the re-run sufficient?

Other than the odd youtube video which shouldn't really be there, I honestly have no idea how well the coverage went down this weekend, so please get commenting and share your views.

Posted by James Wilson. - Follow him on twitter @enterf1.

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Other comments

#1 Sir El | 19 Mar 2012, 09:02 Reply »

Crofty is a wonderful commentator....the BEST and alongside Martin...it was as expected A1......

Apart from that....Martin is everywhere....Sky have an expensive project with a lot of nothing....sometimes boring......will still watch BBC buildup whenever LIVE

#2 jefemano | 20 Mar 2012, 19:44 Reply »

Give me the good ld BBC any time, apart from Martin, all I could see was the rest of the team ( particularly the Girls) just possing looks like a beauty contest , too much disctraction by individual try to impress, forgetting the main objective, not impressed at all, I wont woder to get a subcription I would justwait for the BBC

#3 NickoGi | 22 Mar 2012, 21:22 Reply »

I totally agree with you! Crofty is good in what he does, but i think he does way to much of the comenting/talking. My english isn't the best so sorry for that. All the SKY F1 HD coverage was too hektick and it felt like they just had to put the most they could in the coverage, without thinking of the quality of the show. BBC's coverage last year with, Martin, DC, EJ, Missed Lee in the pit-lane interviewing drivers when they retired as #3 Hannah, and i think Jake Humphrey does his job much better then Simon Lazenby as presenter. And Ted Kravitz in the pit lane( garages) with the BBC mic! And always everyone making fun of EJ, and him speaking HIS mind about everything was always good, funny an interesting to listen to! And having DC as co-commentator was really good because of his knowligde and that he drove in F1 just a few years ago, so he could interpet the many different "names" for different things in the car that even MB, EJ or any of the others knew. Let Crofty take care of the practise sessions and get the BBC F1 crew from last year do what they are the best at doing!

F1 fan from Norway hoping that both the titles goes back again to McLAREN.

#4 Hannah | 19 Mar 2012, 16:11 Reply »

Got Sky just for F1 as couldn't bear the thought of missing it. The Sky coverage was a bit hit and miss in my opinion. Half an hour build up to FP1 was FAR too long and showing "who's who" features about certain teams right bang in the middle of practice was not ideal, but they seem to have cut this out for FP2 + FP3.

Love the Crofty/Brundle link up for the commentary, and it's great we still have the Crofty/Ant team for practice so on that front it was great!

They seem to only have about 3 adverts which were repeated numerous times, including one saying when and where I could watch FP3 and qualifying... considering I was watching the qualifying show at the time it was slightly out of date!

Some of the features were great, others were not - same as the BBC really.

I think it will take Sky a few races to properly get into their stride, as BBC have had 3 years to establish themselves - especially the presenting team etc. Missed Lee in the pit-lane interviewing drivers when they retired - didn't seem to have much of that on Sky.

All in all Sky has its good points and bad and I think it will improve as the season goes on.

#5 Colin Hall | 19 Mar 2012, 16:20 Reply »

I didn`t get Sky as i knew they would have loads of ads before and after. The BBC coverage is nearly as good as original so i am staying put wuith the BBC

#6 Nigel a | 19 Mar 2012, 18:26 Reply »

Thought sky did a very good job for the first race, loved the coverage. Watched every session. Yes the same few adverts did annoy me between seasions. Fed up hearing about the 123 account and thompson especially when i cannot afford a holiday this year and the wife keeps moaning. Just feel they need to mix the adverts up a bit.

Did miss jake though. The sky equivalent seemed to be more nervous and fumbled his words occasionally.

#7 Prlaa | 19 Mar 2012, 19:08 Reply »

thought sky told us no adverts.? During practice and race I see many adverts, it was only during the race and the actual qualifying session that we had no adverts. I recall no adverts on the BBC throughout race weekends. Please BBC come back. Sky give no more than the BBC gave. Ps HD was also free on BBC. Also only got sky via friend on iPad glad no paying for it.

#8 Jon C | 20 Mar 2012, 00:12 Reply »

Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant and its about time we had a channel dedicated to F1 in HD, worth the money, but don't change it. Biggest thing is that there is lots of time, No more cutting it short because question time has to start or squeezing it between Songs of Praise and East Enders. Yeah we miss DC and EJ, so close down BBC get them all to Sky. The insight is better becuase we have time. I can watch an catch up on F1 all week and how cool was it to catch up on any news later on in the evening after qualifing and after the race. BBC could never give dedicate that time or give that insight. The graphics are good, the technical insight is good and I am sure it will improve. I was skeptical over the F1 pad at first, but yeah its cool and a great tool to anaylse further, something BBC couldn't fully commit too. I don't get the complaints to the build up is too long, Thats the whole point of having a channel dedicated to F1?. What happened to interactive part thou, I was unable to follow seperate cars as promised? I am sure Sky will get stronger and better, but great Job. Good bye BBC.

#9 Alastair | 20 Mar 2012, 00:28 Reply »

I watched both the Sky coverage and the BBC highlights package.

Firstly, the new BBC intro is horrible (as is their new F1 website) but it's great to see the familiar faces (especially EJ!) and Ben Edwards is a brilliant commentator. There wasn't much in the way of build-up on the BBC highlights programme although I was pleasantly surprised at how much of the race they actually showed. Similarly the post-race analysis was brilliant, as always. I'm not sure what happened to the “live forum after every race, even the ones we aren't showing live” that Jake Humphrey enthusiastically promoted on Twitter a few weeks ago.

Sky's coverage was impressive, considering this was their first race broadcast. "Race Control" via the iPad app was great with various camera options, however, I got the impression that Simon Lazenby, unlike Jake Humphrey, doesn't have an in-depth or working knowledge of F1, hence the bland opening questions he used with interviewees. It fell to Martin Brundle to ask the useful questions.

Georgie Thompson, like Simon Lazenby, seems to lack the F1 background that F1 fans demand. Why is she on the F1 programmes? She just nods and agrees with everything Ant Davidson says which is simply cringeworthy.

The fact she was recently convicted of drink-driving and banned from driving makes it all the more shocking that she continues to be employed by Sky. It feels deeply inappropriate to the families of drink-drive victims that she is being promoted as an integral part of the F1 team, considering the FIA's "Decade of Road Safety."

I got the feeling that Ben Edwards and David Coulthard did a slightly better job with commentary than Martin Brundle and David Croft, but it is worth remembering the BBC had a chance to edit out any parts that may not have worked. The BBC's first live race in April will be the true test of commentary teams. My personal preference was the Sky commentary, I know some people dislike Crofty's tendency to get excited but I think he and Martin Brundle = a winning combination.

I couldn't end this without criticising Sky for the adverts. I mean, seriously, what's up with all those darn adverts? Anyone who watched the Practice 3 session would have noted the two advert breaks within about 4 minutes (no exaggeration). Twitter saw a lot of fiercely worded criticism of #SkyF1 for the advert breaks and the silly video clips they played whilst cars were on the track. I ended up streaming Radio 5 Live's commentary via the iPlayer on my laptop and muted the TV. At least that way the adverts weren't so annoying.

Sky have also decided not to make their practice, qualification and race programmes available on-demand via Sky Go. This is notwithstanding Simon Lazenby's regular reminders that F1 is apparently available via Sky Go. This again will disadvantage Sky for 10 races per year as the BBC always put their full F1 programme content on iPlayer.

If I didn't already have Sky (and it's questionable as to whether I'm going to continue the subscription after the contract ends) I would be quite happy with the BBC coverage. Indeed, the success of Sky's venture into F1 depends on whether the BBC can do a good enough job to stop people signing up to a minimum £360 per year Sky subscription package (that assumes Sky don't move F1 to a more expensive sports package next year).

#10 Mr Ree | 20 Mar 2012, 00:40 Reply »

Im from NZ too and agree with John above. I was so disappointed to turn on the tv and turn on the set top box (which by the way is SKY TV NZ) only to be given a second rate audio feed from bbc becuase obviously it costs them less than using the logical sky uk feed. Of course I didnt expect to get any of the interactive features that they have via the remoite control, but was really hoping to have the voices of Brundle, Crofts, and Davidson ringing through the speakers, but instead, virtual silence then eventually the leftovers that sky didnt want. Straight away I found "alternative sources" and watch the Sky uk f1 channelf, which was a million times better albeit slightly too many ads in the FP sessions. Unfortunately doing it this way means using lots of bandwidth so something has got to give. Congrats Sky tv NZ for dropping the ball yet again and shortchanging the motorsport customers by giving them the bare minimum of services in a time when we have never had more features available for them to push the sport forward into the present day. I havent listened to the recordings of the bbc sessions that were on sky tv, and to be honest, as much as I like DC and James Allen, I cant see me bothering as sky uk did it so well, and its only going to get better. Wish I was in the UK, just to be able to use the extra features like selecting which onboard cameras I want to see :)

#11 John | 20 Mar 2012, 01:04 Reply »

Watched the BBC coverage, its was still good but not as good as it was before, as its only highlights. I liked the emotional commentary of Ben Edwards. I also was exclaiming along with him in my living room when the drivers had close calls, overtaking and accidents. Actually preferred Ben over Martin in the commentary because ben's excitement and emotion came over the mic clearly. Gary is ok I just need a little getting use to.

#12 chad jun | 25 Mar 2012, 06:31 Reply »

I haven't watched, nor am I going to watch this 2012 formula 1 season as I am tired of sky's incessant sports domination quest. Sky ruins sport by throwing money at everything and everyone involved in it. Just look at the state of heavyweight boxing, cricket and football to name a few sports. I have followed F1 for many years and the logic behind taking a sport that few can hope to follow around the world away from millions of televison viewers and placing it on the screens of only sky subscribers escapes me. I'll get the results from the papers for 2012. Thanks Mr Ecclestone.

#13 bean | 19 Mar 2012, 09:24 Reply »

Whilst i enjoyed the commentary on sky, the build up and post race is not a patch on bbc. I will be watching entire bbc coverage for the 10th live races they will be showing because i like the level headed jackie Eddie and dc and the banter they goes with it. Ben Edwards was good showing he was no newly. sky was hardly a barrel of laughs and at times was frankly embarrassing to watch. i bought sky just for f1 and i really hope they fail and coverage goes back to bbc where it rightfully belongs. Shame on you Bernie for not supporting the British public, i do hope they fail.

#14 quattro_T | 19 Mar 2012, 14:12 Reply »

" i bought sky just for f1 and i really hope they fail and coverage goes back to bbc where it rightfully belongs. "

It will not fail, as long as you pay for it :). It is you together with others who pay who decide if it will fail or not.

#15 Joe | 23 Mar 2012, 08:41 Reply »

Sky F1 = 1 out of 100

BBC F1 = 100 out of 100

Sky commentators besides Martin and Ted are totally useless and a real pain to listen to.

Crofty sounds like he's commentating a horse race and not F!

#16 Jimmy@enterF1 | 19 Mar 2012, 09:34 Reply »

The BBC coverage had real personality with the chemistry between Jake, DC and EJ - and some times lack of it! Made for an entertaining build up and post race coverage.

Do I sense a lack of that with the Sky Sports F1 team so far?

#17 Paul | 19 Mar 2012, 10:13 Reply »

I have no intention of getting sky, I dislike news international or anything to do with them and I hope they fail with F1 big time. The BBC was the best F1 coverage for years and although I miss M Brundle's comments I have to watch what the BBC provide which was good but not as good as full race coverage which I look forward to.

#18 F1Racer | 19 Mar 2012, 11:30 Reply »

While it was great to watch Sky's coverage with all sessions in glorious HD, it didn't tick all the boxes for me.

Martin Brundle is my favourite F1 commentator so that is a plus for Sky that they bagged him. I seriously miss Eddie Jordan though.

The parts for me that weren't so good was the build up. 1hr30mins was a torturous wait. 45 mins should be plenty, then they wouldn't have to pad it out so much.

Martins time in the Ferrari was way too short considering he had 40 laps.

Also this repetition of segments from qualifying build up (like the Mansell interview) is a bit much considering how many times all the sessions are repeated on Sky.

The lack of advert breaks during quali and race is great but that means loads of ad breaks before and after. Maybe this is why there is 1hr30mins of pre-race flumf. In order to squeeze in the required amount of advertising.

The adverts themselves... what was there, like 3?

the Kida advert, that stupid guy with the mustache sitting on the sofa and whatever else.

Along with the utterance of "SAntAnDER' every time, I found I had to mute quickly on every ad break.

I was dreading thee ad breaks by Free Practice 3.

Apart from all that it wasn't too far from the BBC style of coverage.

Bring Eddie Jordan on board, Sky !!!

Also is it me, but on the BBC coverage is DC actually pronouncing Vettel correctly, finally ???!!!

Thats a BIG plus for them because Ve-ttel was sooo annoying.

#19 Nico | 19 Mar 2012, 12:38 Reply »

After watching the Sky coverage at a friends, i have to say that the pre race build up, and the post race analysis was not a patch on what you get from the BBC. I love the BBC's red button forum.

Martin Brundle was a plus for the sky coverage, but the BBC have chosen a good replacement for him.

For me, I'll watch the BBC over Sky every time. And I'm glad i didn't get a £360 a year Sky subscription before seeing what i would have been getting.

#20 hugh | 19 Mar 2012, 12:55 Reply »

BBc build up is the best, the sky team is new and will get better, except Georgie Thomson, who is absolutely hopeless, I guess she was brought along by the producer for her "other off screen activities" Did you notice that Martin took the second string role in the commentary box allowing crofty to lead.

#21 rx8fox | 19 Mar 2012, 13:24 Reply »

i watched the F! show on sky1 and that Georgie porggie is useless its like its being presented by the wooden tops, if anyone can remember them. The best bit for her was interviewing button in her leather romper suit.

#22 Frank | 19 Mar 2012, 13:36 Reply »

I watched all the FP sessions, qaulifying and the race on Sky, then rewatched the race highlights on the BBC. What a mistake the BBC made...they were in a 'Zen Place' last year...for me, the perfect season for viewers.

Watching the race on Sky...I was wondering when the guy was going to stop YELLING intot he microphone...I was absolutely irritated to death everytime he started screaming...which was about nothing really...and he never stopped...

No contest...the BBC is much better to listen to...and Couthard's insight was identical to Brundles...I thought I would miss Brundle, but am not...

I will watch all the BBC coverage for sure...

Some advice to Sky...get the screamer off the microphone...One a positive note, people with hearing aids won't need them.

#23 john | 19 Mar 2012, 14:13 Reply »

Herein NZ we had to tollerate the BBC coverage which was diabolical no commentory or sound untill 1 minute prior to warm up lap began, no driver interviews, only the voice of DC made it bearable

#24 rx8fox | 19 Mar 2012, 14:43 Reply »

you did not miss much as you only need to hear what is going on when its ready to get going. hope you guys in NZ dont have to put up with Sky mmm