Fi . the BBC and sky coverage

[Rusty]

Quite like the Sky F1 coverage and it's all part of the HD package that I have, so doesn't cost me any extra. Brundle's commentary is great and the analysis is visually great with the virtual onboard etc. Hill, Herbert, Davidson, Senna and a few other give good, in-depth punditry and the programs are now shorter than before. Shout and swear all you want but until the BBC have enough money and the rights are up for grabs again, it'll stay that way...

[martinjs]

The 'Legends' series they show in the week has been great, and the 1975 season review shown earlier.

[Cottis]

Sky is great. BBC isn't. Sky provides most people with what they want or the public would not pay for it. BBC has sold out over the years and fails to justify the income it makes from the hideous licence fee.

I would much rather pay someone for providing people what they want rather than being taxed for a cause I have no interest in, so celebs can be propped up and failed Director Generals can be paid off after failing in a job for 2 months.

You have a choice which is much better than not having a choice.

[Ross]

I have the F1 with my HD package which is only +£10/mo. At least when I signed up you did not need the sport package. I watch a bit of the historic F1 stuff but generally just the qualifying and race, recorded and then fast-forward to the start catching any interview or feature that looks good along the way.

I think the commentary is good. Even if i often disagree with Brundle and catch things along time before the commentators do... perhaps I should make a career change and the features and analysis can be good. I do seem to recall better race build-up stuff on the BBC though - hence I usually skip it now. I like that I can stick practice sessions on my iPhone live as well.

I was irritated when BBC scrapped half the full coverage but inclusion of F1 with the HD package was enough to tempt me in. It helped their cause that I halved my broadband cost as part of the package and get 2.5x the speed (over BT). I would have been a lot more begrudging had that not been the case.

Now my biggest irritation with Sky? Costs creeping up, 'streamlining' packages so i have to get junk i don't want (and pay for it) just to get 1-2 channels, rubbish movie packages (I'd rather buy 2 movies a month for about the same cost) and the premium you have to pay for HD which is ludicrous. I do wish I had other options.

[Cottis]

Like any company that supplies its customers, you get panned for loyalty. Only new customers get the best deals which always makes me laugh. I dont bother with the extra HD subscription. Tennis is better (without yellow blur) with HD but generally quality is fine with a decent TV.

Bit miffed that I will be forced to get BT sports next years in order to watch Champs League and more Prem Leag stuff but hey, at least someone is challenging the monopoly Sky has enjoyed for some time. BBC would never try and outbid a competitor in order to provide their "customers" what they want.

[220bhp]

Choice is one thing. Compulsion is another. I think I am done hear.

[newsh]

I don't watch telly

[Cottis]

You have a few choices that I can see. More so than a football fan who cannot watch his team play live on a Saturday afternoon.

You can;

1. Buy Sky and watch it live

2. Watch it on a hooky channel online and spend your morning pressing F5 and shouting at the rubbish reception

3. Struggle to avoid the results in various media throughout the day but still settle down to watch the highlights because the "action" in F1 provides the most compelling footage known to man

4. Approach a local supermarket, ask to borrow a box and spend the day in darkness until the highlights show comes on.

5. Get a ticket to China and watch it properly live.

I might be playing devils advocate with you but my point is that you do have choices. Plenty of them in fact.

Newsh has the right idea and probably achieves far more with his day than the rest of us glued to the various media screens in our lives. Anyhow, unless a distant meteor decided to slam in to China earlier today, nothing was going to stop Lewis winning. You missed absolutely nothing at all.

[Error404]

I don't watch telly

You don't have time mate, with 4 cars to fix

[newsh]

True!

Telly does my head in though, haven't been able to watch it for years, feels like a waste of time Last time I watched anything regularly was the Moto GP when Rossi was making his big move when was that? 10 years ago?

[220bhp]

You don't get time to watch telly because you are always on hear.

[Sonic]

I thought the BBC had absolutely nailed the F1 coverage - everything from the presenters (at the time Jake Humphrey with DC plus EJ on the odd occasion) to the features, no breaks, build-up, live-races etc.

And then they gave it all away...

I was stunned that they had something so perfect, and then just gave it to Sky.

The BBC coverage now is still good IMO but it's very frustrating they only show a few races live, the rest is just highlights hours after the race by the time you've already found out via the news, facebook, forums, friends etc even whilst trying to avoid it.

The features are still good and Suzi Perry is doing an ok job, but she's no Jake, and the lack of proper and consistent coverage absolutely does my **** in - but there is absolutely no way i'll pay for sky just so i can watch the other races live. I'd rather chew my own arm off.

[s2driveruk]

I think i have given up watching F1. I tried again to watch the quali this weekend and before the end of Q2 hadn't a clue what was going on, thoughts had drifted

If you want overtaking and drama...check out a pretty decent montage of the WEC at Silverstone on Sunday. Now that is what i call overtaking!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZHIUBe7eVk

[Error404]

Awesome footage. Did any of the R18s finish?

[s2driveruk]

ah......no both write offs which must have been an expensive day out for Team Joest. Watching them through Copse, bloody hell are they quick!