Scheduling: The 2014 Bahrain test 2 on Sky Sports F1

The scheduling details for Sky Sports F1’s coverage of the final test for the 2014 Formula 1 season have today been confirmed. The test, from the Bahrain International Circuit will again feature fifteen minute highlights from each day, with Ted Kravitz back for his Notebook afterwards.

I cannot emphasise this next statement enough: At the moment, no live coverage is currently in Sky’s schedules. Yes, that can always change, but at the moment nothing is in the schedule to suggest live coverage

Thursday 27th February
21:00 to 21:45 – Day 1 Highlights
– round-up at 21:00
– Ted’s Notebook at 21:15
22:15 to 23:00 – Day 1 Highlights (R)

Friday 28th February
21:00 to 21:45 – Day 2 Highlights
– round-up at 21:00
– Ted’s Notebook at 21:15
22:15 to 23:00 – Day 2 Highlights (R)

Saturday 1st March
21:00 to 21:45 – Day 3 Highlights
– round-up at 21:00
– Ted’s Notebook at 21:15
22:15 to 23:00 – Day 3 Highlights (R)

Sunday 2nd March
21:00 to 21:45 – Day 4 Highlights
– round-up at 21:00
– Ted’s Notebook at 21:15
22:15 to 23:00 – Day 4 Highlights (R)

As always, I’ll update this post if anything changes concerning the second Bahrain test.

Sky’s Jerez testing coverage increases year-on-year

Sky Sports’ coverage of the first winter test of the 2014 Formula One season from Jerez performed better than last year, unofficial overnight viewing figures show.

The four days, excluding any repeats, averaged 29k, which compares with 19k for the coverage last year. All four days were covered through a fifteen minute round-up and Ted Kravitz’s testing Notebook which followed it. The numbers below the full duration of that period, which varied between 40 and 50 minutes on each day. Interest was clearly higher than last year from the get-go, an average of 43k (0.2%) watched coverage of the first day, peaking with 51k (0.2%). Day 2 was similarly high, averaging 38k (0.2%) from 21:00 to 21:50.

Days 3 and 4 did drop back down to 2013 levels though. Day three averaged 15k (0.1%), with day four averaging 18k (0.1%). Below is a summary of the ratings:

– 28/01 – 43k (0.2%), peak: 51k (0.2%) – 21:00 to 21:40
– 29/01 – 38k (0.2%), peak: 50k (0.2%) – 21:00 to 21:50
– 30/01 – 15k (0.1%), peak: 23k (0.1%) – 21:00 to 21:50
– 31/01 – 18k (0.1%), peak: 32k (0.1%) – 21:00 to 21:45

To put the day 1 and 2 numbers into context, it is about equivalent to a GP2 race in 2013, and would have beaten the majority of GP3 and IndyCar races. That last line might sadden a few readers, but that does appear to be the case.

World Rally Championship hits a high note on ITV4

Highlights of the first round of the 2014 World Rally Championship on ITV4 performed better than any of its coverage from 2013, unofficial overnight viewing figures show. With that, the rating would also be the highest for a rally since at least 2010, given the low key seasons that followed broadcasting wise.

The programme, broadcast on Tuesday 21st January at 20:00 and focussing on the Monte Carlo rally, averaged 278k (1.8%), peaking with 358k (1.5%) as Sébastien Ogier secured his victory. The rating is impressive for the coverage, when you consider that the majority of the overnight ratings in 2013 were between 100k and 200k. The weekend marked an adjustment in the broadcasting rights here in the UK, with BT Sport coming on board, broadcasting the series exclusively live.

BT Sport’s live coverage started solidly, if unspectacular. The highest number was for live coverage on BT Sport 2 on Saturday (18th January) afternoon. The one hour programme from 14:30 averaged 41k (0.4%), peaking with 65k (0.6%). Sadly the evening coverage on BT Sport 1 did not average as much, only bringing 22k (0.1%). I do think that it is a good starting block for BT, it was never going to storm out of the blocks. With an influx of motor sport subscribers (including myself) to the channel for the MotoGP coverage, there is room for improvement.

The numbers emphasise for me why it was important for ITV4 to retain its highlights coverage, which has happened. The two now compliment each other nicely, and hopefully the numbers for the highlights continue to remain high as the season progresses.