The 2017 Formula One season heads towards the last stop before the Summer break, the Hungarian Grand Prix. For one motor sport series though, the end of its current season is here…
This weekend marks the season three finale for the Formula E championship! Channel 5 and Spike will air the final two races, which take place in Montreal. For the second race in a row, scheduling is not great, with the series seemingly ‘demoted’ from Channel 5 to its sister channel Spike.
If it was not for a Spike Fight Night on the Saturday, the complete weekend would be airing on Spike, which suggests that Channel 5 is losing faith in the series, this coming off the back to the inaugural New York ePrix being shunted onto Channel 5’s Facebook page. The highlights of the season finale air on Channel 5 beyond midnight, the main channel taking a Dirty Dancing re-run.
Jack Nicholls is back to talk about the on track electric dancing, alongside Dario Franchitti in the Formula E commentary box. Back to the Formula 1 world, Lee McKenzie is back with Channel 4’s F1 team following her stints covering Wimbledon and the World Para Athletics Championship.
Channel 4 F1
Sessions
29/07 – 18:00 to 19:30 – Qualifying Highlights
30/07 – 17:00 to 19:15 – Race Highlights
Sky Sports F1
Sessions
28/07 – 08:45 to 10:55 – Practice 1 (also Sky Sports Main Event)
28/07 – 12:45 to 14:55 – Practice 2
29/07 – 09:45 to 11:10 – Practice 3 (also Sky Sports Main Event)
29/07 – 12:00 to 14:30 – Qualifying (also Sky Sports Main Event)
30/07 – 11:30 to 16:15 – Race (also Sky Sports Main Event)
=> 11:30 – Track Parade
=> 12:00 – Pit Lane Live
=> 12:30 – Race
=> 15:30 – Paddock Live
Supplementary Programming
26/07 – 20:30 to 21:00 – F1 Report: Preview
27/07 – 14:00 to 15:00 – Driver Press Conference
27/07 – 20:00 to 20:15 – Paddock Uncut
28/07 – 15:30 to 16:30 – Team Press Conference
28/07 – 16:30 to 17:00 – The F1 Show
02/08 – 20:30 to 21:00 – F1 Report: Review
BBC Radio F1
29/07 – 13:00 to 14:00 – Qualifying (BBC Radio 5 Live)
30/07 – 13:00 to 14:30 – Race (BBC Radio 5 Live)
Formula E – Montreal (online via Channel 5’s social media channels and YouTube)
29/07 – 12:55 to 14:10 – Race 1, Practice 1
29/07 – 15:25 to 16:10 – Race 1, Practice 2
30/07 – 12:55 to 14:10 – Race 2, Practice 1
30/07 – 15:25 to 16:10 – Race 2, Practice 2
Formula E – Montreal
29/07 – 16:45 to 18:10 – Race 1, Qualifying (Spike)
29/07 – 20:30 to 22:10 – Race 2 (Channel 5)
30/07 – 16:45 to 18:15 – Race 2, Qualifying (Spike)
30/07 – 20:30 to 22:15 – Race 2 (Spike)
30/07 – 00:35 to 01:15 – Race 2, Highlights (Channel 5)
British Touring Car Championship – Snetterton (ITV4)
30/07 – 10:45 to 18:00 – Races
Formula Two – Hungary (Sky Sports F1)
28/07 – 10:55 to 11:40 – Practice
28/07 – 14:55 to 15:25 – Qualifying
29/07 – 14:55 to 16:25 – Race 1
30/07 – 09:15 to 10:30 – Race 2
GP3 Series – Hungary (Sky Sports F1)
29/07 – 08:25 to 08:55 – Qualifying
29/07 – 16:30 to 17:30 – Race 1
30/07 – 08:05 to 09:00 – Race 2
IndyCar Series – Mid-Ohio (BT Sport/ESPN)
30/07 – 20:00 to 23:00 – Race
Porsche Supercup – Hungary (Sky Sports F1)
30/07 – 10:30 to 11:25 – Race
World Rally Championship – Finland
27/07 – 18:00 to 19:00 – Harju (BT Sport 1)
28/07 – 18:30 to 19:30 – Harju II (BT Sport 2)
28/07 – Day 1 Highlights
=> 22:30 to 23:00 (BT Sport 1)
=> 22:35 to 23:05 (Motorsport.tv)
29/07 – 14:00 to 15:00 – Ouninopoha (BT Sport/ESPN)
29/07 – Day 2 Highlights
=> 21:30 to 22:00 (Motorsport.tv)
=> 22:30 to 23:00 (BT Sport 3)
30/07 – 08:00 to 09:00 – Oittila (BT Sport 1)
30/07 – 11:00 to 12:30 – Power Stage (BT Sport 1)
30/07 – Day 3 Highlights
=> 22:00 to 22:30 (BT Sport 3)
=> 22:35 to 23:05 (Motorsport.tv)
01/08 – 19:00 to 20:00 – Highlights (Channel 5)
As always, the above will be updated if anything changes.
Update on July 26th – One major update this afternoon. Martin Brundle will not be in the commentary box this weekend, as he is recovering from his Silverstone stomach bug. Expect Paul di Resta or Anthony Davidson to be back in the co-commentator chair alongside David Croft. If it is Davidson, it will be their first live race commentary together since they were with the BBC from 2009 to 2011. Also, Jack Nicholls’ Formula E commentary means that John Hindhaugh fills his void for Sky Sports F1’s Porche Supercup coverage on Sunday.
Update on July 28th – Sky confirmed during their practice coverage that di Resta would be alongside Croft in the commentary box. Furthermore, Channel 4’s coverage on Sunday has been brought forward by 15 minutes to 17:00 to allow for further build-up towards the England vs France football match.
Update on July 29th at 11:50 – Sky do not appear to be having any luck this weekend, as Paul di Resta is replacing Felipe Massa in the Williams from qualifying onwards. So, it looks like Davidson or Damon Hill will be alongside Croft, unless he goes solo for qualifying and the race, which would be unusual.
Update on July 29th at 12:10 – Confirmation from Sky that Davidson will be alongside Croft for the rest of the weekend in the commentary box. Great news!
Motorsport Broadcasting 
As much as I’ve liked Martin Haven’s FE commentary this season, it’s great to have the Jack & Dario combo back again – first time since Mexico isn’t it?
who is therefore taking the bbc radio f1 talking plus of course porsche super cuo?
Radio will probably be the usual other than Nicholls, so a combination of Clarkson, McNish, Gallagher and Gow probably. No idea about the Porsche’s.
John Hindhaugh said he was doing it.
Probably also worth saying that David Addison is doing the Spa 24 (alongside Martin Haven, Ben Constanduros and probably Bruce Jones) meaning a replacement will be needed for the BTCC. It’ll be interesting, as there’s no obvious candidate.
I am very disappointed in Channel 5 for the scheduling of the second race on Sunday. Dirty Dancing has been shown hundreds of times, and to choose to show a film over a live event is just nonsensical!
Annoyed about Channel 5 in prioritising Dirty Dancing instead of the last race in the Formula E championship. Signs that Channel 5 like David said that they have ‘losing faith’ with the series. The viewers could be missing an fantastic finale, instead CH5 viewers will be seeing those lifts on Dirty Dancing.
Is it too late for us to ‘lobby’ Channel 5? It’s a terrible decision!
The sooners Channel Five lose the rights to Formula E the better, their coverage has been pretty appalling all season. I would much rather just be able to watch the world feed on YouTube. I know the series needs TV coverage to help it grow etc. but its not going to grow on Five. At least if it was on BTSport it might grab casual sports fans rather than people expecting kids TV or Big Brother on Five.
On a side note it also seems a little misguided of the Formula E organisers to schedule the race at the same time as an Indycar race. Although that’s not even in the top ten problems with the Formula E calendar I guess.
Not a smart move Channel 5 👎
We don’t want Formula E on BT Sport at all for people who don’t have Sky or BT but the way it is going it looks inevitable that it all. It didn’t work on ITV4. There’s no need for Channel 5 to prioritise Big Brother or an repeat of Dirty Dancing over Formula E is there?.
I think BT will get the Formula E UK broadcasting rights from 2018/19.
What about C4 after their F1 deal ends?
I doubt Formula E will exist half way through the 2018/19 season. Fewer races, fewer drivers, fewer teams and fewer global viewers. By the way, look at your tv magazines – if Channel 4 shows the 4:30 pm Group C v Group D women’s Euro 2017 quarter final what will clash with the F1 highlights?
Excuse me? Mercedes have just announced they’re joining FE, taking manufacturer teams up to 10, more cities than ever want to hold a race and driving talent is not in short supply (no pay drivers in FE atm).
I did too notice the TV Guide schedule for Sunday.
Can we all email Ch5 and reverse the decision?
just seen a tweet from M.Brundle saying he miss this GP as well. cue Paul Di Resta in the sky com box
Have updated the schedule, thanks.
Get well soon Martin Brundle.
I can’t see that C4 would want the rights to Formula E after their F1 deal ends. I would think with Formula E you need more races within an amount of time, say 2/3 weeks per race similar to F1.
The BBC have posted a few articles about Formula E of late. Would the whole environmental message make it a good investment for them from a PSB point of view? I’d imagine the rights would be fairly cheap (if not free).
Formula E had shocking ratings on ITV4. The London races shown on ITV1 were flogged by Points of View and Songs of Praise. Channel 5 gets the ratings the formula deserves. More likely to end up exclusive on BT Sport than on the BBC.
Well its a mute point now as they announced during Saturdays coverage that Five have Formula E for next season too. (Groan).
and it looks like Paul might be in a race car instead of com box meaning ant will have to take that duty, ( I need news before i depart and will not be back until 5.00pmish)
On the TVs guide it still says channel 4 highlights 17:15 when do they update it