Russian Grand Prix struggles to bring in the viewers

Lewis Hamilton’s victory at the Russian Grand Prix struggled compared to the first two-thirds of the 2018 season so far, overnight viewing figures suggest.

Comparisons with previous years should be taken at face value and in the context of the slot the race was in. In 2014 and 2015, the race occurred in October, before moving to an April slot for the 2016 running. Now, the Grand Prix moves back to late-September.

In addition, last year’s race aired live on Channel 4, whereas this year the broadcaster aired highlights, as they did in 2016.

Race
Sky Sports F1’s live coverage of the Grand Prix averaged 490k (6.0%) from 11:00 to 14:30, their highest average for Russia since 2015. An average of 490,000 viewers in isolation looks low compared to other races this season, but is a reasonable number for Russia.

Nevertheless, it is Sky’s third lowest average of 2018, only ahead of Australia and Austria. In 2016, Sky’s coverage from Sochi averaged 470k (4.9%), with last year’s shared coverage bringing in 447k (4.5%).

For whatever reason, the Sochi race has never traditionally brought the punters in, whether it is because viewers know the race track is poor, or whether it has been simply unlucky with other competition.

One reason Russia may be unusually low is because of its start time, which caught viewers out again this year, as Sky’s audience increased throughout the race. The race started at 12:15 with 778k (10.3%), climbing past 800k at 12:35 and peaking with 918k (10.2%) at 13:35.

The peak audience of 918k is Sky’s second highest ever for Russia, only behind 2014 which peaked with 985k (8.2%) when BBC One also aired live coverage. This year, the competition was the bi-annual Ryder Cup golf tournament, which will have taken some viewers away from the Grand Prix.

Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor left Channel 4’s highlights programme picking up the scraps on Sunday evening. An audience of just 1.82m (9.1%) tuned into their show from 18:45 to 21:00, the broadcaster’s lowest F1 race day number since Austria in July.

Channel 4’s broadcast peaked with 2.32m (12.1%) at 19:15, just before the dancing started on BBC One. There might be an argument here that Channel 4 should have scheduled the F1 from 16:45 to 19:30, which the current contract allows them the privilege of doing so. Saying that, the qualifying number throws this train of thought into the river…

The combined average audience of 2.31 million viewers is the lowest for Russia on record, down 4.1 percent and 2.4 percent on 2016 and 2017’s average audiences. Whilst not a good number, the audience figure is not abnormal for Russia, either. The combined peak audience of 3.24 million viewers is also a low for Russia, a decrease of 0.2 percent and 5.8 percent on 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Qualifying
In a year where viewing figures have continued to decline on the whole for qualifying, the pattern continued in Russia.

Live coverage of qualifying on Sky Sports F1 averaged 232k (3.6%) from 12:00 to 14:35, an increase on last year’s figure of 197k (2.6%) when Channel 4 also aired the action live, but down on their 2016 audience of 275k (3.6%).

Channel 4’s highlights programme from 16:30 to 18:30 averaged a low 867k (7.5%), one of their lowest ever audiences for qualifying. Sporting competition was tough for them last Saturday, facing both the Ryder Cup on Sky Sports F1 and coverage of Chelsea versus Liverpool on BT Sport.

Sky’s programme peaked with 472k (6.8%) as Valtteri Bottas clinched pole, with Channel 4’s show peaking with 1.35m (10.7%) later in the afternoon.

The combined audience of 1.10 million viewers is the lowest ever for Russia, and the lowest for qualifying since the Canadian Grand Prix in June.

Formula 1 was lucky to have a close championship race, throughout the Summer months, keeping audiences engaged during the latter stages of the World Cup and through into Belgium and Italy.

Now, as Hamilton drives off into the distance, the wheels appear to be falling off the wagon, and not for the first time either. Time will tell as to whether viewing figures can recover for the final hurdle towards Abu Dhabi.

The 2017 Russian Grand Prix ratings report can be found here.

Scheduling: The 2018 Japanese Grand Prix / Thailand MotoGP

Lewis Hamilton and Marc Marquez look to take another leap towards their respective championships as Formula 1 and MotoGP head east this weekend. For MotoGP, this year marks their first visit to Thailand, whilst Formula 1’s drivers tackle the Suzuka International Circuit in Japan.

The Japanese F1 round is live on free-to-air television for the first time since 2015, with Channel 4 covering all the action. In addition, both Lee McKenzie and Susie Wolff return to Channel 4’s line-up.

Over on Sky, Martin Brundle continues his absence, returning in Austin next time out. On the scheduling front, Sky are simulcasting their F1 coverage across both Sky Sports Main Event and Sky 1 at various points during the weekend.

With the F1 race from Suzuka starting at 06:10 UK time, and the MotoGP race from Buriram starting at 08:00 UK time, any delay or red flag situation to the F1 will see it overspill into MotoGP’s time slot, there really is very little room to manoeuvre.

The World Rally Championship returns to Wales, and with it does extended coverage on Channel 5. In previous years, Channel 4 aired the Power Stage live as well as daily highlights from the first two days. The latter continues, but the former airs on tape-delay at lunchtime, as the Power Stage this year starts at 08:00.

Elsewhere, fans of the Australian Supercars series will be disappointed to learn that, following the demise of Motorsport.tv’s television network, the Bathurst 1000 will not air live in the UK, with no sign of it appearing elsewhere.

Channel 4 F1
Sessions
05/10 – 01:55 to 03:35 – Practice 1
05/10 – 05:55 to 07:35 – Practice 2
06/10 – 03:45 to 05:10 – Practice 3
06/10 – 06:00 to 08:35 – Qualifying
06/10 – 10:30 to 12:30 – Qualifying Replay
07/10 – 05:00 to 09:30 – Race
=> 05:00 – Build-Up
=> 06:00 – Race
=> 08:30 – Reaction
07/10 – 12:30 to 15:15 – Race Replay

Sky Sports F1
Sessions
05/10 – 01:45 to 03:50 – Practice 1
05/10 – 05:45 to 07:50 – Practice 2 (also Sky Sports Main Event)
06/10 – 03:45 to 05:15 – Practice 3 (also Sky Sports Main Event)
06/10 – 06:00 to 08:30 – Qualifying (also Sky Sports Main Event and Sky One)
=> 06:00 – Pre-Show
=> 06:55 – Qualifying
07/10 – 04:30 to 09:10 – Race
=> 04:30 – Pit Lane Live
=> 05:30 – On the Grid (also Sky One)
=> 06:05 – Race (also Sky Sports Main Event and Sky One)
=> 08:30 – Paddock Live (also Sky Sports Main Event and Sky One)

Supplementary Programming
04/10 – 07:00 to 07:30 – Driver Press Conference
04/10 – 10:00 to 10:30 – Welcome to the Weekend
06/10 – 08:30 to 09:00 – The F1 Show (also Sky Sports Main Event)
10/10 – 19:00 to 21:00 – F1 eSports Pro Series (also Sky Sports Mix)

BBC Radio F1
04/10 – 20:30 to 21:00 – Preview (BBC Radio 5 Live)
05/10 – 01:55 to 03:35 – Practice 1 (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
05/10 – 05:55 to 07:35 – Practice 2 (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
06/10 – 03:55 to 05:05 – Practice 3 (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
06/10 – 06:55 to 08:05 – Qualifying (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
07/10 – 06:00 to 08:00 – Race (BBC Radio 5 Live)

MotoGP – Thailand (BT Sport 2)
05/10 – 02:45 to 10:15 – Practice 1 and 2
06/10 – 03:00 to 10:15
=> 03:00 – Practice 3
=> 06:00 – Qualifying
07/10 – 02:30 to 10:00
=> 02:30 – Warm Ups
=> 04:15 – Moto3
=> 06:00 – Moto2
=> 07:30 – MotoGP
=> 09:00 – Chequered Flag

MotoGP – Thailand (Channel 5)
09/10 – 19:00 to 20:00 – Highlights

Asia Talent Cup – Thailand (BT Sport 2)
06/10 – 10:15 to 11:15 – Race 1

Speedway Grand Prix – Poland (BT Sport 3)
06/10 – 17:45 to 21:15 – Races

World Rally Championship – Britain
Every stage live via WRCPlus.com
05/10 – Day 1 Highlights
=> 00:00 to 00:30 (BT Sport 3)
=> 00:20 to 00:45 (Channel 5)
06/10 – 12:00 to 13:00 – Live: Stage 14 (BT Sport 2)
06/10 – Day 2 Highlights
=> 22:45 to 23:15 (BT Sport 2)
=> 00:05 to 00:35 (Channel 5)
07/10 – 08:00 to 09:30 – Live: Stage 19 [Power Stage] (BT Sport/ESPN)
07/10 – 12:00 to 13:30 – Delayed: Stage [Power Stage] (Channel 5)
07/10 – 12:00 to 13:00 – Live: Stage 23 (BT Sport 2)
07/10 – 23:00 to 23:30 – Day 3 Highlights (BT Sport 1)
08/10 – 00:00 to 01:00 – Highlights (Channel 5)

The schedule above will be updated if anything changes.

Update on October 7th – A few points for future reference on Channel 5’s WRC coverage. Their daily highlights on Friday and Saturday night ended up airing in a Saturday and Sunday morning slot respectively. Furthermore, Sunday’s programme was live, covering Stage 23 (when it eventually started) as opposed to delayed coverage of the Power Stage.

Scheduling: The 2018 Russian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton aims to leave this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix with one hand on the 2018 Formula One championship, as the paddock heads to the Sochi Autodrom for round 16 of the season.

The race airs exclusively live on Sky Sports, and with it there are some changes to usual proceedings. Martin Brundle steps aside for Russia, as well as the Japanese round next weekend. His replacement is unconfirmed as of writing, but expect Paul di Resta to step up again to commentate alongside David Croft for qualifying and the race.

On the scheduling front, Sky have again demoted the first Formula Two race of the weekend, as they did in Hungary, in favour of The F1 Show. The action airs on a tape-delay instead, which when you consider that two British drivers are battling for the championship shows how little some elements of Sky F1 care about the series.

There is no sign yet of Formula Two appearing live behind the Red Button, but I will update this article if the situation changes. A feature with di Resta and Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo from Singapore gets an extended cut on Sky Sports F1 over the Russian weekend, first airing on Thursday evening.

Tom Clarkson joins Channel 4’s team for the weekend, substituting for Lee McKenzize, who is winding down her F1 commitments. Over on 5 Live, coverage is primarily on Sports Extra throughout the weekend due to the Ryder Cup. Also, a reminder for anyone watching the F1 race live, it starts earlier than usual at 12:10 UK time.

Outside of the Formula 1 circles, the British Touring Car Championship ends its season at Brands Hatch, whilst the British Superbike season continues its Showdown phase over in the Netherlands for its annual Assen pilgrimage.

Channel 4 F1
Sessions
29/09 – 16:30 to 18:30 – Qualifying Highlights
30/09 – 18:45 to 21:00 – Race Highlights

Sky Sports F1
Sessions
28/09 – 08:45 to 10:55 – Practice 1
28/09 – 12:45 to 14:50 – Practice 2
29/09 – 09:45 to 11:15 – Practice 3
29/09 – 12:00 to 14:35 – Qualifying
=> 12:00 – Pre-Show
=> 12:55 – Qualifying
30/09 – 10:30 to 15:10 – Race
=> 10:30 – Pit Lane Live
=> 11:30 – On the Grid
=> 12:05 – Race
=> 14:30 – Paddock Live

Supplementary Programming
27/09 – 11:00 to 11:30 – Driver Press Conference
27/09 – 16:00 to 16:30 – Welcome to the Weekend
27/09 – 18:30 to 19:00 – When Daniel Met Paul
29/09 – 14:35 to 15:05 – The F1 Show

BBC Radio F1
27/09 – 20:30 to 21:00 – Preview (BBC Radio 5 Live)
28/09 – 08:55 to 10:35 – Practice 1 (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
28/09 – 12:55 to 14:35 – Practice 2 (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
29/09 – 09:55 to 11:05 – Practice 3 (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
29/09 – 12:55 to 14:55 – Qualifying (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
30/09 – 12:00 to 13:55 – Race (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)

British Superbikes – Assen
29/09 – 14:00 to 16:00 – Qualifying (Eurosport 2)
30/09 – 10:30 to 14:15 – Race 1 (Eurosport 2)
30/09 – 15:15 to 17:30 – Race 2 (Eurosport 2)
03/10 – 20:00 to 21:00 – Highlights (ITV4)

British Touring Car Championship – Brands Hatch (ITV4)
30/09 – 10:30 to 18:30 – Races

Formula Two – Russia (Sky Sports F1)
28/09 – 10:55 to 11:45 – Practice
28/09 – 14:50 to 15:30 – Qualifying
29/09 – 15:05 to 16:20 – Race 1 (tape delay)
30/09 – 09:15 to 10:20 – Race 2

GP3 Series – Russia (Sky Sports F1)
28/09 – 15:45 to 16:25 – Qualifying
29/09 – 08:10 to 09:05 – Race 1
30/09 – 08:00 to 08:45 – Race 2

World Superbikes – Magny Cours
28/09 – 08:40 onwards (Eurosport 2)
=> 08:40 to 09:30 – SBK: Practice 1
=> 10:45 to 12:15 – SBK: Practice
29/09 – 09:00 to 14:00 – Qualifying and Race 1 (Eurosport 2)
30/09 – 14:15 to 15:15 – Support and Race 2 (Eurosport 2)
04/10 – 20:00 to 21:00 – Highlights (ITV4)

World Touring Car Cup – China (Eurosport 2)
30/09 – 03:00 to 04:00 – Qualifying
30/09 – 07:00 to 09:00 – Races
=> 07:00 – Race 2
=> 08:00 – Race 3

The schedule above will be updated if anything changes.

Further details emerge about Channel 4’s 2019 Formula 1 coverage

Channel 4’s Formula 1 highlights in 2019 will have a slightly different feel to them compared with the past three years, information obtained by this site reveals.

Shorter highlights on the table for Channel 4
The free-to-air UK broadcaster covering Formula 1 has specific restrictions that they must abide by regarding their highlights programming. From 2012 to 2015, this applied for the BBC, and has applied since 2016 for Channel 4.

One of the restrictions imposed on them concerned the scheduling of the highlights. The 2012 to 2018 contract stipulated that the gap between the race ending and the highlights edit starting must be equal to, or greater than, two hours.

For 2019’s new deal, following a request from Sky, that gap is extending to three hours, meaning that Channel 4’s highlights edit for European rounds cannot start until around 18:55 UK time.

As Channel 4 currently airs highlights for most European rounds from 18:45 to 21:00, this is unlikely to present them with any major problems. However, if Channel 4 wanted to use this time slot or similar in 2019, they do not have significant wriggle room in the event of a red flag situation (although force majeure may apply in that scenario).

A bigger problem comes with the Canadian, USA and Mexican rounds. Based on the 2018 start times, Channel 4’s highlights edit for those races will not start until nearly midnight, a less than ideal scenario.

In this situation, one possibility in my view would be to repeat the highlights programme on Monday in a friendlier time slot, but I do not know if Channel 4’s agreement with Sky allows for this. Depending on how timings shake out, Bahrain and Brazil will also not start until after 22:00.

In addition, Channel 4’s highlights edit will be slightly shorter than previous years, with around seven fewer minutes of action per race.

Whilst frustrating, given the other restriction imposed on them by Sky, the change could allow Channel 4 to air highlights for European rounds from 19:00 to 21:00, 15 fewer minutes than the typical length in 2018 to accommodate the shorter edit.

Whisper set to retain C4 production contract, but changes expected at Sky
This site has learnt that Whisper Films are expected to retain production rights for Channel 4’s Formula 1 coverage in 2019, although firm confirmation on both them and the talent involved is unlikely until the Winter.

A full tender process is also unlikely, with the terms of the agreement expected to be a formality between Whisper and Channel 4.

Elsewhere, multiple industry sources have indicated in recent weeks that on-air changes are expected to Sky’s Formula 1 team in 2019. What is unclear is the scale of the change, whether we are looking at a wholesale revamp of the line-up (as one source described the outlook), or a few adjustments around the edges.

As anticipated from the outset, Scott Young, Sky’s new Head of F1, is looking to bring fresh talent into the line-up.

Sky appointed Young to the role ahead of the 2018 season, succeeding Martin Turner, meaning that 2018 has been – to a degree – a transition year as Young analyses what in his view is working, and what needs to change.

We should remember that Sky’s team, apart from Paul di Resta and Nico Rosberg, has remained relatively static since their coverage started in 2012.

One name linked to Sky is Young’s fellow Australian compatriot and former Red Bull driver Mark Webber, who currently works with Channel 4 and has done since 2016. The expectation is that Whisper will not need as many on and off-air talent covering Formula 1 in 2019, and it is plausible that Webber will be on the market come the off-season.

There are other rumours on the grapevine, however at this stage they are just that, rumours. The consensus is that most people expect some form of change at Sky, but no one knows the scale.

Nevertheless, if even some of the rumours floating around have any semblance of truth, the next six months will be very interesting indeed…

Singapore Grand Prix loses over 250,000 viewers year-on-year

Lewis Hamilton’s victory in the Singapore Grand Prix struggled compared with his victory in 2017, overnight viewing figures in the UK show, in what was a poor weekend for Formula 1 overall.

Race
Like last year, both Sky Sports F1 and Channel 4 aired the Grand Prix live over the weekend. However, Sky opted not to simulcast their coverage on Sky Sports Mix, whereas last year the race also aired on Mix.

Channel 4’s coverage, encompassing both the build-up and the race itself, averaged 2.04m (22.1%) from 12:00 to 15:35, their lowest live audience since the Austrian Grand Prix in July. Last year’s programme averaged 2.29m (22.1%) across a slightly shorter time slot.

Meanwhile, live coverage of the race on Sky Sports F1 averaged 661k (7.0%) from 12:00 to 15:30, down on last year’s average across F1 and Mix of 723k (7.0%) across a longer time slot to account for heavy rain during the race. It is Sky’s lowest number for Singapore since 2012, which averaged 566k (4.2%) when the race also aired live on BBC One.

The viewing shares year-on-year are solid, but the raw total audience dipped, showing that there were fewer viewers yesterday compared with 2017. However, analysis of audience figures conducted by this site suggests that some viewers were unaware that the race started earlier than expected, which might explain the total audience differential.

In previous years, Singapore started at the same time as all European races, at 13:00 UK time. Before the 2018 season started, Liberty Media opted to move all races by 10 minutes (so they start at ten past the hour), and move most European rounds one-hour later. There are several exceptions, and one of them is Singapore.

If you live in the UK and want to watch a European-based race live (which Singapore for all intents and purposes is), you assume the race starts at 14:10 UK time. Bad news: Singapore’s formation lap started at 13:10…

Yesterday’s race started with 3.39m (36.9%) at 14:15, a decrease of 527,000 viewers on last year’s opening act of 3.91m (38.5%) at 13:05. Year-on-year, the first 45 minutes of the Grand Prix averaged 3.46m (36.3%), compared with 3.78m (36.7%) last year.

At 14:15, which is when European races have started this season, the audience climbed to 3.66m (37.2%), reaching 3.73m (38.0%) ten minutes later before dipping back off to 3.5 million viewers.

An audience of 3.75m (35.8%) watched Hamilton claim victory at 15:00, with a split of 75:25 between Channel 4 and Sky. At that time, Channel 4’s coverage attracted 2.81m (26.8%), with 944k (9.0%) watching on Sky, although Sky’s own coverage peaked with 991k (10.4%) at 13:25. For both broadcasters, it is their lowest peak audience since Austria.

The combined average audience of 2.70 million viewers is down 10.2 percent on last year’s average of 3.01 million viewers, going against the grain of the past few races. The average however is up on the 2016 figure of 2.38 million viewers.

Compared with 2017, the trajectory looks even worse when accounting for the Premier League opposition on Sky. This year’s race clashed with Wolves versus Burnley, neither big audience draws, whereas last year’s encounter faced Chelsea versus Arsenal.

The peak audience dropped 5 percent year-on-year: 3.75 million last Sunday compared with 3.97 million viewers last year. Again, all metrics are the lowest since Austria. Time will tell if this is the beginning of viewer fatigue for F1 this season as Hamilton stretches his legs at the head of the field.

It is possible that some viewers were unaware that the race started one-hour earlier than other European rounds, hence the low audience at the start of the race. Arguably, the viewing figures for Singapore are the first concrete evidence all season of the new start times negatively impacting audience figures, somewhat ironic given that Singapore’s start time has changed very little year-on-year.

Qualifying and BTCC
Live coverage of qualifying suffered on Saturday, drawing a combined average audience of 1.29 million viewers, down on last year’s audience of 1.45 million viewers.

Channel 4’s programme averaged 1.00m (13.3%) from 12:55 to 15:45, a decrease of 158,000 viewers on last year’s audience of 1.16m (13.8%). An audience of 292k (3.8%) watched Sky’s show from 13:00 to 15:40, in-line with last year’s figure of 294k (3.5%).

The session peaked with 2.06m (25.8%) at 14:55, compared with 2.20m (24.8%) last year. At its peak, 1.54m (19.3%) were watching Channel 4’s show at 14:50, a drop of 195,000 viewers year-on-year. Sky’s programme fared better, peaking with 542k (6.8%), an increase of 73,000 viewers and 1.5 percentage share points year-on-year.

Elsewhere on Sunday, live coverage of the penultimate British Touring Car Championship race day of 2018 on ITV4 averaged 144k (1.5%) from 11:15 to 18:30. The audience ebbed and flowed throughout the day before and after the F1 race.

The first race from Silverstone, won by Sam Tordoff, peaked with 234k (3.2%) at 12:35. During the F1, BTCC’s audience dropped to a low of 40k (0.4%), but rebounded to 144k (1.5%) as the second BTCC race started.

Aiden Moffat’s victory in the third and final race was comfortably the most watched BTCC race of the day, averaging 313k (2.5%) from 17:25 to 17:55, peaking with 344k (2.8%) as the race started.

The 2017 Singapore Grand Prix ratings report can be found here.