Poll: Your Formula 1 2013 television viewing habits

One year ago today, the Sky Sports F1 channel launched. Now in its second year, the channel is firmly geared up ahead of the start of the 2013 season. And ahead of next weekend’s race, The F1 Broadcasting Blog wants your thoughts on all things Formula 1 broadcasting in 2013. With that brings a mini questionnaire. There are ten questions, which are as follows:

Q1: Have your viewing habits or situation changed between 2012 and 2013?
Q2: Sky subscribers: What is your status regarding Sky Sports F1?
Q3: Virgin Media subscribers: What is your status regarding Sky Sports F1?
Q4: How did you consume Formula 1 in 2012? [Sky live races]
Q5: How did you consume Formula 1 in 2012? [BBC and Sky live races]
Q6: How do you plan to consume Formula 1 in 2013? [Sky live races]
Q7: How do you plan to consume Formula 1 in 2013? [BBC and Sky live races]
Q8: BBC F1 – 2012 vs 2013
Q9: Sky Sports F1 – 2012 vs 2013
Q10: Have the changes to the BBC team made you…

The questions are fairly self-explanatory, but to just go through it – Question 1 is an overview question. Questions 2 and 3 concern Sky and Virgin Media customers only and their status regarding Sky Sports F1. So if you don’t have Sky or Virgin Media, skip to Question 4.

Questions 4 through to 7 concern how you chose to consume Formula 1 in 2012, and also how you plan to consume it in 2013. For these questions, assume it is a normal European race, and not an Asian race, where there would be extra re-runs added to the schedule. Questions 8 and 9 ask whether you are more likely to watch BBC’s and Sky’s coverage compared with 2012, whilst Question 10 focusses primarily on the changes to the BBC team over the Winter.

The poll results will be announced in the three week break following the Malaysian Grand Prix along with some articles to go alongside it. As always though, it is not just about the poll – if there is a particular reason why you plan to consume Formula 1 differently in 2013, or whether you have been converted from one broadcaster to another, drop a line in the comments.

Scheduling: The 2013 Australian Grand Prix

The waiting is almost over, as the 2013 Formula One season finally gets under way on Friday 15th March from Melbourne for the traditional curtain raiser: the Australian Grand Prix! The weekend’s coverage is live on Sky Sports F1 and BBC Radio, with BBC television showing highlights in the afternoon.

For those that have not been following over the Winter, there are a few personnel changes compared with 2012. On Sky, Georgie Thompson is no longer with the team, meaning that Natalie Pinkham now fronts The F1 Show alongside Ted Kravitz. There are two changes on the BBC team, firstly there is the well-publicised move of Jake Humphrey to BT Sport, with Suzi Perry now the BBC F1 presenter. Secondly, Jaime Alguersuari is stepping out of his 5 Live co-commentary role, with Allan McNish replacing him. Although the previous sentence is true, McNish’s first race is not until Barcelona, so it is anyone’s guess who will be alongside James Allen in the commentary box for the first double header of 2013. Not a change per se, but an addition for BBC in Tom Clarkson, his move bolstering the pit-lane team.

Everything else remains the same. The Sky programme lengths throughout the race weekend are identical to last year, meaning a very early 04:30 alarm call for those who can watch it live. The main change for Sky viewers is before the race weekend itself. Five Classic F1 races will be broadcast, four of them in their entirety, with the original BBC or ITV commentary, so if you want to whet your appetite, then those are ready to be watched.

Below are all the scheduling details you need:

Saturday 9th March
20:30 to 21:30 – F1: 1994 Australian Grand Prix Highlights (Sky Sports F1)
– commentary from Murray Walker and Jonathan Palmer
– repeated on Friday 15th March at 10:30

Sunday 10th March
20:30 to 22:45 – F1: 1999 Australian Grand Prix (Sky Sports F1)
– commentary from Murray Walker and Martin Brundle
– repeated on Saturday 16th March at 21:45

Monday 11th March
20:30 to 22:30 – F1: 2003 Australian Grand Prix (Sky Sports F1)
– commentary from James Allen and Martin Brundle
– repeated on Sunday 17th March at 09:00

Tuesday 12th March
20:30 to 22:30 – F1: 2007 Australian Grand Prix (Sky Sports F1)
– commentary from James Allen and Martin Brundle
– repeated on Friday 15th March at 18:00

Wednesday 13th March
20:30 to 22:45 – F1: 2010 Australian Grand Prix (Sky Sports F1)
– commentary from Jonathan Legard and Martin Brundle
– repeated on Saturday 16th March at 07:45

Thursday 14th March
04:00 to 04:40 – F1: Driver Press Conference (Sky Sports F1)
19:45 to 20:00 – F1: Gear Up for Australia (Sky Sports F1)

Friday 15th March
01:00 to 03:20 – F1: Practice 1 (Sky Sports F1)
05:15 to 07:30 – F1: Practice 2 (Sky Sports F1)
05:25 to 07:15 – F1: Practice 2 (BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra)
07:30 to 08:10 – F1: Team Press Conference (Sky Sports F1)
09:30 to 10:30 – The F1 Show (Sky Sports F1)
18:45 to 19:00 – Inside F1 (BBC News Channel)

Saturday 16th March
02:45 to 04:10 – F1: Practice 3 (Sky Sports F1)
05:00 to 07:45 – F1: Qualifying (Sky Sports F1)
05:55 to 07:05 – F1: Qualifying (BBC Radio 5 Live)
13:00 to 14:05 – F1: Qualifying (BBC One)
17:45 to 18:00 – Ted’s Qualifying Notebook (Sky Sports F1)
18:45 to 19:00 – Inside F1 (BBC News Channel)

Sunday 17th March
04:30 to 09:30 – F1: Race (Sky Sports F1)
05:30 to 08:00 – F1: Race (BBC Radio 5 Live)
12:30 to 12:45 – Ted’s Race Notebook (Sky Sports F1)
14:20 to 16:20 – F1: Race (BBC One)
– note: For Scotland viewers, the race is on BBC Two

As always, if anything changes I shall update this blog if necessary.

Update on March 16th – Please refer to this post for the amended schedule following Saturday’s Qualifying postponement.

Allan McNish confirmed as 5 Live co-commentator

Allan McNish has been named as the new 5 Live co-commentator it has been confirmed today. McNish replaces Jaime Alguersuari in the role, and will be working alongside James Allen and Jennie Gow for the new season. Furthermore, as with last season, the lead commentary role will be shared between Allen and Jonathan Legard, Legard will be making his first appearance in China.

Although McNish has been confirmed, he is only doing six out of 20 races. The coverage on 5 Live will again be produced by USP Content, 2013 will be their eighth season covering the sport. The production itself will be led by Chessie Bent, who succeeds Jason Swales, Swales this season will be producing NBC’s coverage of Formula 1.

Whilst this is a blow to Sky, as I considered McNish a strong member of their team when he appeared last season, I am confused at how he can be announced as 5 Live’s co-commentator when he will be doing less than a third of the season as it stands. It also begs the question of who will be alongside Allen or Legard for the first four races of the season, as that has not been confirmed anywhere today.

Update on March 6th at 16:20 – McNish will be commentating on the Spanish, Monaco, British, German, Belgian and Italian Grand Prix’s. McNish said “I’m very excited with the prospect of being part of the on-event BBC Radio 5 live F1 team this year for what promises to be an intriguing season. While I have been on the show previously, this year will be much more of a consistent format for me.”

Tom Clarkson added to BBC F1 TV team

Tom Clarkson has been added to the BBC’s Formula 1 television team, it has been confirmed today. Clarkson will be a part of the team for the entire season as their pit-lane reporter, working alongside Lee McKenzie and Gary Anderson.

Clarkson was first a member of the BBC team at last year’s Canadian Grand Prix. As the linked article mentions, Clarkson’s credentials include working on TEN Sport’s coverage of Formula 1. Commenting on the announcement at BBC’s press launch today, Ben Gallop, Head of Formula 1 for BBC, said “Everyone on the BBC team is hugely excited about the new season. Last year saw us rise to the challenge of bringing the action to fans through the mix of live television and highlights, delivering great programmes which were reflected in impressive audience figures. 2013 sees new faces, practice on BBC Two and HD on live race weekends and a greater sharing of talent across BBC television, radio and online. With Suzi Perry at the helm, we’re aiming to bring even more content, insight and access to audiences throughout the season.”

For me, adding Clarkson adds significant depth to the BBC’s line-up, with now three reporters roaming the pit-lane. I enjoyed Clarkson’s work with them last year, and hope to see that continue this season.

BBC axe 2012 opening titles

The BBC have dropped their 2012 Formula One opening title sequence, it has been revealed. Their Season Preview Magazine, available in all shops, says at the foot of page 21:

“F1 is never short of stories. It will be a pleasure for all of us involved in making the programmes, including James Allen and Jennie Gow on Radio 5 Live to bring the stories to life. Look out for new titles, watch Suzi as she finds out about life in the fast lane and enjoy F1 across the BBC.”

Although this seems a routine move, freshening up the intro with a new opening sequence, this is quite an odd one when you consider that the titles were introduced only last year. It may just be that they are changing a few of the clips in the intro, but the wording suggests it is a complete revamp. History shows that new Formula 1 intro sequences normally come around every three years, so this for me is a surprising move.

A History of F1 Opening Titles
ITV F1
1997 to 1999 – Jamiroquai
2000 to 2002 – Apollo 440: Blackbeat
2003 to 2005 – Bachman-Turner Overdrive: You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet
2006 to 2008 – Moby: Lift Me Up

BBC F1
2009 to 2011 – Fleetwood Mac: The Chain (Version 1)
2012 – Fleetwood Mac: The Chain (Version 2)

Sky Sports F1
2012 to present – Alistair Griffin: Just Drive

I assume (and hope) that the new titles still contain The Chain, but the magazine makes no mention of this. I have reached to BBC for a comment.

Update on March 2nd – The BBC have debuted their trailer to promote the new season today. In it contains The Chain, confirming that it will remain for 2013.